Glenn Stepp and his Western Swingsters were regulars on the California Hayride in the 1950s and were heard on KBOX, Modesto, CA. KFIV Modesto, CA. KLOC, CERES, CA (Glenn Stepp was also an on air personality on Chester Smith’s KLOC radio station playing the latest country and western records).
Glenn Stepp, according to a 1954 article, was born and raised in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He came from a large family; he had 3 brothers and two sisters.
He got the musical bug at an early age, forming his first band called the Oklahoma Music Makers while in high school. The group played venues such as school dances, halls, rodeos. Speaking of rodeos, he also rode Brahma bulls and bare backed broncos as well.
Glenn entered the military service in June of 1948. He served with the Paratroopers of the 187th Regiment that was operating in Hikkido, Japan. While he was stationed at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, Glenn became one of the stars of the WKDA Hayloft Jamboree in Nashville, Tennessee.
He received his discharge from the military service after two years and went back home to Tahlequah. He decided to hitch up with the Oklahoma National Guard, 45th Division. This time is tour of duty took him to Japan and Korea. While stationed overseas, in addition to his regular military duties, he also had a group called the “Oklahoma Swingsters” that performed for the troops. He was also heard over AFRS out of Sapporo, Japan. When he received his discharge from the military service, this time he returned to Modesto, California to be near his folks.
In the middle 1950s, folks in the central valley of California near Modesto were said to have heard “Keep in step with Stepp” over the airwaves three times a day on radio station KBOX. In August of 1953, an ad we found shows that Glenn and his group was playing at the Oakdale Beer Garden in Oakdale, California. The ad also mentions that the steel guitar player for the band, Lemon Davis(sp?), who was formerly with T. Texas Tyler.
Around the time the 1954 article ran, Glenn Stepp and the Western Swingsters were working regularly at the Fun Center in Riverbank, California, just up the road from Modesto. Glenn remained popular in the central valley. By 1957, he was a part of the cast of the television program, “Country-Western Time” that aired on Monday nights for 90 minutes over KOVR-TV, channel 13 in Stockton, California. Bill Ring, formerly of KWTO, Springfield, Missouri and Ozark Jubilee fame, was the show’s emcee. The station also featured other country and western themed shows such as the California Hayride and “Corral 13”, a sort of talent contest type show where the winner won a spot on the California Hayride. The grand prize winner was to receive a six-month engagement on the Hayride show and a weekend appearance at Riverside Rancho with Tex Williams and his band.
Roaming around the internet, we found the names of a couple of former members of Glenn Stepp’s band. One was Elmer Whittle, who was also from Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He was said to play guitar and did the lead vocals for Glenn’s group. According to the Western Swing Society’s write-up, this appears to be about the time they both returned from the military service the first time around. Elmer continued his career and was inducted into the Pioneers of Western Swing in 1999. Another member at one time or perhaps just appearing with Glenn’s band, during Glenn’s career in the central valley was Smokey Silver, born in Beggs, Oklahoma and later his family moved to Stockton, California 1942. He was also inducted into the Pioneers of Western Swing in 2006.
Credits and Sources:
Country Song Roundup; No. 34; September 1954; American Folk Publications, Inc.
Country Song Roundup; No. 50; June 1957; American Folk Publications, Inc.
HillBilly-music.com
This was my Grandpa Glenn! Thank you for this post and in keeping his memory alive. It’s wonderful to read about the accomplishments he made in his life. I am also a singer-songwriter and have been working on the formation of my own media business, to offer audio and video production services. It’s in my blood!
Thank you for your reply Stefanie. When I was a child your grandpa was a staple on our family radio. As a young person in college I had the pleasure of getting to know your grandpa when doing work for Chester Smith at KLOC. Good memories. Good luck with your musical/media pursuits. – Derek Waring
Hello, and I sure hope I’m able to do this correctly and get some answers.
I’m reasonably sure I am remembering this experience very clearly, I was a blind child, 10 years of age, when I lost my sight, and I remember singing on Glenn’s Saturday morning radio show. I used to receive request from different hospitals, churches, teachers, I guess I had a nice voice, and I was very well known to many people in that area.
I remember that there was a person who played a guitar and someone who played the piano, and I remember taking requests to sing specific songs. My father would pick me up at the California State school for the blind in Berkeley California, he was a semi truck driver, and he would bring me to the radio station to do a small show on Saturday mornings.
My name is definitely what I have written here, except during that time., I was known as Sandy. I believe it was the summer of 1962, or 1963, I was about 10 1/2 or 11 1/2 when I sang on that radio station.
What a memory. I currently live in Kansas City, Missouri, I do work, I do have a masters in counseling, I own a home here, never had children, and I’m almost 74 years of age. I would love to know if my memory is correct on this one. Please advise, I’m looking so forward to knowing more.
Sagi, We love getting requests about things long ago and far away; after all, that’s what museums are for. Going back 60 years, KTRB had “The Tots and Teens Show.” The host was Cal Purviance. Cal also had a birthday greetings show called, “Cal Your Birthday Pal.” Those were simpler times. We have no records of Glenn Stepp hosting a talent type of program. However, the piano player on “Tots and Teens” was Glen Staley. Perhaps you had the two Glens mixed up. Glenn Stepp was pretty famous. He had top-of-mind awareness among KTRB’s many listeners. Back then, KTRB was the talk of the town; we’re glad you made the big time. We will post your email; if we get comments we’ll pass those along. All the best, Rick Myers, Modesto Radio Museum President.
You know, Rick, I’m just extremely excited that someone took the time to respond. I do remember that the gentleman‘s name was Glenn, so you probably are right, it probably was the second Glenn that you referenced. I remember that very well, and I remember just how joyful he appeared to be whenever he announced my name. I gave the audience some Idea of who I was at that time. This is so cool. I’m so excited to find this information. It brings that such fond memories.
Before I lost my eye site in 1962, I used to sing for the church of the Nazarene in Waterford, California. I remember after I lost my site how that same group of people felt that I might have lost one attribute only to be rewarded with a gifted voice, I really did enjoy singing for that little church until I actually was walked out of Sunday school one morning. Yes, I really was walked out of that church because of a question I asked in Sunday school! Memories. Funny.
Thank you so much, Rick, and I’m going to be really curious about KFIV‘s history as well, I also remember winning that contest to date my favorite disc jockey, that was so much fun. I felt so grown-up at the age of 12. Thank you for this program. It’s really delightful.