Billie Maxwell

• Name — Billie Maxwell • Alias — Billie Maxwell, the Cow Girl Singer • Born — 1906 • Died — 1954 • Genre — Country music • Instrument — Guitar • Years Active — 1929 • Label — Victor Records

She was born in 1906 to Curtis Maxwell, a locally known fiddler. She grew up in Nutrioso, near Springerville, Arizona. The family worked primarily as ranchers. Her father started a folk group called The White Mountain Orchestra while Billie was a child, and they would perform around the area, often playing at dances. She joined the band as a guitarist while in her teens. In 1929 she married A. Chesser Warner, a school teacher and continued playing with the band. Around the same time, Ralph Peer, noted recording engineer and talent scout for the Victor Talking Machine Company, was having auditions held around the southwestern U.S. to find new Victor recording artists. The White Mountain Orchestra was selected from a local audition in June 1929 to travel to El Paso, Texas, to record for him. The band went to El Paso on 2 July 1929 and recorded four songs, including Escudilla Waltz. While Peer was listening to the session, he asked Billie to sing. She recorded five songs singing solo, with guitar and violin. The first song was recorded on July 2, the remainder on July 11. The discs were published with Maxwell identified as Billie Maxwell, the Cow Girl Singer. Her songs spoke honestly of the struggles of poorer women. She continued to perform with the White Mountain Orchestra until the birth of her first child. She had two children, and died from cancer in 1954 at age 48.