Eldon Shamblin, one of the world’s greatest and most influential rhythm guitarist, was born April 24, 1916 in Clinton, Oklahoma, but the family soon moved to Weatherford where he grew up. He created the sound that is often called the Texas Swing Guitar but should be known as the Oklahoma Rhythm Guitar; his rhythm guitar sounds and progressions are heard anytime the guitar is played as a rhythm instrument, not as an open chord instrument; he helped make music the industry that it is today.
He grew up in a musical family and became a self taught guitarist, who in the early years of the Great Depression moved to Oklahoma City to earn food and meager subsistence with his singing and guitar. He worked the Oklahoma City bars for food and tips, until 1935 when he met a group of musicians who became the original Alabama Boys in Tulsa. They hired him as their vocalist; he moved to Tulsa. He did not like to sing, so he worked at perfecting a distinctive guitar sound.
In November 1937, Bob Wills talked him into becoming a Texas Playboy, and while recording “Take Me Back to Tulsa” in 1941, Wills turned to Shamblin and said, “I want you to put a lot of runs in this.” From that time on, Shamblin played a strong running bass line sustained by inverted substitute, passing chord structures—a constantly moving rhythm voice. And, he was equally innovative when playing lead guitar.
He and Leon McAuliffe developed steel guitar/standard guitar duets that became classic guitar sounds, and it was after Shamblin joined the Playboys that the heavy rhythm Wills musical trademark became obvious in their recordings. He arranged songs for the band, and eventually became the friend who looked after Bob Wills.
After the big western swing band era ended, he worked for Hoyle Nix in Big Springs, Texas, before returning to Tulsa, where he tuned pianos for his primary living. In the 1970s and ‘80s, he toured and recorded with Merle Haggard, and was a member of the Original Texas Playboys. He also recorded with musicians such as Mark O’Conner, and is heard on the 1993 Grammy winner “Red Wings” with Asleep At The Wheel.
Eldon Shamblin was man filled with talent, love, friendship, and loyalty; he was a husband, a father and a grandfather. Eldon Shamblin was a musical giant who died on August 5, 1998, but his musical style and influence live on.