Wesley Vowell Born:  August 22, 1936 Died:  March 28, 2011 KRLD Big D Jamboree KWTX Waco, TX WACO Waco, TX

About The Artist Wesley Vowell has been singing county music (and country-gospel music) for decades. Wesley worked with the Diamond Twins as an act, a trio. One of them was his wife, Winona. The original trio was so well-known and so well-regarded, their photos and recordings from the past have just been added to the archives of the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Their info is also scheduled to be published in a book. In the 1950s, Wesley Vowell began his career on the Big State Jubilee. Combined successes on that show led Vowell and the Twins to an opportunity to appear on a bigger show, the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, Texas. The Big D Jamboree operated at the same level as the Louisiana Hayride and the Grand Ole Opry. Wesley and the Diamond Twins became regulars on the Saturday night country music show, which was broadcast on KRLD-TV, KRLD radio, and the CBS Radio network. These shows and appearances afforded them opportunity to meet and work with the major country music artists of that time. The Diamond Twins and Wesley had their own radio show on KWTX in Waco. Wesley later became a character on “The Uncle Elihu Show,’ a daily children’s program on KWTX-TV. Known as “Young Wes,’ he played the guitar and sang folk songs. The program was on the air for three years. Vowell than entered the U. S. Air Force, was assigned to Special Services, and entertained troops throughout the United States, Taiwan, The Phillipines, and Thailand. Wesley Vowell and Winona Diamond married in 1967 and raised a family while performing all over Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Florida. Ramona Diamond moved to Florida, got married, and performed in a Gospel Quartet. In the mid 1990s, Ramona returned to Waco and the Twins began to perform together again. They appeared on “Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue” in Fort Worth, “The Cross Timbers Opry” in Stephenville, “The Mesquite Opry,” and several others in the North Texas area. The Twins were also featured at a Western Swing Reunion with Johnny Gimble, Leon Rausch, and other members of the old Bob Wills band. Wesley Vowell appeared with the Twins on all of these programs. The Twins either sang backup for Wes or the three performed as a trio. The Diamond Twins and Wesley appeared with Justin Tubb to mark the induction of Ernest Tubb into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. They also performed when Floyd Tillman was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. The Twins and Vowell renewed their friendship — and appeared with — the Light Crust Doughboys. They first performed with this band on the Big D Jamboree. In 2003, Ramona passed away, but her voice and her music live on, thanks to her sister Winona, her sister’s daughter Susan, and her brother-in-law Wesley. In recent years, Wesley, Winona, and Susan have performed gospel music with The New Day Band. In addition, Wesley has written numerous gospel songs that can be heard on www.sparklemusic.com. Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com wishes to thank Wesley Vowell for contacting us and providing us with access to information and pictures to document not only his career, but the Diamond Twins as well. Related Web Links • Voco Records, Division of the Vowell Company

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