Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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TYLER, T. Texas

(b David Luke Myrick, 20 June '16, Mena AR; d 28 Jan. '72, Springfield MO) Country singer with growl in his voice. Grew up in Texas, performed on Louisiana Hayride, served in WWII, had hit with his own talking-song "Deck Of Cards' '48 on West Coast 4 Star Records, about a soldier playing cards in church because the 52 cards represent the weeks in the year, 12 in suit the Apostles etc, the deck being almanac and bible: Pop Memories reckoned it sold well enough almost to make the pop top 20; it was also a hit by Tex Ritter, by Wink Martindale on Dot '59, comic Max Bygraves in UK '73. Co-written "Daddy Gave My Dog Away' was another hit; appeared in movie Horseman Of The Sierras '49; "Bumming Around' '53 was no. 5 country hit on Decca; ran popular and influential T. Texas Western Dance Band for some years; had L.A. TV show Range Roundup. Gave up performing and became clergyman late '60s, made religious albums, died of cancer. LPs on King, Starday, Capitol in honky tonk style did well '60s; His Great Hits on Hilltop incl. theme "Remember Me'; LP Old Corrals & Sagebrush on Columbia.