Art Adams Band - Dancing Doll

The Art Adams Band at the Boot City Opry, performing Adams' 1950s song "Dancing Doll".

Bobby Wayne on Bonita

Bobby Wayne and the Swing Trainers - Swing Train Twist (Bonita 1313), 1962

Bobby Wayne's "Swing Train Twist" is a wild, primitive and action-packed rock and roll record. However, it achieved fame to a much lesser extent than similar songs would do in collector circles. The growling singer Bobby Wayne is not to be confused with all the other singers of the same name, including Bobby Wayne who cut a slew of singles for California and Washington based labels. Virtually nothing was known about Wayne until I unearthed his story with the help of fellow collectors and some of Wayne's contemporaries. A detailed article about him was the result, published in 2012 in American Music Magazine.

"Swing Train Twist", backed by the equally raucous "Twistin' Swing Train" was possibly Wayne's only foray into the record business. The record was issued on Bonita Records (Bonita 45-1313), which was his own label. It was the year 1962 and rockabilly was dead - even rock'n'roll was vanishing. But Wayne didn't care, his "Swing Train Twist" is a wild rock'n'roll outing with a wild guitar break, a sax solo and outstanding vocals by Wayne. The rhythm section is working well, creating a stomping sound imitating a train. At the beginning of the song, Wayne is shouting several West Virginia cities like a conductor.

According to a short Billboard mention in the "Country Music Corner" segment from 1964, the Bonita label just signed C&W artist Bill McDowell, who was the organizer of the "Coonskin Folk Music Festival" in Charleston and a former Rena recording artist. Though, it's not known if this was the same label or a completely different one.

Also, there appeared another single on the House of Joan label in 1962 by band leader Wild Bill Graham. One side of this record featured the song "Roll Clean Out of Your Life", a vocal duet by Johnny Albert and Bobby Wayne, accompanied by Graham's band. If this record was made by "Swing Train" Bobby Wayne is still a mystery.

Advertising of Wayne's new record and a "Swing Train live show"
(Charleston Daily Mail, April 6, 1962)

Bobby Wayne was a popular DJ on several stations throughout the 1960s and his 1970s. He was born in 1942 and started out in the early 1960s in his home state West Virginia, where he had his own rock & roll show on WCAW in Charleston called "Bobby Wayne's Swing Train". By August 1962, he had switched to radio station WGKV. In the years of 1964 and 1965, Wayne was at WSAI in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his "Swing Train" show was with him. 1966 saw him at KDWB in Minneapolis, he then left and returned to Cincinnati in 1968 and found work at WUBE until 1969. Also there, he presented his "Swing Train" show which proved to be very popular on both WSAI and WUBE. Wayne also spun records on WWHY in Huntington, West Virginia, KCBQ in San Diego in 1967-1968, and from 1969 to 1972 as "The Wizard" or Bob "The Wizard" Wayne in New York City on WCBS-FM, WYNY, and WHN.

Wayne continued to work as a DJ throughout his life. Although he was an idol to many younger DJs that worked with him throughout his career, Wayne was also an alcoholic and could not escape his demons. Bobby Wayne died in September 1990 in Florida.

Bobby Wayne at WSAI, ca. 1964-1965
Source: cincinnatinews.net.

Bobby Wayne at WCBS-FM, ca. 1970. 
Source: NY Radio Archive.

See also
• House of Joan

Recommended reading
• Internet Archive: KDWB air check with Bobby Wayne

Sources
• Rockin' Country Style entry
• History of WCAV/WVAF
• Reelradio
• Find a Grave entry
• Picture sources see descriptions
• Thanks to everyone who commented on this post and shared their memories with me. I am especially thankful to Bobby Wayne's widow Pat and his daughter Laura for commenting!

An interview with Mel McGonnigle

When I publish a little write-up of 1950s/1960s rock’n’roll artists or labels, I never expect much new information given by visitors. Mostly, they are too obscure to get satisfying info on them via contemporary witnesses. You can imagine how amazed and happy I was, when Mr. Mel McGonnigle, original Rocket recording artist, contacted me. He was told an article about him and Ricky Coyne was up on the web, but he was not able to find it. He wrote me via e-mail and a correspondence that lasted several weeks about his days as a rock’n’roll artist, his later life and his plans for the future followed. The following is the correspondence comprised as an interview.

At first, Mr. McGonnigle gave a us an insight about his early days as a rock’n’roller:

“It amazes me when I learn of any interest regarding something I did some 52+ years ago.
Immediately following the distribution of "Rattle Shakin’ Mama", the producers booked me on a big Rock n' Roll Show in Boston. I distinctly recall Bill Haley and The Comets appearing, as well as Shirley and Lee, Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers among others and my nervousness about following Frankie Avalon. I think I was petrified! In fact, I know I was!! […]”

He then spoke of how his career came to an early end:

“Shortly after recording this, the producers wanted me to follow up by recording two more originals. I had songs but really didn't feel comfortable with them and more importantly realized I had little interest in doing any more than what I had done. They coaxed me to do a "cover" of one of Chuck Berry's hits. The session was set up, all were there and I walked out of the studio. I then made a spur of the moment decision to join The United States Marine Corps […].”

Can you tell me more about Rocket Records, the label that you recorded for? Who was the owner and how long lasted this label?

“With regard to Rocket Records, it was created by Herb and Milton Yakus, the owners of Ace Recording Studios in Boston, Ma., who were the producers of my recording session. I believe that one of them was also a co-writer of the song "Old Cape Cod", made famous by Patti Page. I am personally unaware of any recordings on prior or subsequent to 1958, but that doesn't mean there weren't any.”

Did you had a career before you recorded "Rattle Shakin' Mama"? Which were your musical influences?

“I graduated from high school in 1957, shortly after my 17th birthday and much to the chagrin of my parents did not take advantage of basketball scholarships permitting me free 4years of college. Although I had absolutely no idea of what I was going to do, I simply rejected further, formal education.
My memory of what transpired between June of '57 to when I recorded in 1958 is hazy other than working at a Variety Store part time and participating in some gigs once in awhile with Ricky Coyne.
The very first record I ever purchased was Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti". It knocked me out…as did Chuck Berry's "Maybelline" and "Roll Over Beethoven", the latter of which was always the first or second song I'd sing at a gig…the other was "Boppin’ The Blues" recorded by Carl Perkins... after those songs… the list goes on and on…“

Mr. McGonnigle also told me about his later life:

“Marine Corps from 1958 to 1962 when I met my present wife. This September we celebrate our 45th Anniversary. From 1962 to 2008?? Bill Collector for a Consumer Finance Company, Collection Manager, Loan Manager, Supervisor of Loan Offices, Home Improvement Financing Manager for a bank, Originator of a state wide Personal Loan operation for a large corporation, Founder and President of a residential Mortgage Company, Executive Vice President and Director of a Boston based bank and finally, Founder and President of a Real Estate sales
Company… prior to retiring December, 2008.“

Are you planning to do a "come back" in music?

“Am I planning a comeback in music??? No...Why I'm too old and very likely too much out of what is considered by the pro's to be saleable... So! Why did I have to write, sing and have produced 4 original songs in August of 2009 when I was 69 years old??? Because I wanted to do it…Why???? Well, why the hell not…?”

I wish to express my gratitude to Mel McGonnigle for his kindness and patience to answer all of my questions.

Boom Chica Boom

"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" - that's the device for our today's post. Cactus Records has put out two amazing collections of Cashalikes called "The House of Cashalikes", which feature many obscure artists who thought they could do the same the Man in Black did. Some of them got very close to their idol, for example Johnny Doe's "Devil Train" (which is not featured here). His voice just sound like Cash himself. Others tried to imitate the Cash sound that was produced by the Tennessee Three - a good example here is Lonnie Smithson with "Quarter in the Jukebox". However, I have compiled 15 Cashalikes that were not featured on the Cactus comps (except Houston Barks and Charlie Stewart). I hope you like it!


Download


track list:
1. Delbert Barker - So Doggone Lonesome
2. Sleepy LaBeef - Home of the Blues
3. Marie Roberson - Hell Bound Train
4. Jack Reno - The Biggest Man
5. Houston Barks - She's Gone
6. Paul Evans - I Got Stripes
7. Bill Mack - Johnny's Gal Frankie
8. Sleepy LaBeef - Don't Make Me Go
9. Charlie Stewart - Who'd Lie on Johnny Cash?
10. Lonnie Smithson - Quarter in the Jukebox
11. Kenny Owens - Hey Porter
12. Benny Barnes - Give My Love to Rose
13. Jimmy Webb - Jimmy Six
14. Kenny Owens - Ballad of a Teenage Queen
15. Johnny Sea - Frankie's Man Johnny

Bill Anderson inducted into AOTCMHoF

"Whisperin'" Bill Anderson will be inducted into "America's Old-Time Country Music Hall of Fame", as according to an announcement the National Traditional Country Music Association made on July 16. A ceremony will be held in September 2010 in LeMars, Iowa, where the Hall of Fame is located at the Pioneer Music Museum. Anderson is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, among others.

Read more here.

Hank Cochran R.I.P.

Legendary songwriter Hank Cochran died on July 15, 2010, at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Cochran started his career with the young Eddie Cochran as the "Cochran Brothers" in California. He became a profilic songwriter and penned such hits as "I Fall to Pieces", "Make the World Go Away", and "Ocean Front Property". He also had chart hits in his own right, including the Harlan Howard song "Sally Was a Goord Old Girl". Cochran was 74 old.

Read more at hillbilly-music.com.

Rocket Records story

I wanted to to write about Rocket Records much earlier but when I began to write, I realised that I had not enough material about this label. In fact, Rocket was/is a very rare record company and information is hard to get by. So, you can imagine how happy I was when one of Rocket's original artists contacted me a couple of days ago, who was able to provide some rare info.

Rocket Records was founded by Herb and Milton Yakus in Boston, probably in 1958. Milton Yakus was the co-writer of the Patti Page hits "Go on with the Wedding" and "Old Cape Cod" among others. Both Herb and Milton ran the Ace Recording Studios on Boylston Street in Boston during the 1950s and 1960s. Rocket Records was presumably their first attempt to get into the record business. You can see a photo of the studio at night, made sometimes between 1954 and 1958.
The first record was Rocket 100 "Teenager's Party" b/w "R.R. Boogie" by the Rhythm Rockers, which was recorded and pressed in 1958 but never released originally. It was not until 1990 that these two rockers saw the light of day. Rocket 101 was by the then 18 years old Mel McGonnigle, who had worked a few gigs with Ricky Coyne & the Guitar Rockers around Boston in 1957/1958. His "Rattle Shakin' Mama" was recorded in 1958 at Ace Studios and is now a minor rockabilly classic.

There are three other known releases on Rocket, one by Alan Barnicoat (Rocket 105), ony by the Oddballs (Rocket 110) and one last by Doug Fore (Rocket 528). The latter was pressed by Rite out of Cincinnati, Ohio, the other records were manufactured by an unknown pressing plant. Being professional songwriters, Herb and Milton Yakus often got songwriting credits on the Rocket releases, although they possibly never participated in composing any of them songs. They kept on running their recording studio and recorded many garage bands in the 1960s, setting up a new label called Ace. Milton Yakus died on November 6, 1980, in Boston at the age of 62.

Milton Yakus' obituary in the Billboard magazine, November 1980
Discography
Rocket 100: Rhythm Rockers - Teenager's Party / R.R. Boogie
Rocket 101: Mel McGonnigle - Rattle Shakin' Mama / Cheryl Baby (1958)
Rocket 102: Ricardo feat. Bill Leavill Orch. & Chorus - Fool, Fool, Fool / Destiny
Rocket 103:
Rocket 104:
Rocket 105: Alan Barnicoat - Trip to the Orient / Savage (1958)
Rocket 106:
Rocket 107:
Rocket 108:
Rocket 109:
Rocket 110: Oddballs - That's My Baby / Rockin' in the Jungle (ca. 1958)
[Rocket 528: Doug Fore - For Heaven's Sake, Don't Hesitate / Come Back to Me, My Love (1959)] *

* Rocket 528 was probably not released on the same Rocket label. Bob from DeadWaxblog suggested this record was a custom pressing from the Globe Studios in Nashville.

Special thanks to Rockin' Country Style, Mel McGonnigle, Bob

Charlie Louvin in hospital

Country legend Charlie Louvin, who was a hit maker with his brother Ira as the Louvin Brothers, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. On his website, Louvin wrote that he will go to hospital on July 22 to undergo a six hours long operation in order to remove the cancer.
Louvin just turned 83 years old on July 7.

Tops Rock & Roll Soundalikes

My belated download post from monday. This comp wasn't finished on monday, so I'm posting it today. Tops was a label founded by the Tops Music Enterprises in the early 1950s in Los Angeles and had success with their cheap versions of the hits-of-the-day. In 1960, Tops was sold and the new owner discontinued the label in the mid-1960s. Some of the Tops recordings were actually recorded by the Starday company and issued on their budget imprint Dixie. The masters were later leased to Tops. Hope you enjoy it!

Download

track list:
1. Hank Smith - Heartbreak Hotel
2. Dave Burgess - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
3. Dusty Glass - Jailhouse Rock
4. Stevens Mark - School Day
5. Johnny Curtis - Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie
6. Johnny Ryan - Hot Rod Lincoln
7. Scott Otis - Heard Headed Woman
8. Hank Smith - Blue Suede Shoes
9. Uncredited artist - Hound Dog
10. Mimi Martel - Rock Love

Merle Travis - Lost John

The great Merle Travis performs "Lost John", a song also recorded by many other great artists such as Hank Thompson. I'm always fascinated about Travis' thump finger pickin' style... a pleasure to listen to and to watch!