Billy Mize

billymizeHat: Billy Mize began playing on KBAK’s The Chuck Wagon Gang in the 1950s with Cliff Crofford. He had already begun performing on the Trading Post Show when KUZZin Herb had his fatal heart attack. Mize then took over as host of the show. In fact, Mize also hosted Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch for a number of years. For two years, he even hosted both shows racking up over 3,000 miles per week driving between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. Mize recorded for Columbia, Decca, United Artists, Zodiac and other record labels. However, he like many of the Bakersfield Sound crowd was an excellent songwriter. Vern Gosdin reached #1 on the country music charts with Just Enough to Keep Me Hangin’ On, a song credited to Mize. Dean Martin also recorded three of his songs including Terrible Tangled Web. Billy Mize won the Academy of Country Music’s TV Personality of the Year from 1965-1967.


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