Biography
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Born
20 June 1916
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Born In
Mena, Polk County, Arkansas, United States
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Died
28 January 1972 (aged 55)
David Luke Myrick (June 20, 1916 – January 28, 1972), known professionally as T. Texas Tyler, was an American country music singer and songwriter primarily known for his 1948 hit, "The Deck of Cards".
Myrick was born just outside of Mena, Arkansas. He recorded first for Black & White Records as a member of The Six Westernaires, and for 4 Star Records (Hollywood) from September 1945 until the end of the 1950s. Some now-legendary recordings in the country boogie (or pre-rockabilly) style were produced for the label with top session musicians on the steel and electric guitar, e.g. the driving instrumental "Guitar Boogie Woogie" (4 Star-1114; recorded in May 1946). The accompanying musicians were billed as The Oklahoma Melody Boys on the record labels.
Tyler wrote and recorded "The Deck of Cards" in 1948. The spoken-word hit single, which was his biggest hit, tells the story of a World War II soldier who explains how a deck of playing cards serves him as a Bible, an almanac and a prayer book. He followed that smash with another recitation, the tear-wrenching Mary Jean Shurtz composition "Dad Gave My Dog Away". His popularity resulted in a booking at New York City's Carnegie Hall.
He was a frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry and Louisiana Hayride, as well as hosting his own television show in Los Angeles, California in 1950. Some of his 4 Star recordings were leased to US-Decca Records from 1952–1955. His career was hampered at the end of the 1950s because of personal problems, although some albums on King Records (USA) with 4 Star material and hymns have been released. In the 1960s Tyler enjoyed a revival when he recorded two albums (one containing hymns) for Capitol Records and in 1966 another for Starday Records.
Following the death of his first wife, Claudia, in 1968, Tyler remarried and settled down in Springfield, Missouri, where he preached to a local congregation and occasionally performed. He died in Springfield on January 28, 1972 of stomach cancer.
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