Carl Sprague

Carl Sprague

Source: Find a Grave

Carl Tyler Sprague is among country western's first singing cowboys via the ballad. Though the inflationary boom of C&W wouldn't occur until country swing, particularly in Hollywood, Sprague qualifies as a progenitor by theme, numerous of his folk songs addressing the cowboy. Born on 10 May 1896 on a farm near Houston, after World War I, during which he served in France, Sprague acquired a degree in animal husbandry in 1922 from Texas A&M. While working as an athletic trainer at A&M he formed a band called the Campus Cats. His first recordings per Tony Russell's 'Country Music Records' (CMR) went down on August 3, 1925, in Camden, NJ. 'Kisses' saw issue per Victor 19813. 'When the Work's All Done This Fall' wasn't unissued. His next session the next day went toward 'Bad Companions' released on Victor 19747 with 'When the Work's All Done This Fall' recorded again on the 5th (DAHR has the 4th). Wikipedia has 'When the Work's All Done This Fall' selling 900,000 copies. Despite that success, Sprague liked his position as a trainer at Texas A&M, continuing to work there.

'Kisses' ('Sock Her On Her Kisser')   Carl Sprague

Recorded 3 August 1925 in Camden NJ   Issued on Victor 19813 A

Composition: Sprague

'When the Work's All Done This Fall'   Carl Sprague

Recorded 4 or 5 August 1925 in Camden NJ   Issued on Victor 19747 A

Composition after a poem by D.J. O'Malley published 1893

Along with other unissued titles that August, Sprague left behind 'Following the Cow Trail' / 'Cowboy Love Song' (Victor 20067) and 'The Club Meeting' (Victor 19813). Praguefrank's follows his career to October 13, 1929, in Dallas for tracks including 'The Wayward Daughter' / 'The Mormon Cowboy' (Victor 40246). Sprague pursued music as a hobby after that. None of his recordings had come near to duplicating the success of 'When the Work's All Done This Fall' in 1925.

'Club Meeting'   Carl Sprague

Recorded 5 August 1925 in Camden NJ   Issued on Victor 19813 B

Composition: Sprague

'O Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie' ('Cowboy's Lament')   Carl Sprague

Recorded 22 June 1926 in Camden NJ   Issued on Victor 20122

Composition: Wikipedia

'The Cowboy' Carl Sprague & His Pards

Recorded 24 August 1927 in Savannah, Georgia   Issued on Victor 21402

The Pards: Olie Olsen (violin)   Joe Mintz (violin)

Composition: Sprague

Sprague left employment at Texas A&M in 1937 to operate a gas station and grocery store. He joined the Army a second time during World War II, later achieving the rank of major, then became an insurance salesman before resurrecting his career during the folk revival of the sixties. That included tracks gone down in early March of 1972 like 'Home on the Range'. Craig Davis joined on guitar on such as 'Roll on Little Doggies'. Session dates for titles that followed are uncertain but would see issue in 1988 on 'Classic Cowboy Songs' (Bear Family 15456).

Sprague died on February 23, 1979, in Bryan, Texas, where he had lived for several decades.

Other Profiles:

Richard Joseph Bell

Texas Historical Association