The Swinging times of Bonnie & Clyde



Besides robbing banks and filling stations, like other young couples of their times,
Bonnie and Clyde found time to enjoy the lighter side of life. Clyde had enjoyed music
very much! His saxaphone which was recovered from the death car is a testamony to that.
Bonnie's mother taught her kids how to play the piano. Bonnie played the piano very well.
Bonnie and Clyde loved the music from the likes of Milton Brown and Bob Wills. You could,
if you had looked at the right time, find the outlaw couple kicking their heels at the
Crystal Springs Ballroom just northwest of Fort Worth. Clyde liked the music of "Milton
Brown & His Musical Brownies" who were regular performers at the Crystal Springs Ballroom.
Bonnie and Clyde were first spotted at a "swing dance". Bonnie and Clyde were dancing a
very good Jitterbug and were noticed by fellow dancers. One individual had the police
called on them. That night marked the start of them running from the law.

A band originally advertising Light Crust Flour, "The Light Crust Doughboys"
are seen here donning their "Doughboy" uniforms at a radio station in Fort Worth,
Texas. From left to right: Milton Brown, Derwood Brown (Milton's brother),
Truett Kimzey, Bob Wills, and Herman Arnspiger.


Milton Brown, one of the original members of "The Light Crust Doughboys".
split from group in 1932 and founded his own, very popular group, known as
"Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies". His life was cut short in 1936 by a
tragic automobile accident. Milton Brown was no doubt the "Founder of Western Swing". 





In 1932, shortly after Brown left, Bob Wills also split from the "The LightCrust
Doughboys" and formed his own band known as "Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys". Wills
is touted as "The King of Western Swing" and was inducted into the Country Music Hall
of Fame in 1968. 



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