The three fledgling musicians from Arlington, Texas began jamming in an old barn in 1959 and evolved to playing around town for private parties.
At Guthrey's, one of the largest rhythm and blues clubs in city, the band completed their personnel by adding Joe Donnell on sax and Tommy Brown as vocalist.
They soon became one of the top, and most imitated, dance bands in the DFW area and recorded numerous singles for noted Fort Worth producer Major Bill Smith.
For the next year the band backed-up numerous recording stars including Roy Orbison, Jimmy Reed, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mark Dinning, Jack Scott, Big Joe Turner, Bobby Hendricks, Gene Summers, Skip & Flip, Freddy Fender, Scotty McKay,[3] The Carlos Brothers, Chuck Berry, The Original Drifters and once staged a battle of the bands with The Champs of "Tequila" fame.
Due to the popularity of their recording of "Heartbreak Hotel" they officially changed the band's name to the Bill Smith Combo[2] in 1960.