Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him

Subject: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 02:36 PM

Just happened to think of him today. At one time I think he was fairly well known in Arkansas and Missouri. I could not find any info on the net.

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: maeve
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 09:04 AM

Arkie, I finally found the following link. Perhaps someone there will help .

Country Music Hall of Fame- Oral History Collection
Bill Mounce
Date: 1974 August 16
Length: 78 min.
Call Number: OH125
Bill Mounce Bio:

"Bandleader and musician. Born June 26, 1917. Based in Texas. Drummer and bass player. Leader of the Sons of the South, a band that included Bob Dunn and Jerry Irby. Recorded for the Bluebird record label in 1941.
Oral History Interview Summary

1974 August 16
(1 hour, 18 minutes)

Texas-based musician Bill Mounce recalls experiences from his career. Discussion includes the start of his music career; memories of promoter Oscar Davis; experiences during his early career; experiences as a session musician; working with Willie Nelson; his booking agency; the multiple directions of his later career; experiences working in western swing bands, including work with Johnny Lee and Bob Wills; and comments on his experiences in the music industry."
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Contact information:
Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum
222 Fifth Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
615-416-2001
[e-mail]
******************

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 09:40 AM

Maeve, thanks. When I last heard of Mounce, he was somewhat popular in bluegrass circles. I discovered a couple of music tracks on my computer and wanted to run them on the radio show I produce. Was hoping to have something meaningful to say in the narrative.

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: maeve
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 10:26 AM

Arkie, I was hoping you could arrange to hear the interview to fill in some information. Here are a few other interesting items in case any of it proves useful for your program:

http://oldwax.blogspot.com/2011/07/birthday-cake.html
"Western swing practitioner, Bill Mounce, from Waco Texas, formed a studio band, Sons of the South, in '41 to record on Bluebird. Combo featured ace steel guitarist Bob Dunn and Jerry Irby as vocalist on some songs. He was one time member of the Texas Playboys. And also a booking agent :

    'Waco drummer and music entrepreneur Bill Mounce, formerly of the Texas Playboys, picked up the slack and developed what Bob Murrell described as « a stable of local musicians. » Mounce became the principal booking agent in Waco, organizing bands to fit every kind of job. Bob was one of the many qualified musicians who enjoyed steady work with Mounce.' [The jazz of the Southwest: an oral history of western swing, Jean Ann Boyd, book]

I've found several Bill Mounce ads in the classified (Musicians) section of Billboard, from 1950 to 1960, with four different addresses. Bill was looking for job :
'50 May — Jackson, Tennessee (mention : Western swing drummer, with Bob Wills two years)
'52 June —Rosedale Inn, Greeley, Colorado
'52 September to August '53 — Humboldt, Tennessee
'57 May to February '60 — Waco, Texas (available, little band with a big sound)"
*******

Fran Mounce & Bill Mounce & His Bluenotes - "Birthday Cake "
***
Bill's son "Mickey"

Here he is in a different band

Bill Mounce "Sons of the West" died 1984.

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 10:26 PM

I discovered in what research I did and what I got from Maeve that there was more than one Bill Mounce. The western swing drummer from Waco had died by the time the bluegrass Bill M. was doing festivals in Arkansas. The bluegrass version was noted for his humor which became a little off color in later years. The following note came from an account of the the Little Opry in northwest Arknasas and is typical of Mounce.

"There are so many good memories," says Jeanne Simmons, who's sixty-four and known as the Queen of the Little O' Oprey. "I loved the early days because we struggled. Many times there were more people to perform than there were people in the audience. Back then you didn't have to audition. But the funniest thing was when a bluegrass performer named Bill Mounce started back up on stage for an encore, and his false teeth fell out on stage. Everybody was so tickled that we couldn't do anything for a few minutes and then Bill said, 'I always did wonder what my smile looked like, and there it is, right there.'"

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST,Darla Mounce Hickey
Date: 21 Apr 15 - 12:58 PM

I am not sure why, but I Googled "Bill Mounce" today and came across this. Bill was my Grandfather. Milton "Mickey" Mounce was my Dad. My uncle, John Eubanks, played in a band with my Dad and knows a lot about my Grandfather if you are still looking for information.

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 21 Apr 15 - 04:15 PM

Some of his tracks might be listed here
tracks listed on last.fm
but on that site they can't differentiate between different performers.

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Apr 15 - 12:10 PM

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-O-Oprey/108167405891862

People looking for Mr Mounce could try through that Facebook page. He was mentioned as having played at the Little O' Oprey in 2014.

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 18 - 08:38 PM

He was may granny’s older brother. My great uncle

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST,Justin Sanders
Date: 08 Aug 18 - 02:50 PM

Bill was my great grandfather. I would love any videos or even audio tracks that anyone has. Also I believe he was in the movie Honeysuckle Rose. But I believe there were two different cuts. One with him and one without. But any stories would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST,John David Thomas
Date: 13 Jun 22 - 07:37 PM

He was my Uncle Bill, I was born on his 58th birthday (6-26). He was the Oldest of 7 kids which included 2 boys & 4 girls. His father was a Mounce his mother a Cureton. His father was a mechanic for the Highway patrol in Waco Tx before he died, coming from way of Walnut Springs/ Rio Vesta area. Any more questions I’ll Happily answer email [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Bill Mounce, Anyone Heard of Him
From: GUEST,Carol Duron
Date: 08 Jul 22 - 06:10 PM

Just saw a picture my son found .My husband Manuel Duron sitting on drums . He was a young probably 18 or so just starting out with Cruz. I remember him speaking of Bill.