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.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Bill Haney on D-B

SFC Bill Haney - On the Loose (D-B 6-6714), 1966

Here's my signed copy of Bill Haney's "On the Loose." "Good Luck - Bill Haney" - good luck for what? Finding him? Haney is still succssful at not being tracked down, that's for sure. By the way: for those of you who are not fimiliar with militaric shortcus, the "SFC" means "Sergeant First Class," which they probably used to do justice to the patriotic flip side "Call to Colors."

Bill Haney from Columbia, South Carolina - the Dixie Buddy
There has been some confusion about Bill Haney as there were several artists performing under this name. This one was born in the Carolina mountains, moving to Union, North Carolina, first and then after his marriage with Marriane Farmer to Columbia, South Carolina.

Haney played with Curtis Lee and his Dixie Buddies by 1957, including spots on WRVA's New Dominion Barn Dance in Richmond, Virginia. They toured the southern East Coast and by the early 1960s, it seems Haney had taken over leadership of the Dixie Buddies. Probably his first record was on the Dee-Bee record label in 1962 ("Wild Party Twist" b/w "My Time to Laugh," Dee Bee #RCR-69). That same year, Haney had two releases on the Newberry, South Carolina, based Jim Dandy label in 1962, including a superb version of "Crawdad Hole" entitled "Craw Dad Song".


In 1966, he appeared on the reactivated Dee-Bee label, now known simply as D-B. It coupled "On the Loose" b/w "Call to Colors" (D-B #6-6714), which is featured today. This disc was manufactured at Kay Banks' Charlotte, North Carolina, pressing plant. There was another version of this release, this time manufactured by Sound of Nashville's pressing plant but released the same year.

Dee Bee or D-B apparently stood for "Dixie-Buddy", which leads me to thinking this was Haney's own label. The Sound of Nashville pressed version of Haney's single was distributed by Richland Custom Recording from Columbia, South Carolina, which could have been Haney's operation as well. There are at least two more releases known on the Dee Bee/D-B label.

In 1967, Rural Rhythm released an album of Haney and the Dixie Buddies entitled "Rural Rhythm presents Bill Haney & the Dixie Buddies" (Rural Rhythm #2109). This is the last hint we find for this Bill Haney.


Bill Haney from Clyde, North Carolina - The Atlanta Guy
There were several other artists working under the name of Bill Haney. Probably the best known among the many Bill Haneys was the one hailing from Clyde, North Carolina, who was a cousin to bluegrass legend Don Reno. In the late 1950s or early 1960s, Haney and his wife Edwina moved to Atlanta, where he recorded for the Super label in 1961.

He eventually went into the production side of music business, working mainly in the soul and R&B music fields with such artists as Arthur Alexander. He founded his own music publishing firm Edwina Music, Down South Productions as well as his record label Chant Records. He also owned the Gilded Edge club with Jerry Ford in Peachtree, Georgia. Haney also recorded for Dot and Briar Int. in the 1960s. He eventually divorved from Edwina and married again. At some point, he served in the US Army, spending time in Vietnam and eventually left as a SFC, too.

From what I researched, he could have been the one recording with the Zassoff Boys, changing his own style to bluegrass. According to Steve Leatherwood, who knew Haney since his childhood days: "In the late 1950s, Bill and Edwina Haney lived in my mother's garage apartment in Clyde, North Carolina, and I was about 8-9 years old. I remember sitting in the yard on summer nights listening to Bill (and others) play music. [...] They [Bill and Edwina] separated and divorced and Bill moved somewhere (Nashville? Columbia? Atlanta?). I heard different places but I know he played guitar, fiddle and mandolin and recorded in Myrtle Beach. I have the Zassoff Boys LP and Don Reno signed the back with 'Good luck Cus!'." This was released in the early 1980s on the Buffalo label. As promo single with the Zassoff Boys appeared in 1981 on the Country Int. label, "Magic Mountain Fiddle" (#117).

Haney died in 1997 in Dallas, Georgia. Kent Soul Records released two volumes with Haney's productions entitled "Bill Haney's Atlanta Southern Soul Brotherhood" in 1999.

The fact that both Bill Haneys came from the Carolinas, both left the army as SFCs, and both had an affection for bluegrass music made it hard for me to tell them apart. But thanks to many visitors who have commented on my original music, I fell I succeeded in seperating their stories.

Bill Haney from Arkansas - the Elvis guy
There was another Bill Haney active in music - this time it is easier to set him apart from the other persons, however. Born in Arkansas, Haney was the pianist of a rock'n'roll group known as "The Flairs". They made a guest appearance on California's famed TV show "Town Hall Party" in 1959.

Part from his Jerry Lee Lewis styled piano playing, Haney was also adept at singing Elvis songs and had his own Elvis impersonation act in Memphis during the 1970s. He performed as an Elvis impersonator throughout the years and also did several recordings. He eventually moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he passed away on March 12, 2020, at the age of 79 years.

Another Bill Haney?

In the 1970s appeared a disc on the Nashville based Bayou label featuring "When I Wake Up in the Morning" b/w You Can't Stop My Loving You" (#112) by Bill Haney. Bayou was a subsidiary of Delta Records, a song-poem label with dubious methods. If this Bill Haney was connected with one of the other three performers or if this was another, fourth artist of the same name, is not known to time right now.

See also
The Jim Dandy label

Sources:
45cat entry
Bill Haney (Arkansas) obituary
• Thanks to Derik, Hank the Smoker, Terry, Linda Sanders, Steve Leatherwood for all your comments and input!

20 comments:

Derik said...

Also should mention this is a Kay Bank pressing. I'd like to have an image of the bside if you could email it to me. Thanks.

I recently found out that Kay Bank had a pressing plant in Charlotte, NC, starting in mid-sixties. Not sure how big it was, but it explains why so many discs from NC have Kay Bank numbers, which was a Minnesota company.

Columbia said...

I just found a LP of Bill Haney & The Zassoff Boys on the Buffalo Records label.
This Bill Haney was a cousin of Don Reno and was raised with him in North Carolina.

Mellow said...

@Columbia: That's quite interesting! Do you got that info from the LP cover? Would like to see it.

Columbia said...

I'll send you an email with the cover.

Anonymous said...

Just so you know the Bill Haney that did an Elvis illusion show in Memphis, Tn in the early 70's is still alive and living in Hot Springs, Ar. Ck out his web site www.billhaney.net

Hank the Smoker said...

Bill Haney & The Dixie Buddies also had an album on Rural Rhythm RR 2109, "Rural Rhythm Presents Bill Haney & The Dixie Buddies", 1967. One of the tracks was "Why Not Confess" - a duet with Bill Price and released later on Rural Rhythm RRBP 239, 1970. His cousin Don Reno was also on Rural Rhythm Records in 1967, and on some albums released in the 70s.

Unknown said...

The Bill Haney from Haywood County, NC was my uncle. Don Reno was a cousin and they were both raised in Haywood County. He did not play with the Dixie Buddies or the Zassoff Boys. Bill was a singer, song writer and record producer eventually moving to Atlanta. His production company was Down South Productions and record label was "Chant". His publishing company was Edwina Publishing. He also owned a club with Jerry Ford called the Gilded Cage on Peachtree in Atlanta. Two tribute CD's were released by Kent Soul in 1999; "Bill Haney's Atlanta Southern Soul Brotherhood" Vol. 1 and 2. Bill died in 1997 in Dallas, GA.

Mellow said...

Thanks Terry! So we have to set your uncle apart from the other Bill Haney.

Bill Haney - cousin of Don Reno, hailed from Haywood County, NC. Moved to Atlanta, recorded there for Super (?), became a Soul music songwriter, singer, record producer and club owner

Bill Haney - performed with the Dixie Buddies and the Zassoff Boys. Played country, bluegrass and rock'n'roll. Recorded for D-B, Buffalo, Rural Rhythm. NOT related to Don Reno.

That's right?

Linda Sanders said...

Bill Haney that was the one that Started Bill Haney and the Dixie Buddies and Bill Haney and the Zassoffs was my uncle and after being born in the mountains of NC he married my Aunt and moved to Union SC but later moved to Columbia, SC. He retired from the Army as a SGT. While in the army the family traveled to a few of the places he was stationed. He always came home to Columbia where the family was. I have some questions and hoping you might have some insight and would like to contact you via email or some other source if possible? my email is
lindafsanders1@gmail.com.

SLeatherwood said...

In the late 1950's, Bill and Edwina Haney lived in my Mother's garage apartment in Clyde, NC and I was about 8-9 years old. I remember sitting in the yard on summer nights listening to Bill (and others) play music. I was amazed!!! and it motivated me to do music as I grew up. Bill rode a big Harley motorcycle and I remember how BIG it seemed to me as a kid. I also remember the day he came running down to my Mom's with a copy of the first 45 he recorded and released: "Please My Love" and "You Don't Care About Me". i still have that 45 and it is a treasure to me. My father died in 1954 and people like Bill became "models" for me as a young boy. I thought he was bigger than life! I would have loved to have been able to connect with him later in life but lost track of where he was when he left Clyde. I do remember hearing that he and Don Reno played "MARBLES" at the Clyde School playground true or not it's a good story! I do know it was a pleasure to know him and I count him as a part of the beginning of my interest in music which I still love today. I would love to know more about Bill and get the story straight as there seems to be some confusion on the internet. Steve Leatherwood

Linda Sanders said...

Who was Edwina? Bill was married to Marriane Farmer Haney.

SLeatherwood said...

Edwina Cockrell Haney was first married to the Bill Haney I know (Please My Love/You don't care about me 45 record)and lived in my Mom's apartment in the mid 1950's. They separated and divorced and Bill moved somewhere (Nashville? Columbia? Atlanta?) I heard different places but know he played guitar, fiddle and mandolin and recorded in Myrtle Beach. I have the Zassoff Boys LP and Don Reno signed the back with "Good luck Cus!". The BILL I know rode a big Harley motorcycle and personally handed me his first 45 recording when I was about 7-8 years old in Clyde, NC. I would love to be able to separate out the "Bill Haney" information but it seems to be incredibly entangled....he was in the Army, went to Vietnam and came out SFC.

SLeatherwood said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SLeatherwood said...

I do remember hearing Bill Haney (the one I know from Clyde, NC) singing "TILL ETERNITY" over and over and over to get it right before recording it later. His first 45 I received personally was "Please, My Love" which I still have backed with "You don't care about me".... he was a great guy and bigger than life for me as a little kid in CLYDE.

SLeatherwood said...


https://images.app.goo.gl/MceBiEMj7Cv9Ld92A Not sure this will work but here is a like to a Bill Haney "EDWINA MUSIC" 45 record Steve

Anonymous said...

Bill Haney from Clyde was my dad's youngest brother. Bill moved to Atlanta and continued his music writing and producing mainly with R&B artist. He was my Dad's youngest brother. He and Edwina divorced and he remarried a couple of times and died in 1997 in Dallas Georgia. Bill's brother William "Glenn" Haney was married to Edwina's sister Betty Cockrell and they also moved to the Atlanta area (Marietta). Bill had a daughter from his second marriage who currently lives in Alabama. One of the artist he worked with was Arthur Alexander who has the distinction of being the only singer/songwriter to have one of his songs covered by the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. Alexander's early success with Rick Hall and Fame Records paved the way to Mussel Shoals becoming a mecca for R&B and County Rock recording.

Anonymous said...

This Bill Haney is not a cousin of Don Reno. The Bill Haney who was Reno's cousin was my uncle. Bill moved to Atlanta and was better known as a record producer working with R&B artist such as Arthur Alexander.

Mellow said...

Thanks to all of you who have responded to this post. I have to admit that I didn't amend this post really during the last years but I'll promise to do so in the near future!

some guy with a question said...

What were the Dixie Buddys names? Because I might have an autographed record from one of them. The name on it is al. if it is autographed how much do you think it would be worth?

Mellow said...

I'm sorry but I have no info on the Dixie Buddies other than what is written in the post.