Lefty Pritchett
And His Country Cats
CP-4103 - Just An Ole Has Been
(Pritchett-Dickenson)
(Pritchett)
Vocal By Lefty Pritchell
Vocal By Lefty Pritchell
From The Heart of Dixie It's
Bama Records 00001
1960
Claude "Lefty" Pritchett, a self-taught musician, was born in 1931 in Alabama, the son of Alabama sharecroppers. He had an ear for music at a young age, especially the guitar. "My first guitar was used. I paid $1.75 for it," he recalls.
*Released on Dee Lark Records, you can hear the song here
Claude "Lefty" Pritchett, a self-taught musician, was born in 1931 in Alabama, the son of Alabama sharecroppers. He had an ear for music at a young age, especially the guitar. "My first guitar was used. I paid $1.75 for it," he recalls.
His guitar playing and singing were constant companions when he joined the Army in 1950. Korea was his first stop after basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Serving with the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea, he organized a
country music group, which has became popular with the GI's
overseas. "Lefty Pritchett and His Country Rhythm Boys", as the group
was commonly known in Korea, played at service clubs, parties and entertainment programs in Korea. Pritchett wrote many of his songs
and broadcasted his original tunes on a weekly radio program
The troops weren't the only ones Claude serenaded. Korea is also where he met his future bride Bonnie. "I saw her for the first time with a dark corduroy uniform on and she had pigtails and she just took my heart away."
Claude also saw duty in Vietnam in the late 60's. And, yes, his guitar made the trip, too. "If I wasn't on duty I'd start playing and singing and all the troops would come around. We'd have a big jam session."
When Claude got back to the states he recorded one of the 150 songs he has written. It was called "Vietnam Rotation Blues." (*) Claude says over there they wanted to hear something about coming home, so that's why he wrote the song.
Claude also saw duty in Vietnam in the late 60's. And, yes, his guitar made the trip, too. "If I wasn't on duty I'd start playing and singing and all the troops would come around. We'd have a big jam session."
When Claude got back to the states he recorded one of the 150 songs he has written. It was called "Vietnam Rotation Blues." (*) Claude says over there they wanted to hear something about coming home, so that's why he wrote the song.
Once back home Claude became an Army recruiter. His guitar was one of his recruiting tools. "When (a recruit) would make up his mind to go, I would sing him a song and ask him when he wanted to leave. We'd have to send him to get his exam and everything. I always met my quota," Claude said with a big smile.
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*Released on Dee Lark Records, you can hear the song here
"Vietnam Rotation Blues" was recorded by Bill Monroe already on July 1, 1951, for Decca under the name of "Rotation Blues." On that day, he was backed up by Carter Stanley on guitar, Gordon Terry on fiddle, Rudy Lyle on banjo, and Ernie Newton on bass with Monroe on mandolin and vocals (Decca #9-46344). A budget cover version was rushed out on Tops by Del Gillman and his Bar-X-Boys. Back then, the topic of the song was of course the Korean War and not the Vietnam War as later recorded by Pritchett.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure the version you have posted is not a re-cut?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDhhCDp-dQY sounds more 1960 to me.
maybe this 1986 version?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUzuO4r0buI flip
ReplyDeleteIn 1965, I played drums for Lefty in Korea. He had a Korean drummer, but the Korean music union told his drummer, he could no longer play with the group. I was in the Air Force at the time and Bill Clark, stationed with me at Kimpo Air Base and was the Mandolin player. Bill introduced me to Lefty and I became Lefty's drummer for the rest of my tour. I was only 20 years old at the time and Lefty called me "young'n". Just before I joined the band, Tex Ritter came to Korea without his band, and Lefty and the Country Rythym Boys backed Tex as he performed at a variety US military Clubs. Our lead guitar player was Wayne Ducoty (not sure of the spelling) and Tex said he was the best lead guitar player he had ever played with. That was one of the most enjoyable years in my life. Guy "Young'n" Barber.
ReplyDeleteI was stationed at Kimpo Air Base in 1064/65, when Lefty formed the Country Rythym Boys. He had a Korean drummer, but the Korean Music union to the Drummer he could no longer play for Lefty. Bill Clark was Lefty's Mandolin Player and was stationed with my at Kimpo (the rest of the band were in the Army). Bill introduced me to Lefty and I became his drummer for the remainder of my tour. Although I messed around in High School playing drums, I had never played with a group, and my first gig playing with a professional band was playing for Lefty. He aways introduced me as "YOUNG'N", as I was only 20 years old at the time. Just before I joined the band, Tex Ritter came to Korea without his band. Lefty and the boys traveled with him as his band as he toured a variety of our US Military Installations. Our Lead Guitar player was Wayne Ducoty (not sure of the spelling of his last name), and Tex said he was the best Lead Guitar player he had ever played with. To this day, was one of the most enjoyable and memorable times of my life.
ReplyDeleteGuy "Young'n" Barber