Ralph DeBord on Harp

Harp No #, Rite Acct# 1107, 1963
11143 - "Jesus Died For You," an original composition by Ralph DeBord.
11144 - "Filthy Sea Of Sin," written by Ernest Carter and originally released by Ernest Carter and The Hymn Trio in 1962 on Ark 227 (which is another Rite pressing).

Both songs are solo country gospel ballads with steel guitar breaks. This is probably Ralph DeBord's only record.

• May 22, 2004, Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio; Ralph F. DeBord, 63, of Middletown, died Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at his residence. He was born in Malone, [Morgan County], Ky., on Oct. 12, 1940, to parents Charlie and Eunice (Haney) DeBord. Ralph worked as a machinist for AK Steel until his retirement in 1994. He enjoyed playing music and working on and restoring automobiles.

This is currently the earliest documented release on the Harp label. However, there is likely to be at least one more. Based on the Rite account # 1107, that # should have been assigned to a new Rite account around matrix number 10201 at the latest. Look in your collection and see if the first Harp release is waiting there to be discovered!

There's no publishing credits on the record which is not uncommon among Rite pressings and the writer credits are listed under each song title. So who are "T. Scribner and B. Harp" listed on the left side of each label? Apparently they are the owners of the Harp label.

Around 1967, the Rite account # for Harp changed to 1776. This account # also appears on all releases on the Baron label which is also located in Trenton, Ohio (at the time, a small one traffic light town.) Either Harp created the Baron label or Baron bought out Harp as they became the same company.

Little Kim & the Personalles

Little Kim & the Personalles
JAY-EM 215 (1965)

15687 - Talk About Love (vocal Barry Hill)
15688 - Real Sharpshooter (vocal Len Trotter)

Currently offered at E-bay and [modestly] described as a "nice ohio garage (ballad of sorts) b/w funky mod organ garage". The seller is motorcitymusic from Detroit, Michigan who has always pretty nice pictures of both sides of the records he has to offer.

Months ago, another description of the record was quite ecstatic : "This is a mega-rare RITE pressed 45 from the Middletown/Cincinnati area of Ohio. Side A is a amateur northern soul sound, with a definate beach sound, like something from the Carolinas. B-side is a gritty R&B mod soul effort very organ heavy, and a superb dancer. Just cannot stress how rare this 45 is, probably had a pressing of 100 copies."

Tommy Wills Early Releases

Tommy Wills and His Club Miami Band
Club Miami 501
CP-1004 - Let E'm Roll (blues)
CP-1005 - Horn Happy (inst.)

Tommy Wills and His Club Miami Band
Club Miami 502
CP-1022 - T. N. O. Mambo (inst.)
CP-1023 - B For Best (inst.)

Tommy Wills and His Club Miami Band
Club Miami 503
CP-1024 - Mambo Lil (inst.)
CP-1025 - I've Been Drinkin' (blues)

Tommy Wills was one of the earliest to use Rite's custom pressing (CP-) program in 1955. His three Club Miami releases from Hamilton, Ohio are some of the earliest known Rite pressings. Four of the six Club Miami sides are instrumentals featuring Tommy Wills on Sax but two are very entertaining R&B/Blues vocals by Tommy.

He next recorded on Estella Dodds Esta Label then started another new label which he named Big Bang.

Tommy Wills and His Tomcats
Big Bang 101
BBR-45-001 - Tuxedo Junction (inst.)
BBR-45-002 - Diane (inst.)
1st press, 1958 by King Records
King Account #591

Tommy Wills and His Tomcats
Big Bang 101
CP-1817 - Tuxedo Junction (inst.)
CP-1818 - Diane (inst.)
2nd press, 1959 by Rite

It's important to note that 1st pressings of Big Bang releases 101, 102 and 103 were pressed by King's Royal Plastics custom pressing division in Cincinnati. Rite repressed Big Bang 101 a year later and added their CP-number at that time.

Tommy next started the Terry label based out of nearby Middletown, Ohio. The Terry label had a pretty long run and featured a variety of musical styles by many artists. Some of the Terry releases are very sought after and command premium prices. Terry 106 is significant because of the confusing matrix information.

Tommy Wills and His Tomcats
Big Bang 102
BBR-45-003 - The 3rd Man Theme "Rock"
BBR-45-004 - Mr. Mov'in Is Groov'in
1st press, 1958, King Records, Account #591

Tommy Wills and His Tomcats
Terry 106
CP-4935 - Mr. Movin' Is Groovin'
CP-4936 - 3rd Man Theme "Rock"
2nd press, 1960, pressed by Rite Records
No Rite account # was used

Terry 106 was pressed by Rite using the same metalwork (mother's and stampers) that had been made for Big Bang 102 by King records. There is no Rite information in the deadwax of Terry 106 - only the original King matrix numbers and King account #591. The only Rite information is the CP- numbers printed on the labels. Tommy Wills' account number with Rite was #125. Also notice the titles were updated and the b-side of Big Bang 102 became the a-side for Terry 106.

In the 1960's and 70's, Tommy Wills formed at least five more labels - Airtown, Gregory, Juke, Terry-Gregory and Golden Moon but we'll save them for another day.