Joey Welz on Bat

Joey Welz And His Rock-A-Billy Piano

CP-2356 - Boppin' The Stroll

(Joey Welz, Gil Music Corp.)

CP-2357 - Shore Party

BAT 100

A Fly By Night Recording

BAT Records
2203 Maryland Ave.,Baltimore 18, MD.

[October 1959]

First issued record of the self-proclaimed “Boogie Woogie King of Rock n' Roll”. 

Joseph Wallace Welzant was born in 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland.  Welz has written over 1000 published songs, recorded over 35 vinyl albums, 75 singles and 60 CDs.   

Official website

Joey Welz, Louis Hinkle, Charles Shriner

Joey Welz: 

I first started the band business of making Baltimore our stomping ground for this new type of music. We were the first rock & roll band in Baltimore and actually our roots were rockabilly. The group was called the Jayrockers with Sam Cataldie on drums, and Jimmy Staggs on guitar, myself on piano and we had a bassplayer by the name of Greggard and later replaced by a slapping bassman by the name of Flirby. The Jayrockers made their first recordings in Baltimore in 1955 "The Jitterbug Rock", "I'm Lonesome" and "You're The One".  The way that this worked was that I figured if I could get a group togehter I could open for Bill Haley and get to know the band and consequently that's what happened.   

In 1957, Joey formed a new band known as the Rock-A-Billies. The line up featured: Lou Hinkle on drums, Charlie Shirner on lead guitar and Flurry (or Flirby?) on stand up bass. By this time, Joey was using the Monumental Studios in Baltimore, and got a more professional sound with Will Taylor at the controls as engineer.

Quite of interest is a recent post on the tapwrecks blog titled :  Boy With A Dream (and some scissors and glue) .... The Real Joey Welz (Baltimore 1950s-70s / Lancaster 1980s-present) . Excerpt :

For years, Joey has promoted his act out of his house and has his own rock'n'roll museum. He cuts and pastes his face into photos of famous musicians including the Comets and the Beatles for his press kits. Many of his original songs from the 50s and 60s have his more recent Roland keyboard and drum machine inexplicably overdubbed, so it's really hard to know what to make of the "Joey Welz Legend."

 

Danny Reeves on L.G. Gregg

Danny Reeves

9495 - Little Red Coat 

L.G. Gregg and Danny Reeves, L.G. Gregg Music Pub. Co. BM

9496 - Judgement Day

L.G. Gregg Records #1001/2
8414 Fulton, Houston, Texas

1963

This is certainly the same Danny Reeves who had recorded two rockin' singles.  The first was on Pappy Dailey's D Records ("I'm A Hobo", 1961). The second was on Troy Caldwell's San Records ("Spunky Monkey", 1962). Both are listed by Rockin' Country Style discography.  

 

On this one, Danny isn't really singing, he's just speaking on a music background.  Nothing more is known about him.  

L.G. Gregg is perhaps L.G. Gregg who was the founder and pastor of the Pilgrim Baptist Church of Houston.   And, more recently, a L. G. Gregg Ministries Company was based in Mesa, Arizona.

At the address printed on the label, there is no house today, just a empty lot.

The Vocalaries Of Newport News, Virginia

The Vocalaries Of Newport News, Virginia

29973 — Nobody Knows

(George Washington, Dora Music BMI)

Vocal George Washington

29974 — Rescue Me

 (Jerry Bond, Dora Music BMI) 

Vocal Daryl Harris

Spiritual Produced By Bill Johnson/Earl Long

Pinewood Records 

2732 Beachmont Ave.
Norfolk, Virginia 23534 

(Best On Wax)

1972 (August)

The Vocalaries had at least three singles on the same label before this one.  

Pinewood label discography

Pinewood owner, manager and engineer was Bill Johnson.

Chester Hooks And The Vibrants

Chester Hooks And The Vibrants

16173 ~ Long Route Home

(Chester Hooks, Georgianna Pub. BMI)

16174 ~ 60 Seconds
sample

 

Knoll 168

1966

Label owned by Doris Knoll. Address of Georgianna Music Publishers was 16004 Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland, Ohio.

Glenna Dean Case (Brite Star 767)

Glenna Dean Case 

With Ray Guyce And His Lonesome Valley Boys

CP-3333 ~ Thank You So Much (Ray Guyce)

CP-3334 ~ Broken Hearted (Marshall & Geraldine Page)

Both Starday Music BMI

Country Music

Vocal With String Accomp.

Brite Star 767

Mt. Vernon, Indiana

1960

(Billboard, Jan. 23, 1961, C&W)

Ray Guyce and Glenna Dene

(from http://www.hillbilly-music.com/index.php)

Glenna Dene was born in 1944 in Evansville, Indiana.  She also recorded on the Eunice record label in 1960-1961 (See Rockin' Country Style)

Ray Guyce discography (compiled by Dick Grant)

Writers of "Broken Hearted"  were from Grand Prairie, Texas.  Marshall Page was one of the Original Texas Wranglers, hillbilly group heard on KCLW radio in Hamilton, Texas in the early fifties. 

The Crusader on DIP

The Crusader

18839 – Wake Up, My People
18840 – We Need Wallace For President

   DIP

P.O. Box 96

Beech Grove, Indiana

1967

George Wallace, Conservative governor of Alabama, ran for President in the 1968 election as the American Independent Party candidate,

"George Wallace forged an alliance with many country singers, such as Autry Inman, Hank Snow, and the Wilburn Brothers, who participated often in his campaigns for the Alabama governorship and for the presidency.  Racism was certainly one factor which contributed to Wallace's popularity, but his southern rural/populist roots also made him appealing to many of the "good old boys and girls" who picked guitars and sang.  Wallace identified with country music, but he also spoke the same language, ate the same food, and responded to the same cultural traditions (both good and bad) that most country musicians understood.  He linked his southerness with their own, while also tapping vaguely understood, but often legitimate, feelings of alienation that many Americans everywhere felt.

The George Wallace-country music alliance was a major factor which contributed to the music's rediscovery by the media - the belief that at worst the music represented reactionary and racist politics, or that at best it spoke for alienated American working people."

 From "The Reinvigoration of Modern Country Music", in Country Music U.SA., by Bill C. Malone


Credit : Label and sound file are from "Here Comes Rock And Roll"  Collector CLCD4522. 

The Symphonics on Bock

The Symphonics

CP-5027 –  She's My Girl

CP-5028 –  Milliionair Hobo

Bock 5001

March 1961

Based on the Rite account (#446) found in dead wax, this has to be from Ohio, perhaps Cleveland.  The earliest known release from account 446 is Falcon #501 Milan Shepel, Rip It Up b/w Blueberry Hill.  

Bill Campbell on Zappo

Bill Campbell

28233 - You Better Not Do That (T. Collins)

28234 - Venita

Recorded by John Lookabill, Greensboro, N.C.
    

Zappo Presents

1971

sample (both sides)

★

Side one is a cover of the Tommy Collins song recorded on Capitol Records (1954).   

For another Lookabill recording, see Rhythm Rockers/Tex Craddrock. Did he owned a studio in Greensboro ?

John Lookabill and Bill Campbell are both on a video posted on YouTube HERE

See Tommy Collins singing "You Better Not Do That" on the Buck Owens Ranch Show in 1966 HERE

No further info.

Bob Strack / Vern Kenyon (Cowtown LP 205)

Bob Strack / Vern Kenyon

Cowtown Records

CLP #205

P.O.Box 192, Avery, Texas

1960

Side 1 – CP-3903
Vocal by Bob Strack

1. Welcome Elvis (J.W. Stephenson-H.Conley) Tronic Music -BMI
2. Panorama Drive (Lou Bridges) Blue Ribbon Music Co. ASCAP
3. Danny (C.Zumwatt) Faye Music-BMI
4. 63rd Street Has The Chicks (J.J. Felder) Stephenson Music 
5. There Must Be A Way (J.W. Evans-J.W.Stephenson) Tronic-BMI
6. Come All Ye Kin Folks (W.W.Lundgren) Blue Ribbon Music Co. ASCAP
7. Home Is Two Loving Arms (N.E. Ahmdeo-J.W.Stephenson) Golden State BMI
8. Never Before (Val McDonald) Blue Ribbon Music Co. ASCAP
9. Play It Square (E.M. Sutton) Blue Ribbon Music Co. ASCAP
10. Won't You Talk To Your Heart (W.W. Lundgren) Blue Ribbon Music ASCAP
11. When The Singing Hit The Ceiling (J.H. Garrett-J.W. Stephenson) Golden State BMI

Side 2 – CP-3904
Vocal by Vern Kenyon

12. Deca Darling (W.F. Schuck-J.W. Stephenson) Tronic BMI 
13. Honey Bee Bop (W.F. Schuck-J.W. Stephenson) Tronic BMI 
14. She Doesn't Love Me Anymore (T.W.McLaughlin-J.W.Stephenson) Tronic BMI
15. The Picture On The Wall (M.Sullivan-J.W.Stephenson) Tronic BMI 
16. Put Your Heart In My Hands (L. Neptune-J.W.Stephenson) Tronic BMI   
17. Stuff And Nonsense (I.Morical- J.W. Stephenson) Tronic BMI  
18. My Hearts Breaking Because Of You (T.W. McLaughlin-J.W. Stephenson) Tronic BMI   
19. Just Not Caring ( (I.Morical- J.W. Stephenson) Tronic BMI    
20. Green Eyed Gal (M. McCoy- J.W. Stephenson) Tronic BMI   
21. Fair Weather Love (W.F. Schuck- J.W. Stephenson) Tronic BMI   
22. Ada, Ada (W.F. Schuck- J.W. Stephenson) Tronic BMI

The three links above are YouTube posts from user (what a ugly word) named Starday.

★

Frenchy And The Underground Railroad

Frenchy And The Underground Railroad

26941 - We're Lonely /(Frenchy, ASCAP)

26942 - Trip (Real Carpentier, ASCAP)

Sterling 518

1970

★ 

At the time of the recording, the personnel (13-14 years old, except Frenchy, eight years older) of the group consisted of Frenchy (Yves Carpentier) on vocals, Real Carpentier on vocals and bass, Gene Daigle on vocals and guitar, Bob Fissette on guitar, Rob St. George on drums, and Dave LaCasse on vocals and percussion. The band was managed by Ron Bachand and Alfred Brissette.  

 

The band story is told by Mr. Bellino in his latest post (at Rip It Up R.I.)  a blog celebrating the glory of rock and roll and garage bands from the state of Rhode Island in the 1960s.

 ★

 

If confirmation was needed, this is a proof that Lew Tobin's Sterling Records wasn't just a song-poem operation,   If the bulk of the label ouput was amateur poems put in music by Lew Tobin and "sung" by Norm Burns, Gary Roberts, Mel Moore and al. ,  occasionally local bands were recorded. 

 

Real Carpentier today

http://www.reverbnation.com/realcarpentier

Diagnosis and Management of Liver Diseases

Jack O. Knowles, V.M.D. Miami Florida
Lester E. Fisher, D.V.M.,Berwyn, Illinois

CP-4969 - Diagnosis and Management of Liver Diseases

Mark Morris Associates

531 Guaranty Bank Bldg. Denver 2, Colo.

33rpm 7"

 [March 1961]

★

Spoken word.  A veterinary education record.  

Continue your education and read about this (and hear a sample too and its follow-up, "The Aged Dog" ) in one of the latest posts by Lisa Wheeler  HERE. 

Woof! Woof!

   

Evelyn and Al Downing

Evelyn Downing Sings...

"Angel Eyes"

Featuring Al (A.J.) Downing Jazz Quintet

AJD Records

1976

 

Side 1 - 36261

Angel Eyes / Sunshine Of My Life / Rainy Day / Help Me Make It Through The Night / Bye Bye Blackbird / Satin Doll

 

Side 2 - 36262
When Sunny Gets Blue / There Will Never Be Another You / Bunny / Love Will Keep Us Together / Blue Groove

 

AJD Records 

2121 25th Street So.

St. Petersburg, Fla. 33712   

 

Recorded at Titan Sound Studio Largo, Florida

★ 

 

Evelyn Downing

Evelyn Jean Downing was born on February 13, 1950 to Alvin and Bernice Downing, the second of three daughters.

Evelyn attended Sixteenth Street Jr. High School and graduated from Dixie Hollins High School.During her high school years, her parents nurtured her gifted singing ability by featuring her vocal talents in many of her father's performances.  Her style was her own.  She was encouraged, guided and inspired by her parents and as a result of their love of jazz, they founded the Allegro Music Society, now known as the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association.  Her father served as president, her mother served as vice president and Evelyn was the first member of the association.  After graduating from high school, she studied Theatre Arts at Carnegie Tech in Philadelphia, Pa. and attended Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, Fl.   In the early 70's, Evelyn successfully began a career as a professional jazz vocalist featured with her late father, renowned jazz pianist and music educator, Alvin J. Downing.  Her most prized accomplishment was recording the album "Angel Eyes" with her father.  She performed with a variety of jazz artists in cities throughout the United States including Atlanta, Georgia, Naples, Miami, Tampa, and St Petersburg, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, Little Rock, Arkansas, Denver, Colorado and Los Angeles, California.  Early in her career while performing in Atlanta, she was recognized as the top performing artist at Pascal's and the Clock of Fives Dinner Club located in the Regency Hotel.  She was known for her elegant wardrobe especially designed for her by the late internationally known designer Patrick Kelly. 

Alvin “Al” Joseph Downing was born in 1916 in Jacksonville, Florida.

   

Al Downing is legendary to those who remember the golden days of jazz in St. Petersburg.

 Piano talent and a desire to perpetuate jazz among young people everywhere were two qualities Al possessed from the time he was a young man in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. He formed his first band in high school, pursued music throughout his college days and organized music programs at Gibbs High School when he moved to St. Petersburg, in 1939.

Al served with the Tuskegee Airmen before leading the 613th Army Air Force Band in Tuskegee. He then moved on to other military bands in the U.S. and Japan. When he retired in 1961 as a major, Al went back to school for a Master of Music before returning to St. Petersburg. He taught first at Gibbs and then for another 20 years at St. Petersburg Junior College.

Retiring in 1983, he continued teaching privately. He was recognized as an Ambassador of Jazz by the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation and named Tampa Bay’s Favorite Artist by Players Magazine. Al firmly believed in an organization to promote jazz and in 1981, he formed the Al Downing Florida Jazz Association. It merged in 1989 with the Tampa Bay Jazz Society and has existed as the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, Inc. ever since.

Al died in 2000, but his outstanding reputation as a performer, an educator and a humanitarian carries on. To honor him, Perkins Elementary School for the Arts and International Studies dedicated its theater to his memory in 2001. In 2004, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast placed his likeness in the role models mural in their newly renovated, historic Royal Theater performing arts center.

Sources : 

• http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Evelyn-Downing/1212042372
• http://aldowningjazz.com/history.php
• http://www.jazzlandcafe.com/
• http://www.sptimes.com/News/022200/TampaBay/Al_Downing__83__jazz_.shtml
  
  

The Firesiders on Sterling

 

The Firesiders

 

9881 ~  Spring

9882 ~  Jump And Twist

 

Sterling Records #268

1963

Two instrumentals

 

Quite surprising but, yes,  this is on the same song-poem Sterling label owned by music veteran Lew Tobin in Boston, Mass.

Lew Tobin had operated Five Star Music Masters since the early forties and  Sterling Records since 1954.  The earliest record on Sterling I was able to find is #103,   "His Final Address" sung by Roy Jones with Lew Tobin's orchestra.  "This tribute to Hank Williams is both late and unimpressive" simply wrote the Billboard reviewer (Billboard, February 27, 1954).  Hank Williams, incidentally also recorded on Sterling Records, obviously a different label (out of New-York).

 

Lew Tobin and Sterling Records were still active as late as 2002 : that year, in September, they recorded "America's Song" a poem written by Blanche Shipley (1914-2002), a retired teacher, who pieced and tied many quilts after her retirement. 

 

Sterling label discography