Woody Bridges

This Is How a Country Music Star Is Born



Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2010

by Woody Bridges
guitar lessons

Back in the 60's, Grace and I had our own band. We were playing 6 nights a week all over the gulf coast of Texas. We had three girls in the band. Grace, Billie Jo Spears and Betty Spears. This was a very good band. Betty Love played guitar, Ora Oubre on steel, Curly Deloache on Drums, Grace on bass and I played the lead guitar.

This was in the same time frame when we were writing songs with Jack Rhodes.(song writer of Silver Threads and golden needles). Grace and I were going up to Jack's place every chance we had. One day Billie Jo asked if she could go with us. So we took her up to see Jack.( He was living in Miniola), Jack had a motel with a studio built in one section of the building. Billie Jo audition for Jack and he liked what he heard. After a few months of working on songs, Jack took her to Nashville and introduced her to Ken Nelson.(the head of Capitol Records in Nashville) This is the same time Jack took Peggy Little to Nashville. Both of them got contracts.

Billie Jo has more or less retired and is living back in Vidor, Texas. The last I heard of Peggy was she had started doing gospel songs according to Barbra (whose late husband wrote "please Release me". Barbra is now married to my friend Bob McCormmick. Bob and Barbra live in Nashville now. But we still get together and have a good time playing music together every time Bob comes down to Tyler Texas. Bob is a very good steel guitar player.

I saw Billie Jo and Betty about two years ago at Huey Buxton's yearly get together. They are both doing fine.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Marijo Phelps
 2 years 103 days ago.
143 fans.
Small world - my hubby and I met at Youth With a Mission in Garden Valley - married in 1985 and lived in Van, Tyler and that area before moving to Oregon.
» left by Toshia Johnson
from Texas 1 year 329 days ago.
Hi...my Grandma is (was) Betty Spears love and Billy Jo my great Aunt. Just to let you know my Grandma did pass away 10/26/2006. We miss her dearly, however you can be assured her beautiful voice is singing to the Lord!!! I did enjoy your article.
» left by woody 86 days 7 hours ago.
Hello Toshia, Good to hear from you. Grace passed away 6/15/2010.

I guess I saw Betty and Billie Jo Right before Betty passed away. Billie Jo passed away a few months ago. I lose track of time. Where is Linda gale?

Take care
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