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Tommy Magness and his Orange Blossom Boys Born:  October 21, 1916 Died:  October 5, 1972 WSM Grand Ole Opry WDBJ Roanoke, VA

About The Artist Tommy Magness was known at one time as Tennessee's champion hoe-down fiddler. He also appeared in the motion pictures, "Sing, Neighbory, Sing" and "Night Train To Memphis". He also toured the USA making personal appearances with Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys. On March 3, 1947, Tommy formed the Orange Blossom Boys. At some point, he left the Opry and at one time was heard over WDBJ. Their folio indicated that they were heard twice daily at 6:05am and 12:15pm. Let's meet the members of the band. Jay Hugh Hall was an accomplished entertainer, said to have played for many different bands across the country. In fact, he even played overseas quite a bit and had played on different ships in the Carolina Islands. After World War II, he played with some of his buddies on Okinawa over radio station WXLH. Before he entered the service though, Jay and Tommy Magness also appeared on Renfro Valley when it was aired over the CBS Network, too. But later they split up as Jay went into the army and Tommy went to WSM. Clayton Hall, they noted was one of the "noted Hall twins of radio and recording artists". He was born in Ararat, Virginia, May 4, 1919. Clayton's first appearance on radio was over station WSJS out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1936. He continued to appear on various radio stations until 1940 when he became part of the group, "Roy Hall and the Blue Ridge Entertainers" and appearing over WBSG in Greensboro, North Carolina. Later on in 1940, the group moved to WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia until he enlisted in the Army in 1942 and served his country until 1946. After the service, he joined Tommy's group, the Orange Blossom Boys. Jay Hugh Hall Clayton Hall Then there was Wayne Fleming, the steel guitar player for the group. He was born on June 1, 1920. He had also played on WSM's Grand Ole Opry, first with Milton Estes and the Musical Millers. Then with Ernest Tubb. Later on, he worked with Curly Fox and Texas Ruby. He was heard on some of Ernest Tubb's recordings then also. At one time, he lived in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Timeline and Trivia Notes Group Members included: Tommy Magness, fiddle Jay Hugh Hall (The old tenor-singing Mess Sergeant) Clayton Hall, guitar Wayne Fleming, steel guitar Credits & Sources Tommy Magness and His Orange Blossom Boys; Mountain Songs and Ballads; Heard Daily over WDBJ; Book No. 1 (Copy provided courtesy of Dick Hill, former country music artist and DJ and now country music historian)