In 1962, While Attending Howard Payne College On A Basketball Scholarship, Ray Hildebrand Wrote A Song Called "Hey, Paula".  The Owner Of The Boarding House Where He Was Staying Introduce Him To Her Niece, Jill Jackson, And They Formed A Duo.  They Performed The Song On Local Radio During A Fund Drive, In Brownwood, Getting Good Response. They Auditioned For Major Bill Smith, Record Producer In Ft. Worth, Who Released "Hey Paula" On His LeCam Label Under The Name Of Jill & Ray.  When A Major Label Picked Up The Master...Jill & Ray Changed Their Names To Paul & Paula.  With A New Name And Nationwide Distribution The Record Took Off Zooming To the Top Of the Pop Charts.  It Went RIAA Certified Gold Staying At #1 For 3 Weeks.  The Follow-Up Single, "Young Lovers" Taken From The Deleted Verses Of "Hey, Paula" Climbed To #6.  At The Top Of Their Popularity, And While On Tour With "The  Dick Clark Caravan Of Stars", Ray Hildebrand Walks Away.  Dick Clark Had To Sing Ray's Part With Jill While Ray Was Somewhere In Oregon Hauling Hay.  Ray Did Return To The Music Business For A Short Time Before Hanging Em Up for Good.  Jill Was Born In McCamey, Texas.

Photo From The Dixie Club Years In San Angelo  (1957)

Back In The Fifties I Had Stopped At A Place In Houston Called The Esquire Club Where Larry Butler And His Band Were Rehearsing.  I Asked Larry For A Job Plus Tried To Sell Him A Few Of My Songs For $10.00 A Piece.  Larry Replied:  "Your Songs Are Too Good.  I'll Loan You Some Money And Give You A Job"  I Said: "I Must Be Dreaming"  (I Wasn't)  I Paid A Weeks Rent, Played Awhile In Larry's Band And Made Some Real Friends (Larry & Pat Butler).  Larry Has Worked Hard, Paid A Lot Of Dues And Is Already A Star Even Though He's Still Looking For His First Million Seller.  God Bless You Larry Butler And Keep Pickin'...Signed,  Willie Nelson.  (The Above Liner Notes Taken From Larry's New C.D. With Willie)  Back In The Fifties Larry Lived In San Angelo And Played 6 Nights A Week At The Famous Dixie Club.  He's Appeared In 3 Movies "Honeysuckle Rose" "Another Pair Of Aces" And "Only The Dead Are Free" (Title Of His Latest C.D. With Willie Singing Back-up & Playing Guitar)  He Received A Texas Senate Proclamation Plus A Letter From The Governor Recognizing His Contributions To Country Music And The State Of Texas.  He Has Appeared On The Grand Ole Opry, The Louisiana Hayride, Texas State Fair, TV & Radio Shows In Houston And Even Toured Europe.  Today Larry & His Wife Pat Reside In Conroe, Texas.