This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Baytonians: Baytown’s homegrown big band of the era
The Baytonians, led by Bill Kovar, defined Baytown’s golden age from the 1940s to the mid-1950s. Local musicians, many with day jobs, played dances and senior proms around the region, with regular engagements at the Humble Community House and the Humble Club. Notable figures included pianist Johnny King, Ed Gerlach, and Darrell Nickerson, while recordings were scarce and one track was reportedly lost.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Glenn Miller
Tommy Dorsey
Woody Herman
Les Brown
Baytown
Bill Kovar
Baytonians
Humble
Humble Club
Kovar
Bob Nolan
KREL
Johnny King
King
Ed Gerlach
Houston
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Gerlach
the Baytonians
the Sun
Clyde Smith
The
Eddie Thompson
Paul Webber
Webber
Darrell Nickerson
Harry James
Carl O’quinn
Freddie Martin
O’quinn
Barbers Hill
Jerry Showalter
Tommy Bowen
Willie Derndon
Nickerson
Thompson
Smith
Chet Brantley
Paul Edwards
Emil Pauler
Paul French
Jimmy Petrick
Clem Kovar
Jay French
Harry Cox
Frank Hefner
Tar