Fred Lowery

This Week in Texas Music History, we’ll meet a man who whistled while he worked.

Fred Lowery was born on November 2, 1909, in Palestine, Texas. Lowery lost his eyesight at age two. So, his parents enrolled him at the Texas School for the Blind in Austin, where his piano teacher helped him develop a talent for whistling. In 1929, Lowery began performing on Texas radio shows. In 1934, he moved to New York City and joined Vincent Lopez’s orchestra, eventually earning the nickname, the “King of the Whistlers.”

During his career, Fred Lowery performed and recorded with such stars as Steve Allen, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope. Lowery also whistled his way to the White House and Carnegie Hall before dying in Jacksonville, Texas, in 1984.

Next time on This Week in Texas Music History, we’ll visit a club that was key to integrating San Antonio. 

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