We were saddened to hear of the passing of Al Dressen on July 22, 2023. We remember Al not only for being an accomplished musician, but also for his establishment of the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame Archive at The Wittliff in 1994. Al’s commitment to Western Swing and the celebration of the music, performers, and artists will live on in his collection which includes photographs, numerous stage outfits, awards, clippings, and other artifacts.
Gary Hartman, Founding Director of The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University, penned this tribute to Al and his legacy:
Richard Alan “Al” Dressen (January 1, 1950-July 22, 2023), born and raised in Lockhart, Texas, was a prominent figure in the Central Texas music community. Although he played many different types of music throughout his lifetime, Al is best known for being one of the state’s most popular singers and band leaders of Western Swing.
Western Swing is an eclectic blend of country, jazz, blues, mariachi, polkas, waltzes, and other styles brought to Texas by the different ethnic groups that settled in the American Southwest during the 1800s and 1900s. Western Swing was forged from these diverse influences by Texas musicians during the 1920s and 1930s. Originally known as “Texas Swing,” it came to be called “Western Swing” in the 1940s, after it spread across the nation and became featured in dozens of Hollywood “western” movies of the era.
In recognition of how Western Swing reflects the unique ethnic and cultural diversity of Texas, the State Legislature designated Western Swing as the Official State Music of Texas in 2011.
Al Dressen was a devoted advocate for Western Swing, and he spent five decades leading and performing with some of the most prominent musicians from across the state and around the country. One of his best-known bands, Al Dressen’s Super Swing Review, was a Who’s Who of first-rate artists, several of whom also performed with Bob Wills, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Strait, Asleep at the Wheel, and others.
In addition to appearing onstage with his own bands, Al organized a variety of events that showcased other artists. For many years, Al hosted (and performed in) an annual Western Swing festival that attracted dozens of bands and thousands of fans to San Marcos, Texas. In addition to being a beloved musician and bandleader, Al spent much of his time and energy promoting the careers of others, as well as recognizing and celebrating many of the pioneers of Western Swing.
Al was an educator as well as a performer. After earning a degree from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), he taught high school in New Braunfels and elsewhere around Central Texas. Al’s dedication to teaching and mentoring students won him educational awards, as well as the gratitude and admiration of generations of students.
Al also hosted his own weekly radio show, Stars Over Austin, and performed at Austin’s legendary Broken Spoke night club and at numerous other venues across the Southwest. In recognition of Al’s prominent role in preserving and promoting Western Swing, he was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Al is survived by his wife, Lois Lynn, his children, and his grandchildren. He will also be missed by countless friends, fans, and fellow musicians, all of whose lives were enriched and inspired by this iconic figure in Texas music.