By June of 1961 Conway's group included Joe Lewis (bass), Wes Picket (road manager), Al Bruno (guitar) and a drummer.

Al Bruno eventually split for Los Angeles, a young guitarist Jessie Ed Davis joined.
Conway signed a deal with ABC/Paramount (circa 1964), which proved short lived.
Jesse Ed Davis played guitar on Conway's 45 for ABC Paramount, 'I Don't Want To Cry b/w She Loves Me.'
Conway's group in Feb 19, 1965 included Conway on electric rhythm guitar, Jessie Ed Davis (lead guitar), Gene 'Deacon' Jones (pedal steel), Big Joe Lewis (bass), and Tommy 'Porkchop' Markham on drums.

Later in 1965 Lou 'Lew' Houston replaced Gene Jones (don't we know that name?), Conway's group was mainly Porchop Markham (drums), Big Joe Lewis (drums), Lou Houston on steel, while Conway handled the guitar, as the lead guitarist role had been mainly dropped from the group and Houston handled most of the lead parts. In 1968 Houston was replaced by a fella called John Hughey.

Big Joe Lewis who continued to tour with Conway, even after he moved to Nashville, until he was killed in an automobile accident around 1970.

Anyone else.......?

It was in the late in the early 90's and he was on a show to include Haggard and Jones.

Haggard was sick and a surprise "no-show". That was disappointing enough, but I stayed for Jones and Twitty. Jones came first and did a fine show. Titty came out and impressed all the women with his gut splitting vocals. He did it all! All without a fiddle or steel guitar. I guess he'd been borrowing Merle's band or something. He couldn't possibly have thought it was any good without Hughey and a fiddler.

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HagFan

Wes Picket is in the construction business in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. (Wes was Mr. Nice Guy)

Of course everyone knows that Jesse "Ed" is dead!

Also, the "Twitty Birds" are touring again with Conways oldest son Michael, and Conways grandson Tre, doing a "tribute & memories of" type of show.

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 18 January 2002 at 04:25 PM.]

Yes, he was still with Conway. I was with Loretta, then. It was late at night, and our bus driver, Jim Webb, not the steel player, called me on the phone. He informed me that Joe had been killed. The accident was about a mile from my home. I don't live there anymore, but for years I drove by there everyday. I would always think of Joe. He is one of the most genuine "characters" that I've ever known. He wasn't a bad harmony singer, either. I still miss 'ole Joe.