THE SKYLINE BOYS



This site is an ongoing research initiative by kin of Roy L. Parks.

A private collection and various public sources convey.

Dedicated to the families of folk and Americana originators.


1950 WCHA Calendar
Bill Bailey, Roy Parks,
Tex Ritter, Dude Webb,
Alan “Slim” Roberts, Hank Silby, Bud Messner


The Skyline Boys were folk and Americana musicians of the 1940s-1950s. They are remembered as Bud Messner’s crew and as a music troupe for Hollywood and Western actor, Tex Ritter. The Skyline Boys toured and broadcasted on the radio throughout the U.S. after WW2. Many members served in the Armed Forces and were musicians prior.

This site aims to document the group members’ early and lesser-known history.


BUD MESSNER

1930’s
Bud Messner
The Saddle Pals

Norman E. “Bud” Messner (Luray, VA. 1917) is described as a “pioneer in country music who began his radio career in 1934.” Bud began playing on the radio in Louisiana. He landed in Maryland at WJEJ radio, then moved to WCHA in Chambersburg, PA in the 1950s. Bud met and married Molly Darr, who later joined as a member of “The Skyliners.”

Bud Messner started playing on a three-dollar guitar his mother purchased for him and his brother. His first groups played in the late 1930s before WW2 and went by variations of “Bud Messner” “The/His Saddle Pals” and “The/His Saddle Sweethearts.”

“Bud and The/His Saddle Pals” members were Bernie, Buck, Texas Rose, Gene, Pete, and Gump. “Bud and The/His Saddle Sweethearts” were Dot, Bonnie, Betty, and Rose Lee Maphis, the wife of guitarist, Joe Maphis.

Bud’s music groups toured with the likes of Tex Ritter, Roy Acuff, The Carter Family, and Flatt & Scruggs. Bud sang, and played the bass fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.

Bud Messner was a founding member of the Country Music Association and a member of the Country Music Pioneers Association. Bud Messner’s name is associated with many American radio broadcasting circles of the Eastern U.S.


SKYLINE BEGINNINGS

WWVA

1946 WWVA Associates
Hank Silby, Roy Parks,
Toby Stroud, Bill Bailey
Source: West Virginia Department of Culture & History

Members of “The Skyline Boys” pictured with Toby Stroud as the “Blue Mountain Boys.” Whether this lineup is consistent with any Toby Stroud recordings remains unconfirmed.

Toby Stroud was a renowned fiddle player who developed into a guitarist. He moved to Wheeling, WV, from Ohio and joined the WWVA cast. A photo of Bill Bailey and Toby Stroud in 1944, and more info on Toby, can be found via a link in the sources section.


1946 WWVA Jamboree Cast
WWVA 20 Year Anniversary Album

Cast of the 1946 Wheeling West VA Jamboree. Dude Webb, Roy Parks, and Bill Bailey are shown alongside Toby Stroud, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Pete Cassell, and other known players.

Known as “The World’s Original Jamboree,” WWVA is the second-oldest ‘country music’ radio station in the U.S. after WSM, commonly known as “The Grand Ole Opry.”


“THE SKYLINE BOYS” SCENE

The Skyline Boys
Picture Album
Bill Bailey, Quincy Snodgrass, Dude Webb, Roy Parks

The picture album features individual photos of Bill Bailey, Dude Webb, and Roy Parks as “The Skyline Boys,” with a group photo including comedian, Quincy Snodgrass.

This is likely the earliest group lineup and initial promotional material released under the original “The Skyline Boys” moniker. The estimated date range is 1946—early 1947.

It is unclear how “The Skyline Boys” and Bud Messner linked up specifically, but the association with WWVA, and Dude Webb, may have been the connection.

Based on the evolution of the promotional material, the estimated time frame of formation and use of “Bud Messner and The Skyline Boys” would be 1947-1948.


The earliest identified news article to date:

“Bringing comedy, music, songs and variety to the stage and the fun, thrill and laughter to the audiences, “The Skyline Boys” featuring Dude Webb, Big Bill Bailey, Handsome Hank Leon Selby (sp. Silby) and Bashful Roy Parks are coming to the Strant Theatre for one day only, Wednesday (Aug. 20, 1947).

This is a musical group featuring old time… and popular music that have entertained radio and stage audiences throughout the nation for more than a decade. All were featured stars of the world’s original Barn Dance Jamboree in Wheeling, WV., and prior to that they were featured on the Shenandoah Valley station in Harrisonburg. They are now featured on a Chambersburg, PA station.

This musical comedy hillbilly group recently recorded four sides for Majestic records, and these are just now going on the market. Critics of other cities class this stage act as one of the fines in the radio and stage field, for they feature the good old folk music that everyone enjoys.

The Skyline quartette is one of the show’s big features. It also features duets by Dude and Bill Bailey, and the fine tenor soloist, Roy Parks, who is known as one of the finest in the business, and last, but not least, the comedy of Hank Leon Selby (sp. Silby).”

– “The Daily Newsleader” Staunton, VA, Aug. 19, 1947.


THE SKYLINE TROUPE

Robert H. “Dude” Webb (Lynchburg, VA. 1923) was a guitarist, bass fiddle player, vocalist, radio DJ, and performer associated with many radio broadcast outfits. The Skyline Boys orange song folio states that Dude Webb was a young talent who started playing on the radio at thirteen and went on to broadcast from WWVA, WROM, WHIS, and WSVA.

His earliest musical groups remain unconfirmed, an article in “The Daily Newsleader” of Staunton, VA, June 27, 1946, shows Dude had a group called “Dude Webb’s Valley Playboys,” which was just before “The Skyline Boys” showed up in papers.

Associates of the Museums of Wytheville, VA, verified in 2024 that The Skyline Boys broadcasted shows at WYVE, among the many other radio stations they were featured on. Dude was once employed at WYVE and may have been a connection for local musicians.

Roy L. Parks (Wytheville, VA. 1925) was a lead guitarist, string player, and tenor vocalist from a musical family who started in show business at age sixteen. Family sources convey that Roy’s mother, Marjorie Parks (1908), was a proficient guitarist and string player who played with a Southwestern, VA fingerstyle akin to those of the 1910s-1920s.

Roy’s earliest music groups remain unconfirmed. However, a cassette possessed by the Parks family identifies Roy as having recorded with Pete Cassell of WWVA. The Parks family is also familiar with the name Grandpa Jones, possibly having been a friend of Roy’s.

He is remembered for his skill, stage personality, and sharp attire. The orange song folio states that Roy Parks “worked with many fine units across the nation” and served in the Navy for two-and-a-half years. One of Roy’s brothers, James H. Parks (1945), noted that Roy “likely forgot more songs than most will ever know,” and credits him for his interest in pursuing the guitar. Roy’s kin are active in music to this day.

James E. “Big Bill” Bailey (Madison, VA. 1921) was a mandolin player and vocalist who started his music career broadcasting on WWVA at age fifteen.

It is known that his playing and performances were well-received by audiences and that he played with Toby Stroud as early as 1944. He and Roy Parks also released an LP with singer Dottie Smith in the 1970s. Bill’s name is featured as a member of The Skyline Boys through most of their career and he was one of the group’s core members from the early days. Details about Bill are developing and still being uncovered.

Alan “Slim” Roberts (Richmond, VA. 1928) was proficient as a fiddle player, bass fiddle player, guitarist, and bass vocalist. He was known as the “young guy” in the group and was popular with listeners. The Blue Song folio states he was a “versatile member.”


Hank Silby (TBD) More detail to come…

Numerous players are credited as part of the extended “Bud Messner/Skyline” music family starting in the 1940s, with the aforementioned members, through the 1950s. Known names associated throughout the lifespan of “Bud Messner and The/His Skyline Boys/Skyliners” include: Quincy Snodgrass, Roy Ingram, Molly Darr, Bill Franklin, Buddy Allen, Bob Thomas, Bill Fleagle, Jack and Jimmy Throckmorton, Bobby Bern, Dusty Shaver, Jacky Osborn, and Shorty King. More details about these players are to be added over time.


MUSIC



This site does not claim rights to any music or uploads from other users on the internet.

Our objective is solely to share “The Skyline Boys” music history. Thank you to the individuals and organizations who have taken steps to preserve their material.

Recordings that have not yet been digitized will be uploaded as the work is completed.


Bud Messner & The Skyline Boys
1950 Billboard Hit Song:
Slippin’ Around With Jole Blon
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises


1955 Radio Show
Posted by Eugene Beecher



MATERIALS & PHOTOS


The Skyline Boys
1948 Souvenir Folder No. 1
Dude Webb, Roy Parks, Bud Messner, Hank Silby, Bill Bailey

Bud Messner &
The Skyline Boys
Souvenir Folder No. 2
Bud Messner, Bill Bailey, Slim Roberts, Roy Parks, Dude Webb

Bud Messner &
The Skyline Boys
1949 Songfolio No. 1
Bud Messner, Bill Bailey, Dude Webb, Slim Roberts, Roy Parks

Bud Messner &
The Skyline Boys
1950 (est.) Songfolio No. 2
Bud Messner, Bill Bailey, Dude Webb, Slim Roberts, Roy Parks

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is TheSkylineBoys1.png

1949 Tex Ritter’s
Western Festival Magazine
Roy Parks, Slim Roberts, Dude Webb, Bill Bailey




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