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.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Tombigbee Records


Tombigbee Records was located in Pontotoc, Mississippi, a city a little west of Tupelo, and not too far away from Memphis, Tennessee, either. The name of the label derived from the Tombigbee River near Pontotoc. The name itself was of Native American heritage, from the people of the Choctaw to be exact.

The owner(s) of Tombigbee are unknown to me as well as other details. The exact adress of TomBigBee was at Box 390 Pontotoc. Danny Walls, a recording artist for the label in his own right, was active as a producer and songwriter for the label on several occasions and was probably involved in running this label. Stan Kesler also co-produced at least two records - so is there a Memphis connection? Obviously.

The artists recording for Tombigbee were to all accounts local singers and bands. Jimmy Wages, a Tupelo native, also had recorded for Sun in Memphis earlier. Travis Bell was also a Mississippi based artist. James Mask, another Memphis based singer who was born 1932 in Pontotoc, cut a great cover of the Rocky Bill Ford song "Beer Drinking Daddy." Mask had previously recorded for different labels including Bandera from Chicago and small Memphis labels.
 

Does anyone have more information on this label?

100:
101: Houston (Bob) Mills - The Early Morning D.J. / The Turn the Lights Out Down at Joe's (1966)
102: Jimmy Wages and the Tune Mates - Biggest Man Around / Right in the Middle
103: Jerry Pitts & Rhyhtm Makers - Big Ole Highway / Come On Home
104: Bob Mills - Crazy About a Honky Tonk / I'll Come Back Crying
105: Jerry Pitts & his Rhythm Makers (with the Itawambains) - Jet Age Santa / Let the Kids Spend This Christmas with Me
106: Deborah Ayock - There's Something You're Not Bringing Home to Me / Bob Mills & Deborah Ayock - Side By Side (1967)
107: Jerry Pitts & his Rhythm Makers - I Ain't Had Time to Quit / A Pencil and a Bottle
108: Robert Mills - I'm Doin' Fine / Deborah Aycock - Looking for a Brand New Start
109: Deborah Aycock - That Don't Buy Your Baby No Candy / Danny Walls - A Woman's Kiss / Robert Mills - Trying to Find My Way Back Home / What They Said You Would Do
110: Danny Walls - I Got a Woman / ?
111: James Mask - Beer Drinking Daddy / Smokey Ole Bar Room
112:
113: Pete Doles & the Young Inspiration - Yes Indeed / I Believe / ? / ?
114: Robert Mills - The Farmers Prayer / When He Calls
115: Travis Bell - My Son at College / Married Life
116: Jerry McCoy - "Tell Them Mary" You Love Me Like I am / Asking for the Blues

Thanks to Bayou Bum and Bob

5 comments:

Bayou Bum said...

Here's one more

Tom Big Bee 116 Jerry McCoy - "Tell Them Mary" You Love Me Like I Am / Asking For The Blues

Burney Redding said...

Compliments to you on a Very Fine Blog!!

Well Done,

Burney Redding

Bob said...

Add:
104: Bob Mills Crazy About A Honky Tonk/I'll Come Back Crying
105: Jerry Pitts & his Rhythm Makers (with The Itawambains) : Jet Age Santa/Let The Kids Spend This Christmas With Me.
109: (EP) Deborah Aycock : That Don't Buy Your Baby No Candy/ Danny Walls : A Woman's Kiss / / Robert Mills : Trying To Find My Way Back Home/ Robert Mills : What They Said You Would Do

Anonymous said...

Hey Guys! Do any of you know the years when was this label active?
I'm tryin' to find out when exactly was "Jimmy Wages and The Tune Mates - Biggest man Around/Right in the Middle" released. And I need to know the exact year. I think it was released in the early 60s somewhere between 1960-1964. What do y'all think?

Mellow said...

The initial release on the label, Tombigbee #101, is dated as 1966 due to the fact that both songs were copyrighted in July 1966. So Tombigbee #102 by Jimmy Wages was likely released around the same time or later.