Singer
Moe Bandy

Marion Franklin "Moe" Bandy, Jr. (born February 12, 1944) is a country music singer. He was most popular during the 1970s, when he had several hit songs, both alone and with his singing partner, Joe Stampley. Marion Bandy was born and grew up in Meridian, Mississippi, hometown of the country singer Jimmie Rodgers. He later stated: "My grandfather worked on the railroads with Jimmie Rodgers. He was the boss of the railway yard in Meridian and Jim ... mie Rodgers worked for him. He said that he played his guitar all the time between work." He was nicknamed Moe by his father when he was a child. The Bandy family moved to San Antonio, Texas when Moe was six. His mother played piano and sang. Bandy was taught to play the guitar by his father who had a country band called the Mission City Playboys, but made little use of the ability until he was in his teens. His father's wish that Moe also play the fiddle never materialized. He made some appearances with the Mission City Playboys but generally during his high school years he showed little interest in music and a great deal of interest in rodeos. He tried bronco-busting and bull riding and by the time he was 16, both he and his brother Mike were competing in rodeos all over Texas. In 1962, tired of the bruises and fractured bones, he began to pursue a career in country music. He assembled a band that he called Moe And The Mavericks and found work playing small beer joints, honky-tonks, and clubs over a wide area around San Antonio. When he was young he tried to sound like Hank Williams and George Jones - "I even had my hair cut short like his." Although work was plentiful, the pay was poor and during the day he worked for his father as a sheet metal worker, a job that lasted for 12 years, during which time he made a few recordings for various small labels. In 1964, he had his first single, "Lonely Girl", on the San Antonio based Satin label, but it made little impression. He did manage to get his band a residency on a local television program called Country Corner and in this capacity, he provided backing for several touring stars. In 1973, he went solo when record producer Ray Baker, who had listened to his demos, suggested that he come to Nashville, Tennessee. Moe Bandy obtained a loan and recorded a song called "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today". Initially released on Footprint Records with a limited pressing of 500 copies, it soon came to the attention of the Atlanta-based GRC label. In March 1974, it entered the US country chart, eventually peaking at number 17. Other minor hits followed, including "It Was Always So Easy To Find An Unhappy Woman (Till I Started Looking For Mine)" and "Don't Anyone Make Love At Home Anymore". In 1975, a song written by his friend Lefty Frizzell and Whitey Shaffer gave him a number 7 country hit, firmly establishing his reputation. "Bandy The Rodeo Clown" was to become not only one of his own favorites but also one of his most popular recordings. (Shaffer was greatly amused by the way Bandy pronounced woman as "woh-min", and began to send him songs with the "woh-min" in them.) Bandy sang in a simple style that extracted the utmost from his songs of lost love, sadness, and life. Although by no means a Hank Williams sound-alike, his method of putting across his honky-tonk songs showed the distinct influence of Williams. He met with immediate success at Columbia Records with Paul Craft's "Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life" and quickly added further hits, including "Here I Am Drunk Again". From 1977 through 1979, he was a country chart regular with singles such as "I'm Sorry For You, My Friend" (the song Williams had written for their mutual friend Lefty Frizzell), "Cowboys Ain't Supposed To Cry", "That's What Makes The Jukebox Play", and a duet with Janie Fricke, "It's A Cheating Situation". In 1979, he achieved his first solo number 1 with "I Cheated Me Right Out of You". That same year, in 1979, Bandy joined forces with Joe Stampley and recorded a tongue in cheek novelty single: "Just Good Ol' Boys". The song went on to top the country chart and it led to a continuation of their partnership. The duo, commonly known as "Moe and Joe", had more novelty hits between 1979 and 1985, including "Holding The Bag", "Tell Ole I Ain't Here", and "Hey Joe (Hey Moe)". In 1984, they ran into copyright problems with their parody of the then-current Boy George/Culture Club phenomenon: "Where's The Dress" used the guitar-riff introduction from Culture Club's hit "Karma Chameleon". During the 1980s, Bandy maintained a steady line of solo successes, including "Yesterday Once More", "Rodeo Romeo", "She's Not Really Cheatin' (She's Just Gettin' Even)", and "Till I'm Too Old To Die Young". Bandy also registered duet successes with Judy Bailey ("Following The Feeling") and Becky Hobbs ("Let's Get Over Them Together"). Over the years, he maintained a touring schedule estimated at 250 to 300 days a year and appeared on numerous network television shows. In later years, he cut back considerably on his schedule. He was never a regular Grand Ole Opry member, but has made guest appearances from time to time. Bandy summed up his music when he said, "I really think my songs are about life. There's cheating, drinking and divorcing going on everywhere and that's what hardcore country music is all about." He added: "If I'd done all the things I sing about, I'd be dead." Critics reviewing some of his later recordings wrote that it was strange that at a time when more artists were actually recording his type of music, some of his recordings were spoiled by string and/or choir arrangements, and advised that an immediate return to his roots was necessary. Bandy opened his popular Americana Theatre in Branson, Missouri in 1991 and performs frequently there. Moe, along with his brother, Mike Bandy, a six time NFR bull riding qualifier, were inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2007. . See more [+]

Too Old To Die Young |||||

If life is like a candle bright Death must be the wind You c...

Barstool Mountain |||||

I've finally found a place where I can take it All this lone...

Cowboys Ain't Supposed To Cry |||||

Oh I am just a cowboy on my way back to Houston I used to pl...

Following The Feeling |||||

Your eyes are not the eyes I should be seen in But right now...

I Cheated Me Right Out Of You |||||

After hundreds of lies and fake alibis after too many times ...

Im Drunk Again |||||

I said I'd never do it again I swore my ways that I would me...

Red Wine And Blue Memories |||||

When I looked up she was standing there With pretty long bla...

Rodeo Romeo |||||

He'll dust off his hat, clean out his old pickup truck He's ...

Soft Lights And Hard Country Music |||||

Well it really tears me up when I hear a hurtin' song And I'...

What Makes A Jukebox Play |||||

I just spent my last nickle Trying to dry my tears away Tryi...

Americana |||||

I?ve traveled all around this country In my time I thought I...

Bandy The Rodeo Clown |||||

Who was ridin high till a pretty girl rode him to the {Am}gr...

Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life |||||

You wrote Your Cheatin' Heart about A gal like my first ex-w...

Hank You Wrote My Life |||||

I've heard that blue old whipporwill, too And the Lonesome W...

Honky Tonk Merry Go Round |||||

(E)She stood there, with tears in,(A) her beautiful eyes (B)...

It Was Always So Easy |||||

where I {D}made out with love too many {A}times (Chorus) ...

It's A Cheating Situation |||||

It's a cheat-ing, sit - u - a - tion A steal-ing, in-vi-ta-t...

Picture In A Frame |||||

I Fin'lly Found The Words To Say How Long Did I Intend To St...

She's Not Really Cheatin' |||||

Not a hair out of place, then she makes up her face then she...

Four Letter Fool |||||

I had everything in my favor under God's blue sky Your good ...

Motel Matches |||||

Just an hour ago I didn?t know her name A couple of drinks a...

My Heart Belongs To You |||||

Well there's no use for us to quarrel I know this is the end...

Hey There My Friend |||||

Hey there my friend there?s no need to be blue Hey there my ...

High Noon |||||

Do not forsake me oh my darling on this our wedding day Do n...

Home Is Where The Hurt Is |||||

My glass is empty and so are my arms The lights are down low...

Honky Tonk Amnesia |||||

She?d be hurt if she knew I was drinking Cause one?s too muc...

Pardon Me |||||

verse 1 The band was playing that old love song It seemed I'...

I Didnt Think I Loved You |||||

I didn't think I loved you now I do I didn?t think I could b...

I Forgot That I Dont Live Here Anymore |||||

Four am and raining I finally found my way back home Between...

I Just Started Hating Cheating Songs Today |||||

Today the midnight oil is all over someone And those forbidd...

I Never Miss A Day Missing You |||||

I never take a drink or go out dancin' When you live alone t...

Darling Will You Marry Me Again |||||

It was mom and daddy's anniversary You hugged my mom and kis...

Dont Anyone Make Love At Home Anymore |||||

Of all the love affairs to die I wagered yours and mine Woul...

If I Had Someone To Cheat On |||||

I'm not here just drinking someone's memory away But I wish ...

If I Lay Down The Bottle |||||

Me and that ole sunshine is sinking mighty low The differenc...

If She Keeps Loving Me |||||

She'd like to give me things that you've stopped giving She ...

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