Clarence B Cagle's Obituary
Clarence Cagle was born April 19, 1920 to Charlie Bud and Mary Amy (Beaty) Cagle. He began playing violin and banjo at house parties at the age of nine and later found his calling with the piano, the instument that made him famous.He played at the Moonlight Gardens in Oklahoma City, where he became friends with legendary jazz musician Charlie Christian, who was playing at the club next door. After a stint with Herb Goddard’s Oklahoma Wanderers, he auditioned for Bob Wills, and performed with the Texas Playboys untill Wills left for Hollywood to make western films. It was during his time with the Texas Playboys that he developed his well known “Boogie Woogie Highball”. Clarence stayed in Tulsa and performed with Wills’ brother, Johnnie Lee Wills for the next 17 years. Clarence was also known for his work with Leon McAuliffe and was admitted to the Western Swing Hall of Fame in Sacremento, CA in 1988. He once figured that he could play more than 1000 songs on the piano without sheet music to assist him.He officially retired from music in 1999. Funeral services are 3:00 PM Friday, October 10, 2003 in the Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel, with burial in Floral Haven Memorial Gardens. The family has requested that memorial contributions be made for Alzheimer’s research.Survived By: His loving wife of 60 years, Kathrean Cagle; son and daughter-in-law, Clarence K. and Beverly Cagle; daughter and son-in-law, Patricia Ann and Steve Tiffin; grandchildren; Philip B. Cagle and his wife Jennifer Nuncio, Trisha Daugherty and her husband Kevin, Tod Nathan Tiffin and Amyee Paige Tiffin; great grandchildren Tyler Allen Sherbon and Ashlyee Renee Daughtery; and brothers John Lavertus Cagle, Melvin Cagle and Terry Geen Cagle.
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