Review: Texas Playboys at Bob Wills Birthday

This is from last year's event (note Bobby Koefer on steel guitar), but Ramona Reed was back again this year to sing "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart":

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Ramona Reed
The Cowboy's Singing Sweetheart

Ramona Reed was raised on a ranch near Talihina, Oklahoma, and was yodeling by the time she was talking. At the age of 15, Ramona was singing on KTMC radio in McAlester, Oklahoma. While attending college in Colorado, she appeared on NBC's "Ted Mac's Original Amateur Hour," winning fifth place out of twenty-five contestants.

Using the stage name of Martha White, Ramona sang on the Grand Ole Opry for a year. In 1950, Ramona joined Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys in Dallas, Texas. During this time, Ramona recorded "I'm Tired of Living This Lie" and a rare duet with Bob Wills entitled "Little Girl, Little Girl." She also recorded the memorable "I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart." During the 1960's she appeared with Bob Wills on various occasions, including the 1965 CMA Awards Banquet in Nashville. In 1967, Ramona recorded two songs with Bob Wills on the album Here's That Man Again. In 1984, Ramona worked with Johnny Gimble and some of The Texas Playboys to record a gospel album, Western Swing Giants. In 1995, Ramona recorded the CD Texas Playgirls with Some of the Boys, with former Bob Wills' girl singers. She is also featured on the CD The Gals of the Big "D" Jamboree (2001). In 1995, Ramona was a guest on TNN's Ralph Emery Morning Show.

Ramona has been honored with several awards including being recognized as a country music pioneer by the Country Music Academy at the 1980 Ninth International Country Music Fan Fair. She has also been recognized for her outstanding dedication and devotion in preserving traditional western swing music by the Country Music Foundation of Colorado (1983), the California Western Swing Society Hall of Fame (1987), and the Greater Arizona Country Western Swing Association Hall of Fame (1997). Another honor was serving on the board of The State of Oklahoma's Commission on the Status of Women. She has performed at the Western Music Festival in Las Vegas (1988) and the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso, New Mexico (1999 and 2000). Most recently, Ramona was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Music Hall of Fame (May 2004).

Recent performances have found Ramona performing at the annual reunion of former Texas Playboys in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame induction of Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, the annual Western Swing Day celebration at the Oklahoma State Capitol, the International Bluegrass Festival with Asleep at the Wheel, Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, and various other western swing festivals and events. Along with performing several times a year, Ramona stays busy writing her memoirs.