Updates

• Added info on Jimmy Ford, thanks to Volker Houghton. • Extended and corrected the post on Happy Harold Thaxton (long overdue), thanks to everyone who sent in memories and information! • Added information to the Jim Murray post, provided by Mike Doyle, Dennis Rogers, and Marty Scarbrough. • Expanded the information on Charlie Dial found in the Little Shoe post.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Gene McKown story

Another of the KC rockers:

Gene McKown was a local Kansas City artist, who had at least four releases on two different labels, but there are more singles by him, for sure. McKown first appeared as a recording artist in the spring of 1958 with his release "Rock-a-Billy Rhythm" b/w "My Dream Girl" on the California based label Aggie. A second record followed on Aggie, but then, McKown disappeared for a while. He returned in 1964 on the radar cutting "Ghost Memories" b/w "Incidentally" for the KC label Brass. Both songs were re-issued that same year on Brass again (Brass 238) for unknown reasons. I have no other info on McKown after 1964.


Discography:

Aggie A-1001: Rock-a-Billy Rhythm / My Dream Gril (1958)
Aggie A-1003: Little Mary / You and I (1958-1960)
Brass 209: Ghost Memories / Incidentally (1964)
Brass 238: Ghost Memories / Incidentally (1964)

11 comments:

Unknown said...

I"m BoB Myres(drummer for Gene For many years. After 1964,Gene played the Kansas City area for 25 years. Gene"s main venues,during that time were "THE STARLITE CLUB' in Riverside,where he fronted the band for Keith Kabrick about 12years.He moved on to HOWARD's bar in Gladstone in late 70"s,and left there in 1988,and shortly after moved to Oceola,Mo,where he met a churchgoer,and began writin Gospel songs.Lead guitarist&Singer Lonnie Harper told me recently,that he had heard that Gene passed away.IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON GENE'S STATUS, WOULD YOU PLEASE COMMENT!!!!If you would like,you can contact me at bobmyres1947@yahoo.com HERE's TO GENE McKOWN,THE TRUE EPITOME OF A 'REAL' PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINER.

Xavier Maire said...

Hi! Gene McKown has another tune, a good fast Hillbilly, "I'm Still Wonderin' Why" on a Cactus CD "Rockin' Hillbilly", vol. 10. Unfortunately, there is no infos on label.
Greetings from France,
Xavier (www.bopping.org)

Kay Kovar said...

Gene McKown passed away May 18, 2011

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/17/2958270/tribute-gene-mckown-the-candy.html

Johan said...

1957 – Gene McKown
I’M STILL WONDERING WHY FABLE F571/2
MY HEART BELONGS TO YOU FABLE F571/2

IS HE ALSO GENE MCGOWN: KNEE DEEP IN THE BLUES (JASMINE CD, BOPPIN HILLBILLY LP)?

/JOHAN

Mellow said...

Thanks for the info Johan, I'll probably write a new post about him with more info. Concerning the "Knee Deep in Blues" recordings, I have no info but it could be possibly that he also recorded this song.

Anonymous said...

Anyone know the year for the Happy As A Lark/UFO 45 on Totem????

Anonymous said...

here is a live show of Dick Miller and his Band with Gene Mckown as guest artist broadcast live from the Club Mainger over KXLA radio Pasadina Californa 1959, enjoy. http://www.mediafire.com/?in9o8od4iifncx4 contact me if you like at solarmusicfreak@yahoo.com

Collin H said...

I've got a number of Cds with tracks by Gene and I've put all my CDs into storage. At some rockabilly nights, I play his tracks but haven't got the composer details for the PRS.
Can anyone give me the recording dates and composers for the following:
I'm Still Wonderin Why
Knee Deep In The Blues
ta
Collin at collin@cnfc.info

Unknown said...

I'm still wondering why was composed by Agnes Coats and Gene McKown both, as well as the flip side of it ''My Heart Belongs To You''. The same holds true for his ''Rock-A-Billy Rhythm tune. She was also one of the Tune Twisters Band, and long suspected her nic name Aggie is in fact The ''AGGIE'' recording label herself. She co wrote and played on with the Tune Twisters quite a few recordings for the AGGIE label with more than one artist.. That's all I can know about it.

Ms. Heatha said...

Lonnie Harper my dad.. And genes best friend would know all this.

Ms. Heatha said...

Lonnie Harper has the anwsers look him up on Facebook he played geetar w Gene