Benny Thomasson, Major Franklin, Vernon and Norman Soloman, Bryant Houston, and Eck Robertson were primary influences in my musical life, as they taught me and gave me their arrangements. My dad, Jim Houston Chancellor, was my biggest promoter, as one of his endless life loves was the love of music. My brothers, Allen “Texas Al”, and later, Robert, were my daily musical companions.

If you knew Benny Thomasson’s music, you may recognize his teachings in this recording, as most of the breakdowns and rags recorded here were learned from Benny. I first met Benny in 1956, when I was 13 years old, and Benny had just become the two time World Champion Fiddler at Crockett, Texas. I got to know Benny, who, in my opinion, is the greatest fiddler I ever met. I had played the mandolin since I was six, but after I met Benny, I couldn’t get enough of him or his music, and immediately started taking fiddle lessons from him. Benny went on to win his third World Championship at Crockett in 1957, and, thanks largely to Benny’s tutelage, I was fortunate in following him to be only the second ever to win that honor three times consecutively in 1959, 60 and 61.

Benny is the king and always will be - he helped to create a style of fiddling that later became known as “Texas-style”. The increasing spread in popularity of this style of fiddling can be attributed mainly to Benny because he traveled widely outside of Texas and because he was always willing to teach and share his style with others. Benny won recognition all over this country and has carried the sound of Texas fiddle throughout the nation. Benny, “I hear ya talkin’, son!”