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Tom Foley,
Uncle Tom, as he was known throughout Texas, was born in 1882 at
Friendship Community in Leon County, TX. He was one of twelve
children. He was born to Amos and Amanda (Ainsworth) Foley.
He was raised on a farm and taught to be a good farmer, yet his natural
talent was as a fiddler.
He started his music career at the
age of five, when he started playing the fiddle with his dad. He
performed at hoedown dances as a youngster and became known as the Leon
County Texas Star Fiddler.
Soon, with his height of fiddling
stardom, made his mark on the world, along with his nephew, Bob Wills.
They set a Leon County Texas legacy in the fiddling music world.
They were best and most famous fiddlers of all time.
Uncle Tom, as the World Champion in
1948, captured the world's attention. His best tune all his life
was "Give the Fiddler a Dream". He played this tune from the age
of 5 until his death, reaching his greatest height when he became World
Champion Fiddler in 1948. He made his mark on the world as being
one of the best fiddlers of Texas and the world.
Uncle Tom's greatest love for
fiddling and performing for people, took him many places, yet his top
priority was his wife and children.
Tom married Lillie Mae Golding in
1911 at Tiger Prairie Church. They were proud parents of three
children, Ross, Mae and Jim. Ross married Mae Dell Johnson.
Audrey Mae married James Williams and Jim married Ruby Durant.
Uncle Tom and Lillie Mae loved their
children, gave them support of family, Christian, educational and social
status of life. They had a close-knit relationship.
Lillie, proud of her husband's
fiddling talent, gave her blessing of his music world, even when he was
traveling.
Uncle Tom and Lillie were
grandparents of seven grandchildren. They felt God's blessings.
The grandchildren were their pride and joy.
Uncle Tom's sister Emma, made him
Uncle of Bob Wills, the most famous fiddler of all time and the king of
western swing. Uncle Tom and Lillie took Bob into their home, as
their own. Uncle Tom knew Bob had a special talent, so he taught
him many lessons of the music field, giving him his first fiddle.
He also taught him to holler 'souee' and Bob hollering 'souee' in a
tune, made a special connection between the two great musicians.
Lillie was mighty proud of her Tom
and nephew Bob. They as a team, were the best fiddlers of Texas
and the world. Then Bob formed his Playboy Band becoming the most
famous fiddler of all times and the king of jazz western swing music.
When we lost Uncle Tom in 1957, we
lost a grand gentleman. He is buried at Little Flock Cemetery of
Leon County, beside his relatives. He may be gone but his legacy
as best fiddler carries on. |