19057 – I've Been Jumping Your Fence 19058 - Quicksand
Country on a Winchester, Virginia label owned by Jim McCoy.
In the early sixites, Jim McCoy teamed up with Jean Alford, a Virginia singer-songwriter, and launched Alear Records. The third Alear release, "It's a Big Old Heartache" by Teenie Chenault of Richmond, looked like it would be the big payoff for their efforts. As the song gathered airplay, record distributors began calling, and they rushed to ship out more copies. Unfortunately, they were never paid for most of those records, Jim says.
By the late 1960's, the McCoy-Alford partnership became strained, and Jim started his own Winchester Records,
A string of regional performers trooped through his studio at 314 Lanny Drive. Aside from recordings by Jim McCoy and Jean Alford themselves, the Alear and Winchester catalogues included material by country singers Mel McQuain and Frank Darlington, both of Martinsburg; gospel music performer Kenny Johnson of Hedgesville; and the fairly well-known Carroll County Ramblers from nearby Maryland. The majority of the singers they recorded were country artists, but there were also releases by The Lone Star - a folk-rock singer from Romney whose real name was John Mark Hott - and by The Smacks - a Winchester rock group. Most of the records were 45 rpm, but there were also a few album releases.
Bob Shue’s Carolina Mountain Boys Dexter GH-1002 1976
37427 - Bluegrass Border 37428 - Brush Arbor Meeting Arranged by Ken Munds
Bluegrass recorded by the Grass Hut, Monroe NC.
Bob Shue (banjo player) formed Southern Junction in 1990. (members : his sons Terry (bass) and Todd (mandolin), Mack Watson (guitar), Eddie Carr (fiddle).
30291 - Gone The Last Mile (Lead : Clarence McMillen)
30292 - What It Means To Have A Friend (Lead : Charlie L. Jones)
The Mighty Wonders of Winston-Salem, North-Carolina have a career in gospel singing dating back to the late 1950's. In the 21st Century The 'New' Mighty Wonders have relocated to Maryland and are still performing and recording, although with an entirely different line-up
Label : Dee-Jay 42717 A - There's Going To Be a Meeting 42717 B - Tell Heaven
From left to right : David LeSure, Sr., Rev Esqulaira LeSure (in back, lead guitar), Darrell Harriston (at the mic), Chuck Stanbberry (back, bass guitar), Jimmy Gray (at the mic) and David LeSure, Jr.
In 1979 under the direction of the Holy Spirit Rev. David LeSure Sr. fulfilled one of his dreams; singing praises unto God with his sons. In that year The Christian Brothers were created. The original members consisted of Rev. David LeSure Sr., David LeSure Jr., Rev. Kelvin LeSure Sr., Rev. Esqulaira LeSure and with several other members.
Ray Lunsford Excellent 310 CP-1078 ~ Blue Grass Blues (Bluegrass Inst.) CP-1079 ~ Under The Double Eagle (Bluegrass Inst.) Billboard C&W Review - August 4, 1956
Dunbar Faris with Gene Muse and J. D. Faris & The Fox Valley Gang CP-1287 ~ I Love You Till The End Of The World CP-1288 ~ You Have Forgotten Me Released 1957
The Excellent label was owned and operated by Estel Lee Scarborough (stage name, Estel Lee) who worked at the Jimmie Skinner Music Center located at 222 East 5th Street, Cincinnati 2, Ohio. The earliest Excellent releases list the address Box 45, Hooven, Ohio. The majority of the releases list 224 East 5th Street, Cincinnati 2, Ohio which is located right next door to the Jimmie Skinner Music Center. The final address was 2643 Cora Ave., Cincinnati 11, Ohio.
The label included country, bluegrass, sacred and a couple of good rockers by Don Brooks and Launa Gunter. More than half the releases on the label were pressed by Rite Records. Please Click Here for an extensive listing of the Excellent label.
1. Reno Junction (Terry Swope) 2. 2. Rockin’ Fever (D.R.Quinn) 3. If You Want (Walt Hummel) 4. Yellow Pages (Russ Pyburn) 5. Your Love (Donald J. Brundridge) 6. Six String Guitar Pickin’ Man (Michael Angelo-Sonna Legrand)
Side two [39864]
1. King Ot The Highway (Terry Swope) 2. Legend Of The Hillbilly Cat (Charle Kellogg-Michael Angelo-Sonna Legrand) 3. Your Special Way (Neva Cessnum) 4. Form Follows Function (Jeff Littrell) 5. You’re Living In My World (Ron Hake) 6. Your Living With The One You Love (D.R. Quinn)
All Selections BMI Momu Publishing Co.
Musicians :
Jeff Littrell : Drums & Piano Terry Swope : Bass, Lead Guitar & Sax Doug Mcbain : Sax Jack Hensley : Steel Guitar Beki Nixon & Terry Swope : Backup Vocals
Produced & engineered by Charlie Kellogg & D.J. Brundridge Arranged By Terry Swope & Jeff Littrell
Recorded & Mastered at Big K Studio K. C. M.O.
The Big K label was owned by Charlie Kellogg. He (and the Ozark Drifters) recorded hillbilly in late fifties and in the sixties on :
CP-6831 - You Ran Away From My Heart CP-6832 - Twisting Saturday Nite
Carolina black vocal group.
Jim Hardin ("High Stepping Woman" on Volcano) and Jim Nesbitt were on the same label, owned by Charles Rush in Greenville, South Carolina. Plaid was another label. he had in Greenville.
Label owner Howard Walker almost went bankrupt when "Rosanna" hit because he couldn't afford all the pressings he needed to support the demand and he wasn't getting paid fast enough by the distributors.
171 : Soulsation b/w Time
Al Reid was the lead singer of the Capreez. Before that, he was with the Ook-piks (also on Sound) and played with the Soul Survivors and Messiah & The Goodtime Band.
Tony Farr and his Swingin’ Steel Guitar LP Pop and Country Steel Guitar Label : JAR 1971
Side One [26571]
1. We Could 2. Woodchopper’s Ball 3. Tenderly 4. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise 5. Stardust 6. September In The Rain
Side Two [26572]
1. Wildwood Flower 2. Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On 3. Danny Boy 4. I Love You Because 5. ? 6. Steel Guitar Rag
Tony Farr, one of country music's finest steel guitar players, was born Anthony Fardella in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 13, 1937. Tony learned to play the steel guitar and landed his first job by age 15. The steel guitar has continued to be his bread and butter instrument. He also plays piano, rhythm guitar and dobro.
Tony moved to Dallas, Texas, as about 20 years old. There, he really began to accomplish things as a professional steel man. There, he worked the BIG D Jamboree with some of country music's best. Around this time, he got a job working for George Jones and became known as one of the Jones Boys.
After this, Tony began working with George Kent. whom he had known since childhood. Working with Kent took Tony to Minneapolis, Minnesota. There, he worked at a place called the Flame Cafe for many years. He backed many artists, such as Bob Luman, Red Sovine, Rex Allen, Sr., and many others.
Tony has worked the road for such artists as Jeanie C. Riley, Tommy Overstreet, Claude Gray, Jerry Wallace and others.
He has worked in the studios in Nashville, Tennessee, for many artists doing recording sessions.
Johnny Garner, who played rhythm guitar and did vocals in the Tony Farr band, got a deal at Imperial Records in California through Tony.
Ayo Ayo Nene (Blessing For The New Born Baby) Sindiely (Song For The Black Beauty) Kele Mubana (Overpain And Struggle To Black)
Side two [30948]
Kanfera (Return ofFisher) Africa Dedication to all the People
Bass - Rayman Eldrige Congas - Billy Ingram Drums - Charles 'Bobo' Wesley Shaw Jr* Drums [Bass] - Zak Diouf Guitar - Philip Wesdmoread Piano - James Mathis Saxophone [Alto], Flute - Oliver Lake Trombone - John Evens Trumpet - Lester Bowie Vocals - Abdoulaye N'Gom Written-By, Leader, Djembe - Mor Thiam
Recorded in St.Louis, Missouri, produced by Oliver Sain.
Mor Thiam was born in Dakar, Senegal to a family of historians from the Dagon tribe, who sued drums to tell their stories of the Wollof people in Senegal. Incidentally his surname, Thiam, means “historian” in his native tongue. He started playing the drums from an early age and professionally from the age of 12.
He perfected his skills, learning to play various African drums including the
tama, the
sabar, and the
djembe.
His percussion skills got the attention of noted choreographer Katherine Dunham who invited Thiam to join her dance company in the United States as its composer-in-residence.
His parents named him George, but country music fans came to know this native of Prestonburg, Kentucky as Sandy Salyers. He moved to Michigan back in 1942 where he lived since then except for a tour of duty serving in the U.S. armed forces.
Sandy started his musical endeavors at an early age. He started singing when he was just 9 according to a 1995 interview, entering and winning his share of talent shows. He also sang baritone in a church choir for four years. He told Teresa Frith of the Maple Valley News that one of the highlights early on was when he and his brother got to sing at a land auction in Prestonburg, Kentucky. That came about when the main act that had been hired to appear didn't show, Flatt and Scruggs, so instead of just going around town and putting up posters for the show, the promoter put them on as singers on the show.
From about 1962 to 1965, he was a country music disc jockey in Ionia, Michigan at radio station WION. He decided he wanted to add to his career choices and left the radio work for a time to go to Barber school where he graduated in August of 1966.
Property
RCM (no #)
Winchester, Kentucky
31799 ~ I'll Be Here
31800 ~ Game On YouErnest Martin and later Bill Martin released a steady stream of bluegrass, country and sacred records from Winchester, Kentucky from the late 1940's into the 1970's. Earlier releases were on the "A Martin Blue-Grass Special" label and later releases are on the RCM label.
This 1973 release by Property includes a picture sleeve with the members of the group pictured on the front and listed individually on the back. The songs are best described as country/folk style. Notice the song title on the a-side is listed incorrectly on the picture sleeve.
Photos courtesy of Leonard Yates.
John And Margie Cook and The White River Valley Boys Volunteer 737 1745 Lamar Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. CP-1603 ~ The Love I Have For You CP-1604 ~ Do I Have To Stay Alone
Starday Custom country 45 pressed in late 1958.
Photos courtesy of Malcolm Chapman and Phil Tricker.
1. The Possums - She Don't Care 2. The Possums - Stepping Stone 3. The Grim Reapers - Good Lovin' 4. The Grim Reapers - Hang On Sloopy 5. The New Breeds - Girl In Love 6. The Penetrations - Midnight Hour 7. Terry Davidson & Baracudas - Hurray for Hazel
side two: [18036]
1. The Brickwalls - Walkin' the Dog 2. King's English - Mister Your [sic] a Better Man 3. The Gears - Time Won't Let Me 4. The Eggs - Little Red Book 5. The Noblemen - Under My Thumb 6. The Marquis - Little Black Egg 7. The Deadlys - On the Road Again
The Possums - Stepping Stone
The LP's were delivered in a plain white jacket - no liner notes, no pictures and no band info. Just the track listing on the record label, printed with the address and phone number of McKenzie Studio and the phone numbers for each band.
Label owner, Larry McKenzie had a musical equipment rental service in Columbus, Ohio. (Printed on the label of a Hillside promotionnal EP : wanted guitars-amps-microphones-speakers- Cash or Trade). He recorded himself a full album (pressed by RCA) titled the Larry McKenzie Restaurant Experience.
I Feel The Touch (LP) Oracle 29503/4 (Houston, Texas) 1972
Imodean Lister, daughter of Rev. V.V. Lister, pastor of A Mountain Church of God, Tucson, Arizna, enrolled in Gulf-Coast Bible College in September, 1965. Early in her training we realized she had an unusual talent. She has been faithful to this God-given talent in her efforts to develop the full potential of her voice and has combined her talent with a dept of spiritual perception that has given her singing a unique quality enjoyed by all who hear her.
Imodean has sung the soprano solos from many of the great oratorios including « The Messiah », « Elijah », « St. Paul », and the « Prodigal Son ». She was a soloist with the A Cappella Chir and travelled with them from coast to coast. She also has been a soloist at Anderson Campmeeting several times, and traveled with the Christianaires Trio in 1968.
This spring (1971) Imodean was invited to sing for the Inaugural Prayer Breakfast for Texas Governor Preston Smith. The audience of state senators, representatives, and friends demonstrated their appreciation for her singing with a standing ovation.
Robert A. Adams, Chairman, Music Department Gulf-Coast Bible College
[From her previous LP on Oracle released in 1971 recorded and pressed in Houston, Texas]
1. What A Friend (3:08) 2. At the Cross (2:09) 3. Sweet Hour Of Prayer (2:22) (Traditional) 4. Showers Of Blessings (1:40) 5. There is A Fountain (2:35) (William Cowper/Lowell Mason)
Side two – 28480
1. Wonderful Peace (2:36) 2. Follow Me (3:30) (Eli "Chico" Velasquez) 3. The Old Rugged Cross (3:15) (George Bennard) 4. Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone (2:35) 5. Near the Cross (2:52)
The track listing and Rite numbers above are pulled out ofThe Record Room, where Doug Williams has put on-line the detailed catalog of his own records collection. As of February 11, 2009, his stats are : # of albums 39,545 # of items 41,810 # of tracks 310,192 Avg. # of tracks per album 7.8
Total playing time 14385h 34m 46s Estimated playing time 18611h 31m 12s (775d 11h 31m 12s)
Longest album 654:18 Shortest album 0:05 Avg. album length 26:08
One night in 1957, a tall, rather lanky man in western entertainer clothes strode into an all-night diner on the Bessemer Highway near Birmingham, Ala. He and his band, the Western Ramblers, had stopped in for a bite to eat while enroute to an engagement.
A 17 year-old Birmingham lad named Henry Strzelecki took in with wide-eyed awe the man’s colorful attire, his large, white Stetson, big shiny boots, easy gait, and height.
Then Strzelecki wrote the famous song that went pop as a million-selling hit recorded by Murry Kellum. The song the lad penned waws entitled Long Tall Texan and the subject was none other than Tex Ritter.
Birmingham, AL-born Henry Strzelecki started out in country music in his teens, recording with songwriter Baker Knight on the Decca label out of Nashville in the mid-'50s. He played with his brother Larry in the Four Flickers (later the Four Counts), who toured the southern and border states late in the '50s. The Four Flickers was the first group to record the song in 1959 which was released by the Memphis Lee label (Lee 1003).
Jerry Woodard, a rockabilly singer of Strzelecki’s acquaintance, recorded it for Century Ltd, a small label run by another Jackson, Mississippi artists, Andy Anderson & the Dawnbreakers. [Century Limited 603, 1960]. Though Woodard’s version wasn’t a hit, Andy Anderson liked ‘Long Tall Texan” enough to play it on personal appearances.
Murry Kellum, a local kid who occasionnaly sat in with the Dawnbreakers, was even more taken with the song. He decided to record it himself with help from his parents, who put up the money for a session at the Pepper Studio in Memphis in March 1963. Kellum was accompanied on the trip by his friend, Glen Sutton, and members of Sutton’s band – brother Ronnie Sutton on bass, Sammy Martin on piano, Woody Coates, sax, and Dick Thomas on drums. Kellum sing and played guitar on ‘Long Tall Texan’ while Sutton performed on the other side.
‘Long Tall Texan’ b/w ‘I Gotta Leave thius Town’ was issued on Kellum’s own K&M label(the initials stood for his parents’ names)
Glenn Sutton :
« For $182 we cut four sides, including « Long Tall Texan ». We came back to Jackson and pressed about two hundred records and put ‘em out there in town. And a little guy at a record store in Jackson, Mississippi, played it for a salesman at Hi Records in Memphis. They leased as it was, the two sides. I was one side of the record, and Murray was the other . ‘Long Tall Texan’ – his side – went to number fifty with a bullet in the pop charts .
Joe Cuoghi, a Memphis distributor who owned the mighty Hi label, re-issued Kellum’s master on his M.O.C. subsidiary and with national distribution, ‘Long Tall Texan’ crept up to #51 in the late summer of 1963.
The Beach Boys further popularised the song by including it on their best-selling “Beach Boys Concert” LP n 1964.
Kellum, who was born in Jackson in 1942, tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 47 in 1990.
Bill Kent and the Country Playboys
