In 1968, after repeated encouragement from his peers, Johnny Gimble moved his family to Nashville, Tennessee…..and from then on, his steady work as a session musician included sessions with Merle Haggard and The Strangers on their Bob Wills tribute album….A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills)…..along with Conway Twitty, Connie Smith, Loretta Lynn, Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, and Chet Atkins on Superpickers in 1973. The following year he took a cue from a song “Fiddlin’ Around”….which he had written and performed on the Atkins’ Superpickers album….and thus recorded his first solo album, titled Fiddlin’ Around. He recorded nine other solo albums.
In 1977, Johnny Gimble formed his own band The Bosque Bandits ….who perform in and around Austin, Texas on a regular basis throughout 1977 and 1978…..with a special appearance on Austin City Limits in 1978….as seen recorded in this video herewith….where they played well known Texas swing and country music songs from the heyday of swing music.
From 1979-81, Gimble toured with Willie Nelson worldwide….while appearing in a supporting role in the film Honeysuckle Rose. In 1983, Gimble assembled a Texas swing group featuring Ray Price on vocals, and charted a country radio hit with “One Fiddle, Two Fiddle” ….which was featured in the Clint Eastwood film Honkytonk Man….in which Johnny had a supporting role portraying Bob Wills…..plus, Gimble appeared from the 1970’s through the 2000’s on Austin City Limits on TV….and on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio broadcasts….and he was a member of the Million Dollar Band.
