South Texas Swing
Hofner is an only-from-Texas kind of Western swinger, hailing from the state's wide Czech belt, claiming Czech as his first language, and often singing his polkas, waltzes, and traditional tunes in that language. He also had the hit version of the traditional fiddle tune "Cotton-Eyed Joe," which has since become a must-play for any band on the Texas dance hall circuit, and turned in credible Bing Crosby-derived vocals on pop standards. And his bands, which included his brother Bash on steel and often the great hot fiddler J.R. Chatwell, swung with the best of 'em.--John Morthland