Glenn Donald Rhees was born on July 23, 1925 in Oilton, Oklahoma. Glenn started playing the sax in the seventh grade at age 12 in Jennings, Oklahoma. He changed schools in the eighth grade and played in the Oilton High School Band. He then moved to Tulsa and played in the Webster High School Band. While there, he performed on shows with fellow student Patti Page. Following his high school days, he gained experience in music playing with area bands while working for oil exploration companies in Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming and Louisiana. He moved back to Tulsa after three years to make the music scene.
From 1946 to 1948, he played with Art Davis and the Rhythm Riders. They played in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Lucky Moeller heard Glenn and offered him a job with the Western Okies. Glenn later moved to New Mexico and played night clubs. In 1950, he moved back to Oklahoma City and joined Luke Wills Band the Rhythm Busters at the Trianon Ballrom. A year later Glenn moved to Lawton, Oklahoma to join the Southernairs. While with this band he played with Lefty Frizzel, Tommy Duncan, Webb Pierce, Hank Williams and Tex Ritter, plus a host of other stars from Nashville.
Four years later he moved back to Tulsa and went to work with Johnnie Lee Wills. In 1957, Bob Wills was looking for a sax man, and Johnnie Lee said Glenn was just the man for him.
Glenn Rhees recalled the day he joined the Texas Playboys: "The way it happened was we were getting ready to do our noon broadcast on KVOO. Bob needed a horn man and Johnnie Lee said 'Well, I've got one right here in the band.' At the end of the broadcast, Johnnie Lee came up to me and said, 'Why don't you take all your stuff off my bus and put it on Bob's and go with him tonight?' I told Johnnie Lee I would try it out, but just for one night."
Glenn became a full-fledged Texas Playboy for the next five years. He is on all of the Liberty recordings. Glenn picked up the nickname "Blub" because of the extra pounds he carried under his belt. In 1962,he went back to Johnnie Lee Wills band. Glenn also had two Top 40 hits with Johnnie Lee Wills, including "Blub Twist" and "Slush" in 1962.
Rhees was a member of the Musicians Union and had been inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame in Colorado, Washington, and California. He was also inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Glenn Rhees' recordings are included in the archives of the Smithsonian Institute under Oklahoma Folk Music.
Glenn Rhees later became a Superintendent of the Tulsa County Park System. Glenn "Blub" Rhees just couldn't hang up his horn, and played with the Former Texas Playboys for many shows in the early 1990's.
Glenn was a resident of Collinsville, Oklahoma for 23 years prior to his death March 29, 1996. Glenn and his wife Shirley had one son and three daughters.
Glenn "Blub" Rhees is buried at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Collinsville, Oklahoma.
Glenn Donald Rhees was born on July 23, 1925 in Oilton, Oklahoma. Glenn started playing the sax in the seventh grade at age 12 in Jennings, Oklahoma. He changed schools in the eighth grade and played in the Oilton High School Band. He then moved to Tulsa and played in the Webster High School Band. While there, he performed on shows with fellow student Patti Page. Following his high school days, he gained experience in music playing with area bands while working for oil exploration companies in Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming and Louisiana. He moved back to Tulsa after three years to make the music scene.
From 1946 to 1948, he played with Art Davis and the Rhythm Riders. They played in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Lucky Moeller heard Glenn and offered him a job with the Western Okies. Glenn later moved to New Mexico and played night clubs. In 1950, he moved back to Oklahoma City and joined Luke Wills Band the Rhythm Busters at the Trianon Ballrom. A year later Glenn moved to Lawton, Oklahoma to join the Southernairs. While with this band he played with Lefty Frizzel, Tommy Duncan, Webb Pierce, Hank Williams and Tex Ritter, plus a host of other stars from Nashville.
Four years later he moved back to Tulsa and went to work with Johnnie Lee Wills. In 1957, Bob Wills was looking for a sax man, and Johnnie Lee said Glenn was just the man for him.
Glenn Rhees recalled the day he joined the Texas Playboys: "The way it happened was we were getting ready to do our noon broadcast on KVOO. Bob needed a horn man and Johnnie Lee said 'Well, I've got one right here in the band.' At the end of the broadcast, Johnnie Lee came up to me and said, 'Why don't you take all your stuff off my bus and put it on Bob's and go with him tonight?' I told Johnnie Lee I would try it out, but just for one night."
Glenn became a full-fledged Texas Playboy for the next five years. He is on all of the Liberty recordings. Glenn picked up the nickname "Blub" because of the extra pounds he carried under his belt. In 1962,he went back to Johnnie Lee Wills band. Glenn also had two Top 40 hits with Johnnie Lee Wills, including "Blub Twist" and "Slush" in 1962.
Rhees was a member of the Musicians Union and had been inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame in Colorado, Washington, and California. He was also inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Glenn Rhees' recordings are included in the archives of the Smithsonian Institute under Oklahoma Folk Music.
Glenn Rhees later became a Superintendent of the Tulsa County Park System. Glenn "Blub" Rhees just couldn't hang up his horn, and played with the Former Texas Playboys for many shows in the early 1990's.
Glenn was a resident of Collinsville, Oklahoma for 23 years prior to his death March 29, 1996. Glenn and his wife Shirley had one son and three daughters.
Glenn "Blub" Rhees is buried at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Collinsville, Oklahoma.
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