Tommy Hancock

Thomas O. Hancock (March 25, 1929 – January 1, 2020) was an American musician widely regarded as the godfather of West Texas music.

Hancock was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, and his grandmother had him classically trained in violin. At age 16, he joined the military and traveled overseas as a paratrooper and military policeman, serving in the Pacific towards the end of World War II. Hancock played fiddle for Jimmie Dale's band, The Flatlanders.

In 1980, the Hancock family settled in Austin, Texas.

In March 2000, Tommy was inducted into the Austin Chronicle Music Awards Hall of Fame. In 2002, The Supernatural Family Band was inducted into the Country Music Association of Texas Hall of Fame. In 2012, Tommy was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame in Lubbock, TX.

On January 1, 2020, Hancock died at age 90.