The song “San Antonio Rose” is an instrumental song composed by the king of Western Swing “Bob Wills”.
Bob Wills, along with the Texas Playbosys, recorded it several times, the first one on November 28, 1938.
The song has become one of the great successes of Bob Wills. In 1939 the single climbed onto the national pop charts (country charts were not established until 1944) and peaked at # 15.
That same year Bob, Tommy Duncan and an associate named Everett Stone sat down and wrote the lyrics for the song.
In 1940 they recorded again the song with Okeh Records, but this time, they put the lyrics to the song. So was born “New San Antonio Rose” .This version proved to be Bob’s biggest pop hit ever, topping out at # 11.
In 1944 “New San Antonio Rose” returned to the Billboard country chart, reaching number 3.
“San Antonio Rose” And “New San Antonio Rose” has been recorded by many artists.
“San Antonio Rose”
Some versions
Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys April 1939
Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra 1957
Floyd Cramer March 1961
The Ventures 1963
Herb Remington 1976
Jim Hendricks 1993
The Bayou Pickers February 15, 1995
The Quebe Sisters September 9, 2003
Charlie McCoy 2003
Jason Coleman 2006
“New San Antonio Rose”
Some Versions:
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys August 1940
Bing Crosby and His Orchestra 1941
Tex Ritter June 1946
Sons of the Pioneers February 1951
Patsy Cline November 27, 1961
Merle Haggard November 16, 1970
Asleep at the Wheel 1988
Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition 2008