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.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Billy Eldridge on Vulco

Billy Eldridge - It's Over (Vulco VL1508), 1961

Billy Eldridge was a member of the Fireballs, a local rock'n'roll band from Fort Pierce, Florida. They were recording for Vulco Records, a small label operated by Irvin Vulgamore, who also owned a small record shop that had opened in early 1956. The Fireballs were founded in 1958 or earlier and were led by Pat Richmond. Members included Jim King, Pat Richmond (vocals), Vern Strickland (lead guitar), Billy Eldridge (vocals/guitar), Jim Sanders (guitar), Leo Law (piano), and Jac Morris (drums). Discovered by Vulgamore while playing a club date in 1958, they were asked by Vulgamore to record for him. At Criteria Studios in Miami, the band cut a staple of songs, including the famous "Let's Go Baby." Written by band member Jim King, the song wasn't more than an idea when they decided to record it during the session. On that same session, the Fireballs backed up local DJ Doug Dickens with Eldridge on lead guitar. Dickens recorded "Raw Deal" and "Lucy's Graveside."

"Don't Stop the Rockin'" / "Honey Bee Baby" by the Fireballs with Pat Richmond on vocals made up both the label's and the band's first release (Vulco #1500) in 1958. It was followed by "Let's Go Baby" with vocals by Billy Eldridge (Vulco #1501) in early 1959. The songs were published by Henry Stone's Sherlyn-Pent publishing company and "Let's Go Baby" was received well locally. Stone was possibly responsible for bringing it to the attention of the United Artists label, which issued the single nationally on its subsidiary Unart.

Billy Eldridge and the Fireballs built up quite a reputation locally, performing at clubs and bars around Fort Pierce. They also appeared several times on Uncle Martin Wales' "Sunset Ranch" and Happy Harold's shows, both originated from the Miami-Dade area.

After another single ("Take My Love" / "Half a Heart", Vulco #1506), they recorded today's pick in 1961. While "There's a Reason" was a typical ballad from those days, the flip "It's Over" is an haunting performance by the band, although it is considered to be inferior to "Let's Go Baby" by collectors. The disc was arranged and produced by Fireballs member Vern Strickland and both songs were Eldridge originals. One more record appeared ("Sneaky" / "Maria Elena", Vulco #1510) but soon after, the Fireballs probably disbanded.

Eldridge then embarked on a solo career. He joined up with another Fort Pierce resident, Gary Stewart, and they began writing songs. After they managed to get their composition ""Poor Red Georgia Dirt" recorded by Stonewall Jackson, the duo moved to Nashville, where they successfully settled as a songwriting duo. Eldridge recorded for Kapp in 1969 but he and Stewart returned to Fort Pierce in the early 1970s. Stewart took another approach in 1973 and went on to national fame as a country singer. Eldridge continued to play at bars on weekends in Fort Pierce. Eldridge died on March 16, 2021.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good post.

adkom said...

Eldridges Kapp Recordings:

BILL ELDRIDGE Nashville, TN. 22.9.69


11971 RIVER TOWN Kapp K-2061
11972 BIRMINGHAM Kapp K-2061
11973 I NEED A WOMAN Kapp K-2092


BILL ELDRIDGE Nashville, TN. 4.3.70

12314 CRYING Uniss
12315 WHEN A MAN LOVES HIS WOMAN Uniss
12316 SO MANY WAYS OG SAYING SHE’S GONE Kapp K-2092

Mellow said...

Thanks for the addition!

Unknown said...

Excellent article on Stan Kesler. Kudos. He's always been there and some of his songs from the early days are still collecting royalty checks to this date. Bob

Curt said...

I'm from Fort Pierce, FL and surely remember Bill and The Fireballs from back in the day. I also remember Doug Dickens when he was a DJ for WARN radio in Fort Pierce. I was communicating with Doug several years ago but I have lost contact. His health wasn't the best at the time so that makes me wonder. I was searching for "Raw Deal" / "Lucy's Graveside" then. He indicated he no longer had the 45 RPM vinyl but wished he did. I just located one over in England and it's on it's way here. I am still trying to find him, his woman (Peggy) or other family members. I wish to give this vinyl to them. I also have been looking for Pat Richmond with The Fireballs "Don't Stop The Rockin'" / "Honey Bee Baby" for a number of years now. Haven't been able to come up with that 45 yet, nor have I located Bill's "Let's Go Baby"

Mellow said...

Curt,

I did a quick search on Find a Grave but couldn't anything that tells me he died, so probably he's still alive. I found a youtube channel by a musician/composer Doug Dickens, see here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb4zazy09_IolHfH1k4xK0Q

No recent activities but maybe this is the one you're looking for?

Suzzq said...

Bill Elderidge passed today, 3/16/21

Mellow said...

Sorry to hear that but thank you for letting us know. I have posted it.