From the Albuquerque Journal in 1983: The bar's name Coon Holler sounds like a honky-tonk in some forgotten movie, but it is a real place. About 33 years ago, the Coon family built the bar in a Regina hollow, or holler as it is sometimes called. Later, the bar was moved to its present location on NM 96. Folks like to tell how young Glen Campbell picked guitar there when he was starting his career. The Cnon Holler is the only watering hole in this town of fewer than 100 men, women, children and animals. It's too small to have a full-time mayor, say the locals, so they take turns being mayor. T ..read more

First of all...thank you to Polly and Mike Lawson for their graciousness in sharing the historical memories surrounding Coon Holler. Polly Lawson is the daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Coons, who opened and ran the Coon Holler bar and dance floor. Without their willingness to share their recollection and pictures about this period of time, Coon Holler would just be an early bar name that is barely a footnote in Glen’s career. From the first time I thought of Coon Holler, I always pictured it as a bar by the highway in Regina, a small community in New Mexico. An earlier post captured the bar, under t ..read more

This showed up on my feed last week. It wasn't unusual for Glen to run back and forth to NM during this time. 1968: In honor of its 15th anniversary, a local Clovis radio station sponsored a concert at Marshall Auditorium featuring Glen Campbell with the Coachmen and the Campbellmen. Tickets, which were sold through the station as well as at the Village Record Shop, were $3.50 for general admission, $4.50 for reserved seating and $2.50 for those willing to sit up high in the balcony. Marshall Auditorium is a 1400-seat venue that is still in use today. It was originally built on the Marshall ..read more

In 1958, Campbell formed his own band, The Western Wranglers. Glen stated, "We worked hard," he said. "Six, sometimes seven nights a week. I didn't have my eye set on any specific goals or big dreams." It appears that Glen remained with the Western Wranglers until he left for Los Angles in 1960. Glen Campbells Western Wranglers GCF Logo.jpg Statistics: Posted by jay — Sat May 15, 2021 4:38 pm ..read more

I wanted to attempt to identify the band members that played with Glen in most of the popular pictures available from the time he was in New Mexico. Please add to this thread with additional band pictures, memories of those band members or anything else related to Glen playing in New Mexico bands. 1952-Glen With Texas Slim Rio Rhythm Riders Albuquerque Fair Float with Names.jpg Early 50s Dick Bills & the Sandia Mountain Boys Named.jpg 1952-Dick Bills and The Sandia Mountain Boys Named.jpg 1953-Dick Bills and the Sandia Mountain Boys-- (Custom).jpg Early 50s Jake Reymore, Glen Campbel ..read more

I appreciate Hal for providing me a couple of pictures of his dad that I added to the post. Statistics: Posted by jay — Sun Apr 04, 2021 2:41 pm ..read more

It seems that Glen and his dad, Wes Campbell and Dick Bills were fishing at Elephant Butte Lake. Dick Bills hooked the huge catfish and Glen and his dad helped reel it in and get it into the boat. Glen Campbell, Wes Campbell and Dick Bills Catch Huge Catfish.jpg [center]Glen Catches a Big Catfish with his dad and Dick Bills.jpg[/center] Statistics: Posted by jay — Sun Mar 07, 2021 6:53 pm ..read more

It appears that Glen got busted hunting without a license around Lindrith, NM in 1969. Glen may have gotten some preferential treatment when it was all said and done. A special court time (on a Sunday evening) and for some odd reason, the officer that issued the citation couldn't be found to appear in court. He may have been sitting at home strumming on his new Glen Campbell model Ovation??? Or drinking coffee with the Hardy's or Texas Slim Lasater... The_New_Mexican_Tue__Nov_4__1969_ (1).jpg Statistics: Posted by jay — Mon Feb 15, 2021 8:36 pm ..read more

Tommy Collins (Custom).jpg Tommy Collins was about 16, living in Gallina, New Mexico, when he met Glen Campbell around 1951. Glen wasbeing raised by Boytt and Lola Hardy in Lindrith, NM at the time. Lindrith is not far from Gallina. Glen, having missed several years of school, while living in Arkansas, was enrolled in the 10th grade when he moved to New Mexico. Coronado High School, in Gallina, was a community regional high school for that area of New Mexico, including Lindrith. It is felt that this is where Glen met Tommy Collins and discovered they had a mutual interest … guitar playing ..read more

First of all, I have to express my utmost gratitude and sincere appreciation to John and Teresa Woodfill, who provided most of the information used in this post, as well as all the pictures. John is the grandson of Boytt and Lola Hardy and without his and Teresa’s (John’s wife) selfless assistance in sharing historical events and personal stories and pictures, this post would have never gotten off the ground. Boytt and Lola Hardy, his brother Estes and other relatives lived in and around Delight, Ark. Boytt and Lola were both from share cropping families, moving wherever crops were ready for p ..read more