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Big Bill Lister 1923- 2009
Photo from www.bigbilllister.com
Dubbed “Radio’s Tallest Singing Cowboy,” Bill Lister of Brady was 6’ 7” at a time when that height was enough to keep you out of the military. But it couldn’t keep him out of Hank Williams’ Drifting Cowboys band. For the last 11 months of Williams’ life, Lister played rhythm guitar behind him. When he died Tuesday in San Antonio at age 86, he was the last of Hank’s Drifting Cowboys to go.
Read more about Big Bill’s life here.
In 1988, Lister’s wife Lila found an old demo of Hank and the Cowboys singing “There’s a Tear In My Beer,” a recording no one knew existed. He gave the demo to Hank Williams Jr., who turned it into a #1 duet with his daddy. Hank Jr. ended up giving Lister a piece of the royalties and a gold record for his walls.
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By angie
December 2, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this
I had the pleasure of seeing Big Bill perform on a cruise ship October 2009. He was an absolute joy and I count myself as one of the lucky ones to see what was probably his last performance. He lit up the stage. A treasure has been lost. RIP Big Bill!
By Tom Andrews
December 2, 2009 3:13 PM | Link to this
I also had the pleasure of seeing Bill Lister aboard the Carnival Cruise sponsored by The Heart Of Texas Country Music Association,I now realize that I have witnessed the last Performance by one of the greats in Country Music, Bill received a standing ovation after each of his performances,I could see in his eyes the pleasure he got from the fans..I also had the pleasure of sitting at the same table each night for dinner,and enjoying the conversations we had for seven nights,A memory I will not soon forget..God Bless “Big” Bill Lister Rest In Peace.
Tom Andrews Pittsfield Massachusetts
By J Penrod
December 9, 2009 4:00 AM | Link to this
Rest In Peace Big Bill. I would like to offer a light correction. He wasn’t the last living Drifting Cowboy. Braxton Schuffert, Pee Wee Moultrie, Clent Holmes, Bernice Turner, and Felton Pruett are all still living as well as several others.