Arkansas Blog: 'Arkansas Twist' writer dies at 74

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'Arkansas Twist' writer dies at 74

Bobby Lee Trammell, a former state legislator and Craighead County Quorum Court member, died Wednesday. He was 74. Roller Farmers Union Funeral Home of Jonesboro is handling arrangements.

Trammell was best known for his 1962 rock song "Arkansas Twist." Here's a sample of the lyrics.

Well, now you oughta see my mom and pa
Doin' the twist in Arkansas
Ma goes up, my pa comes down
They're all goin' around and around
They're doin' it, yeah they're doin' it
Well, now you twist and you twist and you do it like this
Twist and you twist and you do it like this
Twist and you twist and you do it like this
Twist and you twist and you do it like this
You shake a little bit, you twist a little bit
That's how you do the Arkansas twist
Let's go!

Posted by Max Brantley on February 21, 2008 03:17 PM | Permalink

Comments

Was he from Twist, AR? That's the place BB King used to play.

Posted by: eLwood | February 21, 2008 03:41 PM

Nope--he was from the community of Apt, just south of Jonesboro.
Went to Frog Pond school as a youngster with my daddy.

Posted by: craighead gal | February 21, 2008 03:44 PM

Wasn't he head of the county road department up there or was that a relative with a similar name or a non-relative with a similar name maybe?

Posted by: Well | February 21, 2008 04:00 PM

His younger brother, Dale, was involved in county government--can't remember if it was road department or not. Dale died several years ago.

Posted by: craighead gal | February 21, 2008 04:10 PM

i met him a few years ago when he was in the Ledge. Very nice guy.

Posted by: BlueRidge | February 21, 2008 09:26 PM

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