What is the Tommy Duncan Trilogy Tribute About?

Hopefully our video reminded you of the tremendous contribution Tommy Duncan made to American music. This project is meant to commemorate the gift and the legacy Tommy Duncan left to the world of music. This will preserve and honor a unique Western Swing artist who was and still is a role model and icon and whose music is timeless. This is a story about Tommy Duncan, one that needs to be told and remembered.

The trilogy tribute represents the three phases of Tommy Duncan’s career – first with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, then on his own when the two broke up and then the third phase when Tommy and Bob got back together again and caused a revival of Western Swing all across the country. Billy Mata’s goal is that Tommy will finally receive the respect he deserves in the world of Western Swing and can take his rightful place in the Country Music Hall of Fame for the contribution, talent and skills he brought to the Western Swing music world as a whole.

Who is Tommy Duncan?

In the world of Western Swing and American music, Tommy Duncan was a pioneer and special artist who came along and opened the door to new levels, who took this music and exposed it to dimensions that have never before been heard. He was a vocalist, songwriter and mentor and friend to so many such as Bing Crosby, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, and George Strait.

Tommy was the voice of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, an amazing musician and legendary entertainer. His influence was felt around the world. Tommy Duncan was indeed, the Voice of Western Swing! With this trilogy, Billy Mata will share Tommy’s musical genius so that the world may recognize Tommy’s valuable contribution.

As many of you know, we are proud to share that the This is Tommy Duncan Trilogy is complete!

The This is Tommy Duncan Trilogy Tribute Boxset, which includes Volumes 1, 2, and 3, plus a booklet filled with photos and messages from Billy will be available for purchase through our online store beginning 1/1/18 for $35, including Shipping and Handling.

*This Is Tommy Duncan Volume 3 will not be available for individual purchase

In 2008 This Is Tommy Duncan, Volume One (featuring the big band years) was released. The first of the historic Trilogy Tribute to the ‘Voice of Western Swing,' it includes guest appearances by historic patriarch/creators of the Western Swing phenomenon such as Johnny Gimble, Glynn Duncan and Herb Remington. Designed to bring attention back to Tommy Duncan, Bob Wills’ vocalist who lived in the Shadow of the King, the CD 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. These were the middle years of Tommy’s career, a performer in his own right and a bandleader of his Western All Stars. This volume features some promising Western Swing songs that only Tommy could have done, but it just wasn’t quite the same without Bob Wills.

Volume Three, without which the full musical story would not be complete, will cover Tommy Duncan's return to Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Volume Three is the final chapter in this novel when Tommy and Bob got back together again causing a glorious resurgence in Western Swing. It is time for us to finish the story. We ask you to join this effort to preserve the work of this amazing musician and legendary entertainer.

Thank You

There are not enough words of thanks I can say to all of you. Many thanks to all that pledged, big and small, and for the encouragement to forge forward with this project. Also, a big thanks for everyone's patience. It took longer than anticipated, but it sure is nice to see that light at the end of the tunnel. I hope you enjoy the music, as much as I did bringing it to you!
- Billy

A Little Background on Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition

Billy Mata is a Texas music scene veteran with over thirty-five years of making music with his own Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame band, The Texas Tradition. 

Three-time Academy of Western Artists Western Swing Vocalist of the Year, winner of the Academy’s Entertainer of the Year award and most recently, the 2016 Ameripolitan Awards Western Swing Group, Billy Mata delivers the finest authentic Western Swing and true Traditional Country Music. As the Ambassador of Western Swing, Mata steadfastly strives to keep the traditions that make Texas’ music and its dancehalls unique. 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.