They were the king of Western Swing, Founded by Bob Wills.
Wills' musical legacy endured. His style influenced performers Buck Ownes and Merle Haggard and helped to spawn a style of music now known as the Bakersfield Sound. A 1970 tribute Album by Haggard directed a wider audience to Wills' music, as did the appearance of younger "revival" bands like Asleep at the wheel and the growing popularity of longtime Wills disciple and fan Willie Nelson. By 1971, Wills recovered sufficiently to travel occasionally and appear at tribute concerts. In 1973 he participated in a final reunion session with members of some the Texas Playboys from the 1930s to the 1960s. Merle Haggard was invited to play at this reunion. The session, scheduled for two days, took place in December, 1973, with the album to be titled For the Last Time. Wills, speaking or attempting to holler,appeared on a couple tracks from the first day's session but suffered a stroke overnight. He had a more severe one a few days later. The musicians completed the album without him. Wills by then was comatose. He lingered until his death on May 13, 1975.