James Robert "Bob" Wills, born on March 6, 1905, near Kosse, Texas, was an influential American musician, songwriter, and bandleader, widely recognized as the "King of Western Swing." Wills grew up in a musically inclined family, learning to play the fiddle and mandolin from his father and relatives. In the late 1920s, he began performing in country string bands across Texas.

In 1933, Wills formed the Texas Playboys, a band that would become legendary for popularizing Western swing music. The band initially started as a traditional string ensemble but evolved to include drums, amplified steel and standard guitars, and horns, which were unconventional in country music at the time. This innovative blend created an up-tempo country jazz style that drew influences from Dixieland, big band, blues, and various ethnic music styles.

The Texas Playboys gained national popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with hits like "Steel Guitar Rag," "San Antonio Rose," "Smoke on the Water," and "New Spanish Two Step." They recorded with several major labels, including Vocalion, Okeh, Columbia, and MGM. Key members of the band included vocalist Tommy Duncan, steel guitarist Leon McAuliffe, and electric guitar pioneer Eldon Shamblin.

Despite health struggles and the rise of rock and roll, Wills continued to perform into the 1950s. He suffered a heart attack in 1962, leading to the disbandment of the Texas Playboys, though he continued to perform solo. Wills was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1968 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 as an early influence. He passed away on May 13, 1975, in Fort Worth, Texas, leaving a lasting legacy on country and rock music.