Considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western swing, he was widely known as the King of Western Swing (although Spade Cooley self-promoted the moniker "King Of Western Swing" from 1942 to 1969).
Dianggap oleh para otoritas musik sebagai salah satu pendiri Western swing, ia banyak dikenal sebagai Raja Western Swing (setelah kematian Spade Cooley yang memakai julukan "Raja Western Swing" dari 1942 sampai 1969).