Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tommy Crank on Tyro



Tommy Crank and the Gospel Rangers

Tyro A-0001

15977 – Weighed in the Balance; Trouble the Water
15978 - The Night I First Prayed; You Gotta Pray

Label picture & audio sample : credit http://myworld.ebay.com/funkyou%21/



William Thomas Crank
was born on April 13th, 1926 in the mountainous region of Jackson County, Kentucky. The youngest of six children born to George and Sarah Jane Crank, Tommy as they would come to call him, was born with tuberculosis and premature at the mere weight of just two and a half pounds. With limited means, his parents would rely on their faith in God alone to heal their baby boy. Although his size made it very difficult for the youngster to survive, their continued love and prayers were sure to be answered... Read More HERE




The only reference I can find to another release on the same label is Tyro 11 - San Francisco Trolley Co., "Signs" b/w "Rain Bow Heaven", produced by Tommy Crank. (not pressed by Rite Records). Songs were published by I-R-M-A Inc.

I.R.M.A. records, or International Rural Music of America, was a production company that Tommy began in order to record albums for himself and numerous other bluegrass artists. Folks like Wade Mainer, Lowell Varny and The Sons of the Gospel were just a few that recorded on the I.R.M.A. label. Lovingly named for his wife...

The San Francisco Trolley Co. band is wrongly believed to be a San Francisco band...




Very different from the music produced by Tommy Crank!


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1 comment:

  1. The San Francisco Trolley Company was from Olivet, Michigan. They recorded Rainbow Heaven and Signs at Small Town Studios in Jackson, Michigan in 1970.

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