The Jim Dandy label

The Jim Dandy record label was based in  Newberry, South Carolina, although also Charlotte, North Carolina, appeared as an adress. Jim Dandy Records is a very obscure label and only few releases are known.

In 1953, a child music 45rpm by Ray Heatherton called "Allagazam the Magic Man" b/w "Popo the Playful Pop" appeared on a Jim Dandy label. I doubt that this is the same label because the label design is completely different and it seems improbable that over a stretch of almost ten years no other recordings appeared on the label. So we forget about this single and begin the Jim Dandy record label story in 1961.

1961 saw probably the first release of a South Carolina Jim Dandy record. A rock'n'roll band called the Saxons appeared on the label with "You Are the One" b/w "The Power of Love" in October 1961. Another single by Fred Thompson turned up on the label, which differed from the label's standard numerical catalog. A Billboard article from December 11, 1961, indicates that the label searched for new talents and sent out promo copies to radio stations. Jimmy Price was called a "label executive."

Jim Dandy 1007 was by a duo called "Buck & Tommy." Buck Jones and Tommy Hagen were from Wilson, North Carolina. Hagen joined up with Charlie Louvin about eight months after the Louvin Brothers split in 1963. He played mandolin and sang the high harmony parts that Ira used to provide. Buck Jones remained in the Wilson area, recording some more 45s for small local labels as well as working in the radio, television, nightclub business.

In 1962, Bill Haney and the Dixie Buddies had at least two releases on Jim Dandy. While "Oh! How I Cry" (Jim Dandy JD-1012) was a bluegrass song, his version of the "Crawdad Song" on Jim Dandy JD-1013 is a country outing with rock'n'roll elements. About Haney is not much known. He was born in Haywood County, North Carolina and in 1957, Haney was part of Curtis Lee and the Dixie Buddies, with whom he appeared on the WRVA New Dominion Barn Dance out of Richmond, Virginia. His first record was made for the Atlanta based Super label. He toured the east coast in the 1950s and 1960s, playing country, bluegrass, and rock'n'roll, and also recorded for Dee-Dee and JFI. There was a Bill Haney reportedly from Blytheville, Arkansas, who led a band called the Flares around Memphis. He toured as an Elvis impersonator from the 1960s on and still performs. His website doesn't mention the Jim Dandy recordings nor the Super / Dee-Dee singles, so I doubt this is the same Bill Haney. There was also another Bill Haney from Atlanta, Georgia, who was a Soul music singer.

Bill Haney (seated) and the Flares, circa 1959. This group played in the Memphis area during the late 1950s. Haney later performed as an Elvis impersonator. It's not known if he is the same Bill Haney who recorded for Jim Dandy Records.

Jim Dandy had also releases by Melvin Morris, Jim Stocks, and the Castaways. The Castaways were formed in 1961 and became a garage rock band later, having a massive hit with "Liar, Liar" on the Soma label. After 1963, the label's trail grows cold. Any information is appreciated.

Discography
Singles
JD4501: Fred Thompson - Please Be Fair / Destiny and Desire (1961)
JD-1000:
JD-1001:
JD-1002: Saxons - You Are the One / The Power of Love (1961)
JD-1002: Judy Wright with Musical Accp. - Stop / The City of Despair
JD-1003:
JD-1004: Melvin Morris - Charlie's Got a Horn / Remember You're Mine (1961)
JD-1005: Jim Stocks - Knock on Another Door / Shadows (1961)
JD-1006: Jim Hardin - It's a Shame / Blue Eyes
JD-1007: Buck & Tommy - A Lost Love / Never Love Again
JD-1008:
JD-1009: Eddy Kirkley - ? / Ole' Blues (1962)
JD-1010:
JD-1011:
JD-1012: Bill Haney - Oh! How I Cry / ?
JD-1013: Bill Haney & the Dixie Buddies - Crawdad Song / Lookout, I See a Heartbreak (1962)
JD-1014: Castaways - Caravan / Carol's Theme
JD-1015: Ideals Combo - Lift-Off / Double Shot
JD-45-962: Bill Trader and the Castaways - Cherokee Call / Bitter Harvest

Note: The number JD-1002 was apparently used twice.

EPs
EP 101: Lulu Belle & Scotty -
Tenderly He Watches Over Me / When They Ring the Golden Bells / Have I Told You Lately That I Love You / Spanish Fandango

Albums
JD-LP-963: Bill Trader & the Castaways - Bill Trader Sings his Songs

Sources: Billboard, RCS, Country & Western blog, eBay, Bill Haney's website, Jerry Kendall, Bob, Kay Bank Custom Pressings, Mr. TeenSwe, Lightnin', The Directory of American 45 RPM Records (by Ken Clee)