Carl Sprague had the first "hit" record with a cowboy song when his recording of "When the Work's All Done This Falls" sold about 800,000 copies during the 1920s. Sprague, born in Alvin, Texas on May 10, 1895 was 30 years old when he traveled from Bryan, Texas to New York in August, 1925 and recorded ten cowboy songs for Victor.

Sprague grew up on his family's ranch where he first heard old cowboy songs. In 1915 he entered Texas A&M and joined the campus band. Sprague also performed on the campus radio station and graduated in 1922. Sprague never became a full-time performer, although his initial release, "When the Work's All Done This Fall," was a major hit and he recorded additional cowboy material in 1926, 1927, and 1928. In 1930 Sprague joined Texas A&M as an athletic trainer and remained with that university until his retirement., although he continued to appear  locally on occasion as a singer.

Sprague did not record again until 1972 when he recorded an album for a German folk label. He died in Bryan, Texas on February 19, 1979.

Awards:

• 2006 Hall of Fame Inductees