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About the Band
Annual Events
About the Band Members
Booking Information
Playing Schedule
Albums Available
Ordering Information


About the Band

The River Road Boys, based in Houston, Texas are best known as one of America’s premier Western Swing dance bands. Over the years this fine band has played a whole range of music venues: dance halls, clubs, concerts, rodeos, weddings, county fairs, western swing festivals, the Astrodome, and Caribbean cruises. Organized in 1971 by founding members Clyde Brewer and Tommy Howser, this band carries on the traditional western swing music genre inspired by other great legends such as Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, Spade Cooley, Clif Bruner, Milton Brown, Moon Mullican, Shelly Lee Alley, and many others. This band’s versatility becomes evident when they play tunes from the big band era to classic country to western swing. They are known for their professionalism, musicianship, and first-class appearance, always dressing in matching uniforms. Their fans love their smooth style and always rave, claiming they are the best dance band around. You can easily two-step, polka, waltz, and swing dance to their music and they always fill the dance floor when their trademark “twin fiddles” kick off the next tune.

Some of the highlights of their career include:

    Academy of Western Artists (AWA) Will Rogers Award     
for Western Swing Band of the year 2005
     Academy of Western Artists (AWA) Will Rogers Award     
for Western Swing Song of the year 2004
for "We're Proud Dubya's From Texas"
     First country music album ever broadcast behind the Iron Curtain     
     Fan-voted Texas Proud Magazine's "Hillbilly Heart" Award     
for Western Swing Band of the Year for two consecutive years
     Southern Governor's Conference in Austin, Texas     
     Texas Prison Rodeo for 10 consecutive years     
     Award-winning PBS-sponsored TV show     
featuring a Norwegian Band, broadcast in Houston and Norway
     International Economic Summit for the Seven     
Industrialized Nations for President George H. W. Bush
and other visiting dignitaries

This band has recorded over 20 CD’s and LP albums through the years. Those that are available for purchase are listed below under "Albums Available." The website also lists a current playing schedule, plus, it features a brief bio on each of the band members. The entire River Road Boys band was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in San Marcos, Texas in 1998. Additionally, every individual member of the band, all outstanding musicians in their own right, has been inducted into various Western Swing Halls of Fame around the country. They are endeared by all their fans and are most respected and admired by their peers. They have the distinct honor of being one of the most prominent organized bands around today and proudly represent this wonderful music, keeping it alive for future generations to appreciate as part of Texas culture and history.

Band members include:


  Clyde Brewer - Fiddle, Mandolin, Piano, Vocals  
  Tommy Howser - Drums, Vocals  
  Bill Dessens - Fiddle, Lead Guitar, Vocals  
  Shelly Lee Alley, Jr. - Bass, Vocals  
  Jim Johnson - Vocals  
  Dusty Stewart - Steel Guitar  

The River Road Boys' music is played on radio stations both nationally and internationally. They have gained international recognition due to their album sales, the advent of the Internet, and the establishment of their own website.


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Annual Events

  Constable Bill Bailey's Annual Dance and Gumbo Supper,  
  held each year at the Pasadena Civic Center
  in Pasadena, Texas.
  Annual Western Swing Show, in Navasota, Texas.  
Location is at the Grimes County Fairgrounds
  just outside of Navasota.
  Annual Legends of Western Swing Music Festival,  
         held each year in Wichita Falls, Texas
         at the Multi-Purpose Event Center.
  Annual Western Swing Valentine Party.  
 Location is at the Canton Civic Center
  in Canton, Texas.
  Annual Western Swing Christmas Ball.  
  Held this year the 2nd Saturday in December.
    Location is at the VFW Hall on 105-W
  in Navasota, Texas.


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About the Band Members

Clyde Brewer

Clyde, the leader of the band, was born in Luling, Texas and was raised in Beaumont. He is very well known in Texas music circles. As a young lad, he played house-dances in the Luling area and daily radio programs in the Beaumont area. His step-father was Shelly Lee Alley, a pioneer of Western Swing music. Clyde has played with virtually every large band and big-name musician throughout Texas, and is recognized by his peers far and wide as a "Musician's Musician," as well as being an excellent band leader. Clyde is one of the co-founders of The River Road Boys. He has been inducted into various Halls of Fame, including the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in Sacramento, California, the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame, the Golden Spike Country Music Hall of Fame in Utah, the Pioneers of Western Swing Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington, and the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Also, in 2000, he was inducted, along with his good friend Cliff Bruner, into the International Country Music Hall of Fame. Clyde was also awarded the Heart of Western Swing Award at the Quitman, Texas Heritage Foundation of 2008, and he is also a member of The Recording Academy. Clyde sings and plays the keyboard, mandolin and fiddle with The River Road Boys, and lives in Magnolia, Texas with his wife, Sedonia.

E-Mail: CBrewer002@comcast.net
Telephone: 281-356-7174
 

Tommy Howser

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Tommy started playing drums in a 50's/60's Rock-n-Roll band called J. J. and the Del-Tones in San Antonio. After a stint of several years as a San Antonio policeman, he moved to Houston in 1968 and played country music with various bands, such as Jim Kinner's Country Rhythm Masters and Frankie Vee and the Village Boys. He is one of the co-founders of The River Road Boys. Tommy works with Playboys II on occasion, and has played drums behind other artists such as George Strait, Merle Haggard, Hank Thompson, Charlie Walker, Johnny Rodriguez, Floyd Tillman, Clif Bruner, and others. The guys in the band appreciate Tommy so much because he plays all styles so tastefully, whether it is swing, light rock, latin beat, jazz, pop music, waltz, polka or marches. Tommy has been inducted into the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in Sacramento, California, the Pioneers of Western Swing Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington, and the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame. He plays drums and sings back-up vocals with the band, and lives in Tomball, Texas with his wife, Vivian.

E-Mail: Drumhead1@sbcglobal.net
 

Bill Dessens

Bill started playing mandolin at age 4 in Rockdale, Texas, and by age 5, had a radio show with his 10 year old brother, Frank. By about age 9, he was also playing fiddle, guitar, tenor banjo, bass and steel guitar. He has been recording, doing radio and TV shows, and has been in one movie since then, and played and recorded with Dolores and the Bluebonnet Boys during college days. Between semesters, he had a studio in Austin, and taught guitar and steel guitar. He has always played Western Swing music, and has worked with or played in backup bands with many varied people, from Bing Crosby and Phil Harris to the Bob Hope Telethon, Hank Thompson, Johnny Gimble, Clif Bruner, Jim Gough and Pappy Selph. He also played with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Band for 14 years. He has been inducted into the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in Sacramento, California, the Pioneers of Western Swing Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington, the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame. Bill sings and plays fiddle and lead guitar with The River Road Boys, and lives in Houston, Texas with his wife, Norma.

E-Mail: bdessens@sbcglobal.net
 

Shelly Lee Alley, Jr.

Shelly is the son of Western Swing pioneer Shelly Lee Alley and is also Clyde's half-brother. Being born into a musical family, Shelly began playing music at an early age, first the mandolin and then the guitar and bass. The guitar would prove to be his favorite. At age 16, with brother Clyde's help, he began playing guitar with Red Novak and The Sundowners. After a 4 year stint in the Air Force, Shelly began playing guitar with Clyde in the Village Boys band, led by Frankie Vee. For the next several years, music became very much part-time as he pursued his career as an air traffic controller. He had played with The River Road Boys on many occasions before becoming a permanent member of the band. He sings and plays bass with the band, and is a Hall of Fame member in both The Pioneers of Western Swing in Seattle, Washington, and The Western Swing Society in Sacramento, California. Shelly is also a full-time minister of the Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ, and lives in Houston with his wife, Susan.

E-Mail:  ShellyOne@earthlink.net
 

Jim Johnson

Jim was born near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and grew up singing with different church and gospel groups, once singing with the Oak Ridge Boys. He attended Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee, and was ordained as a minister and preached in Michigan. After realizing that his real calling in life was to sing, he re-located to Houston in the mid-70's. He began singing with various groups, and then saw the River Road Boys at a street dance in Alvin, Texas and quickly decided that this was the band he wanted to be singing with. He was invited to join the band as lead vocalist in 1982. In 2001 Jim retired and moved back to Tennessee, but couldn't get this music out of his mind. He moved back to Houston in 2006 and re-joined the band. His genuine pleasure in singing is always very evident at all the band's performances, and he is recognized as truly one of the very best and versatile singers in the country. Jim has been inducted into the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in California and the Pioneers of Western Swing Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington, and lives in Tomball, Texas with his wife, Barbara.

E-Mail: jrj355@sbcglobal.net
 

Ralph "Dusty" Stewart

Dusty grew up in Houston, teaching himself to play the steel guitar. He played with various bands around the Houston area and was soon sought after by many big time artists. He worked with Ben Christian, Jerry Jericho and Harry Choates of "Jole Blon" fame, but got his first big break when he went with the legendary Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys. From there he enlisted in the USAF, serving two years. He then went to work with Hoyle Nix and the Texas Cowboys in Big Spring, Texas for several years. In 1976 he moved back to Houston, and was invited to join The River Road Boys as their first regular steel guitarist. After 14 years, Dusty retired to a slower life by leaving The River Road Boys to begin playing various local oprys in South Texas. He has now re-joined The River Road Boys as their regular steel guitarist. Dusty, who is very well known by Western Swing artists and fans around the country, has been inducted into the Sacramento, California Western Swing Society Hall of Fame, and lives in Dickinson, Texas with his wife, Ginny.

E-Mail:  dustystewart@comcast.net
 


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Booking Information

The band can be booked for engagements by contacting:
Clyde Brewer - (281) 356-7174
or
Vivian Howser (Secretary) - (281) 290-7255
22011 Rosewood Trail, Tomball, Texas  77377

E-Mail:  riverroadboys@sbcglobal.net


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Playing Schedule

February 26, 2010
Tomball, Texas - Main Street Crossing
111W. Main Street
8:00 PM

March 5, 2010
Wellborn, Texas - Private Wedding

March 27, 2010
Magnolia, Texas - Texas Opry
Join Us for this Shelly Lee Alley Tribute
Entertainers include Hot Club of Cowtown, Leon Rausch, Floyd Domino,
The Alley Family, The River Road Boys,
plus Larry Scott, MC
Go to www.ShellyLeeAlley.com for more information, and
where tickets can now be purchased online,
Or, call 832-692-2015
Two shows: 2:00 and 7:30 PM

April 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2010
Magnolia, Texas - Texas Opry
Always . . . Patsy Cline - Musical Play
Originally Directed by Ted Swindley
Starring Mary Allen-Keating and Lastell McVey
And The River Road Boys
Saturdays, 2:00 & 7:00 PM; Sundays, 2:00 PM
Tickets: 281-356-6779

May 1, 2010
Bellaire, Texas - Bellaire Civic Center
Southwest Rotary Club - 7008 S. Rice Avenue
Annual Fish Fry
For information, email dbarkley@sbcglobal.net
7:00 PM

June 5, 2010
Conroe, Texas - Private Wedding

June 15, 2010
Humble, Texas - Humble Civic Center
Sponsored by Harris County Precinct 4
For Information: 281-893-3726
1:00 - 4:00 PM

June 18, 2010
Wichita Falls, Texas - Multi-Purpose Event Center
Annual Legends of Western Swing Music Festival
3:00 and 7:00 PM

June 25, 2010
The Woodlands, Texas - Dosey Doe
25911 Interstate 45-North
For Reservations: 281-367-3774
8:30 PM

July 17, 2010
Houston, Texas - SPJST Chandelier Ballroom
1435 Beall Street
8:30 - 12:00 PM
For Reservations: 713-937-0209

July 24, 2010
Navasota, Texas - Grimes County Fairgrounds
Our 30th Annual Western Swing Show
Special Guests To Be Announced
8:30 - 12:30


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Albums Available

* * *    Recently Released!!   * * *
Houston

(CD - $15.00)

Houston (sample!)
My Confession
Walk Out Backwards
Take the "A" Train (sample!)
Pennies from Heaven (sample!)
Time Changes Everything
Talkin' 'Bout You
Over the Hill
You Call Everybody Darlin' (sample!)
Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone
Gone and Left Me Blues (sample!)
You Don't Care What Happens To Me

Bluebonnet Lane

(CD - $15.00)

Mama Don't Allow No Music Playing in Here (sample!)
Bluebonnet Lane (sample!)
Basin Street Blues
Warm Red Wine
There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder
Johnson Rag
San Antonio Rose (sample!)
Be Honest With Me
Today I Started Loving You Again (sample!)
Down In Dixieland
You're Nobody 'Till Somebody Loves You (sample!)
Perdido

Don't Ever Take Our Picture Down

(CD - $15.00)

Don't Ever Take My Picture Down (sample!)
Step Aside (sample!)
You Can't Break My Heart
You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry
I Don't Want Anyone But You
Sweet Georgia Brown (sample!)
My Mother's Eyes
Silver Dew On The Blue Grass Tonight
Sunny Side Of The Street (sample!)
Lonesome Hearted Blues
Memories Of You, Dear
On The Alamo
Beautiful Texas / Waltz Across Texas

The River Road Boys - Live!

(CD - $15.00)
Introduction by Dennis Williams, MC,
Host of Swingin' RFD, KAGC Radio, Bryan, Texas
Big Beaver
I'll Never Be Free
When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
Coconut Grove
Deep Water
Because of You
Silver Lake Blues
Lily Dale
Somebody Else Is Taking My Place
You Don't Know Me
Route 66
Big Ball's in Cowtown
Old Fashioned Love
Closing Medley: C-Jam Blues, Turn Out the Lights, Flyin' Home

Texas Two-Step Time

A Compilation of Songs from River Road Boys' Albums
From 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1985
(CD - $15.00)
Carroll County Blues
Another Bridge To Burn (sample!)
Most of All, Why
Home In San Antone (sample!)
I'll Not Shed A Tear
I Knew The Moment I Lost You
Alley Cat (sample!)
Fideaux Waltz
Texas Two-Step Time (sample!)
Nueces Waltz
Go Home With The Girls
Walk Out Backwards
Ode To Tommy Duncan (sample!)
Blue Skirt Waltz
Roadside Rag

Down The Trail

(CD - $15.00)
Featured Guest: Deacon "RaggMopp" Anderson
Stay Out Of The South (sample!)
I've Got A Right To Cry (sample!)
Worried Over You
Old Fashioned Love
Cuckoo Creek Hop
Oklahoma Hills
Near You
You Were Just Looking Over My Shoulder (sample!)
Little Red Wagon
Ragg Mopp (sample!)
Keeper Of My Heart
Jersey Bounce
They Took The Stars Out Of Heaven (sample!)
Down The Trail

2000

(Cassette - $10.00; CD - $15.00)
Shame, Shame On You (sample!)
I'll Be Lucky Someday
Don't Get Around Much Anymore (sample!)
It Makes No Difference Now
I Ain't Got Nobody
River Road Chimes (sample!)
Invitation To The Blues
Night Life
My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You
My Window Faces The South
I Wish I Felt This Way At Home (sample!)
C-Jam Blues (sample!)

Swingin' South

(Cassette - $10.00; CD - $15.00)
Pipeliner's Blues (sample!)
I Was Sort of Wondering
Snow Deer
Waltzing in Old San Antone (sample!)
Blues For Dixie (sample!)
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
South
I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do
Across The Alley From The Alamo
Still Water Runs The Deepest
This Cold War With You (sample!)
Working Man's Blues
My Life's Been A Pleasure

Expressions Of Faith
Gospel Album

(Cassette - $10.00; CD - $15.00)
Family Bible (sample!)
Near The Cross
I Saw The Light / I'll Fly Away
Silent Prayer
From The Manger To The Cross (sample!)
He Was There All The Time
Satisfied (sample!)
In The Garden / Amazing Grace
Until Then
Just A Closer Walk With Thee (sample!)
I'll Never Be Lonely Again

25th Anniversary - 1972-1997

(Cassette - $10.00; CD - $15.00)
River Road Two Step
Faded Love
Summit Ridge Drive
Down Here In Texas
Statue Of A Fool
Jole Blon / Big Mamou
Sweet Moments
Gone And Left Me Blues
Maiden's Prayer
Better To Leave Well Enough Alone
Broken Dreams
Texas Drummer Boy
Truck Driver's Blues
Fireball Mail
Sugar Moon
Orange Blossom Special
I Saw The Light

Texas - Born To Love You

(Cassette - $10.00; CD - $15.00)
Born To Love You
Take Me Back To Texas
Love Sure Knows It's Way Around
Texas Drummer Boy
Tear In My Beer
Stars On The Water
There's Still A Lot Of Love In San Antone
Bogg's Boogie
Travlin' Blues
I Saw The Light

Seven Come Eleven
All Instrumental Album

(CD Only - $15.00)
Seven Come Eleven
Trouble In Mind
Is It True What They Say About Dixie
Cattle Call
Schottische Medley
Dusty Skies
Rubber Dolly
Blues Stay Away From Me
Silver Lake Blues
Darkness On The Delta
Hot Canary
Bandera Waltz

The Twin Fiddles Of Bob White & Clyde Brewer
All Instrumental Album

(CD Only - $15.00)
Summit Ridge Drive
Westphalia Waltz
Lone Star Rag
Faded Love
Woodchopper's Ball
River Road Two-Step
Everybody's Had The Blues
Fiddle Boogie
Silver Bells
Brown Skin Gal
Skip It
Polka Medley


Ordering Information

Order Form


Send Check or Money Order To:

The River Road Boys
22011 Rosewood Trail
Tomball, Texas 77377

Please give complete mailing address and telephone number when ordering.

For albums, add $2.00 S&H in the U.S. or $5.00 for International orders.
 


Web Page created and maintained by Bill Dessens,
with input from Clyde Brewer and Tommy Howser, and technical assistance from Steve Dessens.
This page was last updated February 22, 2010.


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