- H.C. “Texas Slim” Lasater at his home in La Ventana, NM. Used w/expressed permission from J. Shannon Tunnell
- Texas Slim at his home in La Ventana, NM logo.jpg (253.27 KiB) Viewed 21602 times
In 1952, Glen Campbell loaded up and moved to Lindrith, NM to live with the Boytt and Lola Hardy family. They had heard Glen play and thought he could pick up some work as a guitar player around where they lived.
In Glen's autobiography, he shared:
"Boyd and Loma Hardy had lost a son in WWII and they seemed to shine up to me as if I were his replacement. They had some land to farm in New Mexico and asked me if I would go with them to work it. I needed the job and those folks needed me, so I took them up on their offer. ...While in New Mexico I enrolled in the tenth grade....I didn't learn a lot that year...All I could think about was playing music. I got a job playing on Friday and Saturday nights at the Coon Hollar Club in Regina, New Mexico, with a singer named Texas Slim."
The Hardy family had a friend, H.C “Texas Slim” Lasater, who had a band, the Rio Rhythm Riders. Slim’s band played almost every week at many venues in the northern part of New Mexico. His wife, Mrs. Barbara Lasater shared that Slim and Glen played mainly in Albuquerque and also in the four corners region of the state. Locally, Glen would play at the Coon Holler bar with Slim, anytime the opportunity presented itself. Glen left New Mexico at the end of ‘52, but Mrs. Lasater remembers that Glen and his Uncle Boo came to Farmington to play with Slim, possibly the following summer.
In all publications and accounts, “Texas Slim” was just the name of a guy that Glen played with, when he had moved to Lindrith. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Mr. Lasater’s grandson,
Shannon Tunnell and Mr. Lasater’s wife,
Mrs. Barbara Lasater, for taking the time to share their memories of "Slim", so that we can know and appreciate the man who gave Glen an opportunity to join his band, the Rio Rhythm Riders, and play at many venues in the northern part of New Mexico. Slim offered Glen an opportunity to get his first experience playing in an established band, that earned him a wage. Little did anyone know at the time, that this would be the first stepping stone of Glen's fast ascent to stardom.
Mr. Lasater recorded under the name of “Slim Lasater”, but was also known as “Texas Slim”, having been born in San Angelo, Texas. He wore many hats. He was a cowboy, served in the United States Army as an M.P., a welder, a logger, a farmer, a musician, a songwriter, a singer, an inventor and operated drive-in movie theaters in Regina and Cuba, New Mexico. While in Farmington, Slim had a couple shows on the local AM station. One of the shows was called "Texas Slim in Person". That, in itself, underscores that Slim was a well known musician in those parts.
- KVBC Radio ad in Farmington Daily Times 2-28-53
- Feb 28 1953 logo.jpg (40.14 KiB) Viewed 21601 times
- KVBC Radio Log for 2/28/1953
- KVBC Radio Show in Farmington, NM logo.jpg (164.21 KiB) Viewed 21601 times
First and foremost, by everyone’s account, he was a family man. Mrs. Lasater shared that although Slims music career didn’t take off, they had a good life and raised four wonderful kids.
Texas Slim and the Rio Rhythm Riders played the at the New Mexico State Fair from 1948-1955. Glen, it appears, played with them in 1952.
- State Fair News Clip from 1952
- 26829189_10208192193923147_856926265_o.jpg (61.69 KiB) Viewed 21626 times
Below is a picture of Glen and Slim with the Rio Rhythm Riders, taken in front of the Masonic Lodge on Central, during the New Mexico State Fair parade in Albuquerque, in 1952.
- Glen with Texas Slim and the Rio Rhythm Riders at the State Fair Parade in Albuquerque, 1952
- Glen with Texas Slim and the Rio Rhythm Riders at the State Fair Parade in Albuquerque, 1952.jpg (116.55 KiB) Viewed 21600 times
Mr. Lasater made several recordings back in the 60’s. He recorded at Yucca Studios, Red Feather Studios and made quite a few recordings at his home. He recorded “Snowing on the Mountain” and it was released in 1962 on Yucca Records. Slim wrote the song and played all the instruments on this recording.
500,350
Once again I would like to thank Mrs. Barbara Lasater and Shannon Tunnell for allowing me to honor Texas Slim, by sharing his life stories with me.