With over 40 years of music making, Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition bring their authentic Western Swing to dancehalls all across Texas, with true traditional country music. Billy started his recording career in the 1970’s, singing Billboard charted, Top 40 Country music. He has been named Academy of Western Artists Western Swing Vocalist of the Year three times and has received the Academy’s Entertainer of the Year Award.
Billy’s career jump started as a featured singer with Tommy Morrell and the Time Warp Top Hands on Larry Scott’s syndicated radio show, The Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium of the Air. That lead to guest appearances with the Texas Playboys featuring Tommy Allsup and Leon Rausch. From there, Billy was invited to perform at the West Texas Western Swing Festival in Snyder, Texas and following that, at the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso, New Mexico, where now he is invited to entertain annually. He has gone on to become the heir apparent to the Bob Wills tradition as the Voice of Western Swing.
True to his Texas heritage, Billy insisted on recording his 1998 album Keepin’ The Tradition: A Tribute to My Hero’s, with his own stage band to properly perform the music he truly prefers - real Bob Will’s Western Swing and Traditional Country. His instincts proved true, with the album winning multiple awards and his music getting further radio exposure. By the time his two subsequent albums (Traditionally Yours in 2004 and Domino Effect ‘Featuring Grammy Award winner Floyd Domino’ in 2006) were released, Billy was a radio hit. Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition has enjoyed regular rotation on SIRIUS/XM’s Willies Roadhouse and worldwide traditional country radio stations.
In 2008 This is Tommy Duncan, Volume One was released. The first of a Trilogy Tribute to the ‘Voice of Western Swing’, it includes guest appearances by historic patriarch/creators of the Western Swing phenomenon. Designed to bring attention back to the Bob Wills vocalist, Tommy Duncan, who lived in the shadow of the king, the album was awarded the 2009 Western Swing Album of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists.
This is Tommy Duncan, Volume Two, featuring the years of Tommy Duncan’s own band, was released in the Spring of 2011, continuing the Trilogy.
In 2012, just one year after Volume Two was released, Billy released By Request, a special collection of the most asked for Western Swing and Traditional Country Honky Tonk Dancehall songs at Billy Mata live performances.
This is Tommy Duncan, Volume Three, was release this past January 2018. This is the final chapter, covering Tommy Duncan’s return to Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. This is Tommy Duncan, The Trilogy is now complete.
In February 2018, Ms. Penny Gilley, host of the Penny Gilley Show (airs on RFDTV), invited Billy for a taping on her television show. This appearance, taped at the historic Lil’ Red’s Longhorn Saloon in the equally historic district of the Fort Worth Stockyards, is to air later this year.
Billy Mata was handpicked by Lion of Texas Entertainment, who produced the theater show, For The Good Times, A Tribute to Ray Price. Billy performed many of Ray Price’s classics to eager audiences. The cast included past Cherokee Cowboys, Dave Alexander, Kristi Kalyn and Penny Gilley. The show toured many Texas towns and was an immediate success with rave reviews.
Billy Mata and The Texas Tradition’s music is not just limited to Texas. The band has performed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
The Texas Tradition is a handpicked collection of professional musicians from a wide area of Texas who are gathered together by their common interest in Western swing and the opportunity to play with the best of the best. They play like family. Together, they aren’t just another “human jukebox” on the stage. When they play, it’s natural and fun. Bob Wills knew how to do this. Tommy Duncan knew it. Billy Mata knows it. The audience gets the reward of it.
For over 35 years, Bily Mata has been performing. His band, The Texas Tradition, professional Texas musicians, joined to play with the best of the best. Three are past their 20th year and one in his 25th year with the band. They play like family - all energy, heart, spirit, natural and fun, the way it should be. Billy Mata, the Ambassador of Western Swing is a reference to the genre. When Western Swing struggled, Billy kept the rich roots of this Texas music alive with one hell of a lot of persistence, perseverance, and commitment to carry on this tradition in its true form inspired by the masters of the style. He’s done so by honoring historic icons who mentored many who followed.
Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition’s USA touring includes New Mexico, California, Oklahoma, Idaho, Wyoming, Tennessee, Texas. Promoting the genre, the band took a concert tour to Poland and has also toured Sweden and Canada. The band’s featured participation in International Jazz Festivals include Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, San Diego Jazz Festival, Victoria, British Columbia Hot Jazz Festival, Sun Valley Jazz Festival in Idaho, the Annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso, New Mexico, and the Annual Best Little Cowboy Gathering In Texas in La Grange, Texas.
| 2000 Academy of Western Artists (AWA) Western Swing Male Vocalist of The Year |
| 2005 AWA Western Swing Male Vocalist of The Year |
| 2005 AWA Entertainer of The Year |
| 2007 AWA Western Swing Male Vocalist of The Year |
| 2007 AWA Western Swing Group of The Year |
| 2007 - Billy Mata received the largest number of nominations of any artist |
| 2008 Sacramento Western Swing Society Hall of Fame |
| 2009 AWA Western Swing Album of The Year - “This is Tommy Duncan, Volume One” |
| 2010 Band was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame |
| 2010 Western Swing Hero Award, Cowtown Society of Western Swing |
| Ameripolitan Music Awards Best Male Vocalist - Western Swing Nominee 2014, 2015, 2017 |
| 2016 Ameripolitan Music Awards Western Swing Band of The Year |
| 2016 AWA Western Swing Male Vocalist & Western Swing Group Nominee |
| Featured Artist and Band in the 2016 South by Southwest documentary musical, “Honky Tonk Heaven,” named by Billboard Magazine as a Top 5 Must-See music film |
| 2017 Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest Hall of Fame Inductee |
| Western Swing Hero Award - Cowtown Society of Western Swing |
| 2018 Ameripolitan Awards Western Swing Male Vocalist winner |
| 2018 AWA nominations for Western Swing Male and Western Swing Album of the Year |
| 2018 AWA Western Swing Group of the Year |
| 2019 AWA Western Swing Male Vocalist of the Year Nominee |
| 2021 Texas Country Music Association Western Swing Band of the Year Nominee |
| 2021 AWA Western Swing Male of the Year Nominee |
| 2021 AWA Western Swing Band of the Year Nominee |
| 2022 Featured Guest Artist on the Penny Gilley Show |
| 2022 Featured Artist and Band in the independent film "Ten In Texas" |
| 2022 Texas Country Music Association Western Swing Band of the Year Finalist |
| Featured Artist in the documentary film "The Birth and History of Western Swing" release date tbd. |
| 2023 Texas Country Music Association Western Swing Band of the Year |
"Billy Mata and his boys were creating a storm of interest and energy everywhere they went. Take a group of musicians of this caliber of talent and add a front man with a style that brings together the sophisticated swing of Nat Cole and mix it with the dusty soul of Oklahoma and Texas you have a concoction that brings a sense of joy and human contact that cannot be touched by today's technology generated so-called music."
- Billy Wilson, Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.
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"For 30 years, Billy Mata has been entertaining audiences and winning awards with his ringing baritone. Add to that fiddle and pedal steel-guitar players of jaw-dropping skill and classic tunes, and you’ve got a Texas-sized slice of Western swing heaven."
- Sacramento News Review
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"I’ve forever told Billy Mata that if they make a movie about Tommy Duncan, he is the guy to play the part! He looks like Tommy Duncan, he acts like Tommy and he sings like Tommy.
Billy consistently has a great Western Swing Band that plays here at the Broken Spoke, one that LOOKS like a professional Western Swing band is suppose to look. Just like Bob Wills, who had his band dressed ‘Western, I appreciate that Billy has his band dressed in Western attire. Billy’s voice is so good! Not only can he sing Western Swing and country, but he also sings the old popular tunes from back in the 40’s, 50’s & 60’s. My wife, Annetta and I ALWAYS look forward to when Billy Mata plays at the Broken Spoke. I book Billy Mata here at the Spoke as often as I can because I know I am always going to have a darn good crowd, the way it should be! Thank you so much Billy Mata!"
- James White, owner, Broken Spoke, Best Honky-Tonk in Texas, Austin, Texas
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“Billy Mata is the Ambassador of Western Swing music. Billy Mata and The Texas Tradition are traditional country and western swing music at it’s best, and in the true tradition of country and western swing greats, Tommy Duncan and Bob Wills. It is always a joy and we have always been pleased to bring Billy Mata and The Texas Tradition to one of our theatre show productions. We. as well as, our audiences are always pleased with their performance and impressed with their appearance. The Texas Tradition Band is a great group of musicians and they are all gentlemen with a Texas size personality and great musical talent. Ray Price was always pleased to have Billy Mata and The Texas Tradition as a part of our Ray Price Shows. Billy Mata and The Texas Tradition are at the top of our list for great country and western swing music.” - Betty and Gene Wolf/Sharity Productions
1998
2004
A mix of Western Swing and Traditional Country with occasional smooth ballads and pop jazz tunes.
2006
Features Grammy winning piano man Floyd Domino, a founding member of Asleep At The Wheel.
In 2008 This Is Tommy Duncan, Volume One (featuring the big band years) was released. The first of an historic Trilogy Tribute to the ‘Voice of Western Swing,' it includes guest appearances by historic patriarch/creators of the Western Swing phenomenon.
This Is Tommy Duncan, Volume Two " (featuring the years of Tommy Duncan's own band) was released in 2011 continuing the Trilogy." Volume Three is planned for future release and will cover Tommy Duncans return to Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.
"By Request", 2012, is a special collection of the most asked for Western Swing and Traditional Country Honky Tonk Dancehall songs at Billy Mata live performances -- recorded in the studio -- By Request!
Tally Ho
Going Back to San Antonio
Domino Effect
Wayne Givens, an avid fan of Billy and the Texas Tradition, is a proud sponsor of the Duncan Trilogy.
Wayne says: "Billy has the finest voice in the state. He really knows how to keep the Tradition of Texas Music going. Strong!"
22133 Old Nacogdoches Rd • New Braunfels, TX 78132
Phone: (210) 325-5186
Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition proudly display the Academy of Western Artist (AWA) Western Swing Album of the Year Will Rogers Award for This Is Tommy Duncan, Volume 1.
Recording Engineer Bill Green welcomes Tommy Duncan's brother, Glynn Duncan and Glynn's son, Larry Duncan, to the studio for Glynn's part in Volume Two of the Tommy Duncan trilogy.
BGM NETWORK
2411 NE Loop 410, Suite 132 San Antonio, TX 78217
210-654-8773
www.bgmnetwork.com
Special thanks to Butch & Paula Jungmann
Doctor of Chiropratic
1724 BI-35E, Pearsall, TX 78061
Phone: 800-541-7804
19432 Davis St., Lytle, TX 78052
830-772-3839
9524 Highway 6 Loop South
Navasota TX 77868
Phone: 936-825-9070
Special Thanks to Donna Sue, and Helene Terrell Kawolsky