Tumbleweed Smith
In his 36 professional years, Tumbleweed has interviewed some true Texas characters and assembled the largest private collection of oral history in the United States. He writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column and teaches broadcasting at the university level. As the creator and producer of The Sound of Texas, one of the longest running syndicated radio programs in Texas, Tumbleweed seeks fascinating people who embody the spirit of the lone star state and brings them into the homes and hearts of thousands.
The Sound of Texas
10,000th Broadcast
The 10,000th broadcast of THE SOUND OF TEXAS will air on February 7, 2008. Tumbleweed Smith (AKA Bob Lewis) started the series on August 1, 1969. The first interview subject was the movie actor Jon Voight, who had been in Big Spring filming the movie MIDNIGHT COWBOY. He had the leading role of Joe Buck. Jon Voight will also be the interview subject on the 10,000th broadcast of THE SOUND OF TEXAS.
“Jon Voight was as personable the other day when I interviewed him as he was 40 years ago when I interviewed him in Big Spring,” says Tumbleweed. During the interview, Voight told Tumbleweed how he landed the part of Joe Buck and how it launched his movie career, which covers a span of nearly 70 movies. “I’m still getting calls,” says Jon, who is remarkably grateful for his long tenure as an actor. He’s spending a lot of time these days visiting hospitalized war veterans.
Tumbleweed started his series while employed as news director at KHEM radio in Big Spring. “We had just put a man on the moon,” says Tumbleweed, “and Texans had a lot to do with that undertaking. I wanted to delve into the Texas spirit, travel the state, interview all kinds of people and report my findings on a daily statewide radio program.”
He sent out 65 sample programs and one station, KZZN in Littlefield, signed up for the series. “Man, I thought that was great. I had a network. 2 stations.” Within a month, 5 stations had signed up for the series and Tumbleweed quit his job at the radio station. “I knew what I wanted to do and was going to do it.”
He drove 200,000 miles over Texas the next couple of years, dropping into radio stations, selling his program and getting interviews. He says the series doesn’t seem like work because he has so much fun doing it. He has never considered retirement. The series became the state’s most widely syndicated Texas feature program. Tumbleweed has taught broadcast production and speech at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa since 1974. He also does a statewide syndicated newspaper column.
Tumbleweed does a lot of public speaking and uses the recorded voices of some of his most humorous interviews in his presentations. Texas Highways Magazine said Tumbleweed has probably recorded more Texas characters than anyone else. His collection of more than 10,000 programs, featuring the sounds and nuances of the Texas mystique, has been called the largest private collection of oral history in the US. The series will celebrate 40 years in 2009. The Texas House of Representatives has recognized Tumbleweed “for creating a priceless resource of Texas folk tales, lore and wisdom.“
Tumbleweed Smith interviewing artist Bill Worrell. Photo by Bill Murchison.
Under the Chinaberry Tree
A collection of fascinating East Texas tales and folkwisdom
Natural Born Storytellers
A collection of true stories and a few tall tales told by the people who tell them best. These comical and often outrageous stories are certain to become Texas legends.
News
TUMBLEWEED'S
TOP 40
SEPTEMBER 2008
New CD Celebrating 40-years of The Sound of Texas
Read the Midland Reporter Telegram's "Person to Person: 20 Questions with Tumbleweed Smith."
