Gone...

...for a week. See you back on October 11!

The Gold Coast Jamboree

The East Hialeah Rexall on E. 25th Street - Hialeah, Florida

For long virtually nothing was known about the Gold Coast Jamboree, a country barn dance type show which originated from Southern Florida. The first hint of its existence gave us the biography of rockabilly singer Tommy Spurlin, who was active in the Miami area in the 1950s. Now, after more than 50 years  since the last Gold Coast Jamboree show was put on, the complete story of this country stage show has been unearthed. The Jamboree's bandleader and emcee Kenny Lee was so kind to gave me more info in the show.

The Gold Coast Jamboree was held at the Hialeah City Auditorium in Hialeah, Florida, a suburb of Miami. It was started by promoter Ben Yearty (who was also involved with the Town Hall Party) around May 1956 and was partially broadcasted by WMIE. After the show, also a barn dance was held, which also aired on radio WMIE. The Gold Coast Jamboree was one of the first Country & Western shows in the Miami area, since the more popular music style was Big Band music.

The cast of the show was made up by several local and regional artists. The only nationally known musicians were Wesley & Marilyn Tuttle, who were maybe brought on the show through the connection of Ben Yearty.

Kenny Lee (seen left) was born on May 10, 1935, in Georgia, and started his music career in Atlanta. He was discovered by Bill Lowery, the most powerful man in the Atlanta music scene during the 1950s, and soon after, Lee had a recording contract with RCA Victor, spots on WGST and an own television show called the "Kenny Lee Show". After his RCA contract ended around 1955, Lee stopped his TV show and moved to Miami, Florida, where he performed in nightclubs. One evening, he was spotted by Ben Yearty, who worked at that time with Arthur Gordfrey and he got Lee a spot on Arthur Godfrey's TV Talent show that was broadcasted from Miami. Yearty also persuaded Lee to help him starting a new Country & Western show called the "Gold Coast Jamboree" and so did Lee. He became the leader of the show's house band and also the emcee of the show.

Jimmy Hartley also did some of the emcee work, too. Hartley was a local Miami based country singer and was also a member of Cracker Jim Brooker's "Big Orange Jubilee" that started in November 1956 on KITV in Miami. Hartley was the leader of the backing band, the "Orange State Playboys". He also had two releases on the De-Luxe label, whose Miami burea was headed by Henry Stone. The first of two singles ("Don't Dropt It" b/w "Cold Moods", De-Luxe 2013) was issued in the summer of 1954, while the second came out in the fall of 1954 ("Cinnamon Sinner" b/w "Jennie from Jamaica", De-Luxe 2026).

Billboard reviewed Hartley's singles in August and September 195

Hear "Don't Drop It"

Hear "Cold Moods"

Marilyn Tuttle during an appearance on the Gold Coast Jamboree - Kenny Lee is far right on guitar

Wesley and Marilyn Tuttle were household names in the Californian country music scene when they arrived in Miami. Wes had several hits during the 1940s and was playing the Town Hall Party with Marilyn every Saturday night but in 1956, they left Los Angeles for Miami. Soon, Yearty got them on the Gold Coast Jamboree (Wesley also took over the functions of the show's director) but the couple returned to California possibly in 1957.

Tommy Spurlin should be familiar with most of the rockabilly collectors. His "Hang Loose", originally issued in 1956 on Perfect, became a revival hit in the UK during the 1970s. Spurlin was born on January 12, 1928, in Elba, Alabama, and grew up in Alabama and Louisiana.  In 1948, he moved to Miami, where he formed the "Southern Boys" in 1952, featuring himself (guitar/vocals), his half brother George "Benny" Dumas (bass), Virgil Powell (fiddle), Jimmy Slade (lead guitar), and Bill Johnson (steel guitar). Jimmy Slade had previously worked for Martha Carson as a guitarist. When rockabilly captured most of the teenagers' ears, Spurlin and the Southern Boys decided to go with the trend and dropped fiddle and steel guitar. Their first singles were made for Harold Doane's Perfect label in 1955 and 1956, which were pure country. It was not until summer 1956 that "Hang Loose" b/w "One Eyed Sam" appeared on Perfect. They also incorporated other rock'n'roll numbers such as "Long Tall Sally" into their stage shows. Kenny Lee remembers Spurlin as follows:

On the Gold Coast Jamboree Tommy performed primarily as a rock & roll artist.  [...] The producer (Ben Yearty) used to let teenage girls into the show without paying admission so that when Tommy came out to sing the girls would holler and clap at the foot of the stage.

Spurlin and the Southern Boys had one last release on Art Records in Miami. Spurlin then went out of the music business. He died in 2005 in Gulfport, Mississippi.

The Country Pals had Gene Christian as a member, a Miami native who worked with Ervin T. Rouse (writer of "Orange Blossom Special"), Gordon Rouse, and Chubby Wise early on in his career. His bluegrass group, the Country Pals, appeared on Arthur Gordfrey's Talent Show in December 1955 and in 1956, they joined the cast of the Gold Coast Jamboree. Next, they moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they appeared on KTHS but soon returned to Miami. In the 1960s, the band disbanded and Christian switched to mainstream country music.

As of Ann Clark and the Dixie Darlings, there is no information available on them. The Dixie Darlings were a children trio appearing in fancy western costumes.

The Dixie Darlings, standing behind the microphone, appearing on the Gold Coast Jamboree

The Gold Coast Jamboree ended in the fall of 1957. According to Kenny Lee, Ben Yearty had to fight constantly with the Miami Musicians Union. Actually, they did not want country music to become a major musical style in the city, because still Big Band music was the most popular genre there. Yearty then took Kenny Lee on a tour to North Carolina and New York, before Lee joined the US Army and left for Germany in 1957. He still lives in Alabama and performs on a regular basis.


Sources:

• Billboard August 28, 1954 - Billboard September 25, 1954 - Billboard June 23, 1956 - Billboard November 24, 1956
• Randy Noles: "Orange Blossom Boys: The Untold Story of Ervin T. Rouse, Chubby Wise and the World's Most Famous Fiddle Tune" 
• I wish to express my gratitude to Kenny Lee and Wayne Head, who supplied many of the information and photos.

Chuck Bene - Rock 'n' Roll No More

Chuck Bene - Rock 'n' Roll No More

This is Chuck Bene's knew release from 2010. Bene started his career in the 1950s on the Rock label and has performed ever since. Please listen to it and tell Mr. Bene what you think about it. You can also go to his website: chuckbene.com.

Dixieland Blues, Volume II

After good reception of volume one, Mellow's Log Cabin presents the second release in the "Dixieland Blues" series. Again, you will find 14 country tracks from the 1940s and 1950s by unknown singers and bands. While I was wirting the liner notes, I discovered that most of the artists have not left behind any information, so it was very hard for me to kept the notes interesting. I'm quite sure more volumes will follow.

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track list:
1. Floyd, Sam and the Black Mountain Boys - Big Bad Moon
2. Kyle Brothers - The Gloryland Way
3. Ralph Reynolds - Alone by the Telephone
4. Fiddlin' Willie - Knocking at Your Door
5. Roy Queen - Sage Brush Ann
6. Grouchy and the Texas Pioneers - Beaumont Rag
7. Redd Harper - (We're a-Dancin') In the Old Red Barn Tonight
8. Cecil Hogan - Little Bashful Girl
9. Slim Dossey - Don't Just Stand There
10. Austin Wood - Headin' Home
11. Austin Wood - You Can Play Your Little Game Around the Corner
12. Cousin Chickie Hopkins - You Tell Her, I Stutter
13. Happy Wilson - I Know My Buddy's Sleeping There
14. Unknown artist - That Regal Feeling

Kent Westberry on Art

Kent Westberry (rhythm guitar) and the Chaperons, late 1950s

"Popcorn and Candy Bars"

This Kent Westberry song is one of the many rockabilly records that were produced in the Miami music scene during the 1950s. I guess not many people are familiar with this tune but it's a pretty nice song and Westberry's second single for the Miami based Art label.

Westberry was born in 1939 in Miami, Florida. Whilst in High School, he formed the Chaperones which included also Wayne Grey (ld gtr), Snuffy Smith (bs/vcls) and Lewie Stewart (dms). Westberry and the Chaperones were regulars on the Old South Jamboree, a show that was broadcasted over WMIL out of Miami, and also had appearances on the local TV station Channel 17. The group also played various drive-in and theater gigs in southern Florida, which were organized by Westberry’s manager Buck Trail.

In the summer of 1958, Westberry and the Chaperones recorded their first songs at Harold Doane’s Art Recording and Transcription Service studio in Miami. Although they recorded in Doane's studio, their first single appeared on the local Trail record label, which was owned by their manager Buck Trail. On No Place To Park Westberry duetted with Snuffy Smith and plays an unique rhythm guitar intro. While No Place To Park was clearly inspired by the Everly Brothers, By Baby Don’t Rock Me Now was a fine slow rocker. The single was issued a second time on Doane’s Art Records in September 1958.

In 1959, Westberry and the Chaperones held a second session for Doane. They laid down three songs written by a Miami doctor’s wife. Two of them, Popcorn and Candy Bars along with Turkish Doghouse Rock, were issued on Art 174. The other one, My Bimini Baby, remained unissued. Westberry later recalled that they were at least accompanied by one session guy called C.W. Keith. Westberry said: "We did them [the songs] with session guys; the guitarist, C.W. Keith, was the only one I remember ‘cause he later joined my band."

Westberry went on to be a famous songwriter and hit maker in his own right when he moved to Nashville in 1960. His songs were recorded by such artists as Mel Tillis, Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills, Waylon Jennings, and many more. He still peforms today.

Kent Westberry and Snuffy Smith, possibly in 1960

Sources: RCS, Rob Finnis

Bill Phillips died

Country music singer Bill Phillips, who had chart entries in his own right and discovered Dolly Parton, passed away on August 23, 2010. He was 74 years old.
Born in 1938, Phillips first break came on Miami's Old South Jamboree on WFIL. In 1959 and 1960, he had two chart hits with Mel Tillis. He also recorded on his own for Decca and United Artists. But it was not until 1966 that Phillips received his most commercial success. He discovered a demo by Dolly Parton, who was in the record business for about ten years at that time, and Phillips produced her first big hit "Put It Off Until Tomorrow". He also had three own chart hits later on and was a part of Kitty Wells' and Johnnie Wright's touring show.

Read more here.

Rubber Knife Gang - Drivin' On

The Rubber what?? This was my first thought when I learned of this promising Bluegrass/Americana/Folk trio. You may never heard of them before like me and I think that's a shame.

The Rubber Knife Gang consists of Henry Becker (guitar/banjo/bass/vocals), John Oaks (bass/guitar/banjo/vocals) and Todd Wilson (mandolin/guitar/vocals) and hails from Cincinnati, Ohio. Their second album, "Drivin' on", will be released on September 10, 2010, and when I was starting to listen to them, I first thought "okay, give 'em listen, will be an okay warble". But when I heard the first track (which is also the title track) "Drivin' On", it blew me away! I never expected such a refreshing sound. You can't call it bluegrass, can't call it old-timey or country either. Their style borrowes elements from all three forms but has a very modern attitude. The slightly bluegrass feeling is delivered by the mandolin, the banjo adds old-time elements. What is the best about the songs of the Rubber Knife Gang is that their melodies are more country-ish, sometimes even rock'n'roll elements are present (for example the vocal style on "Chasing Your Tail" or slap bass on some recordings).

Listening to "Drivin' On" really amazed me. It's a re-freshing, new sound, which did not gives you the feeling to be set back away out in the mountains (except for "Hole In Your Sole" and "Drink Up John", where you can imagine to be on an ol' barn dance) but is very modern as well as often thought-provoking and happy at the same moment. The most promising and innovative bluegrass/americana/folk album I have ever heard.

Official website
Go to the Rubber Knife Gang's myspace site

George Kent on Mercury

"Hello, I'm a Jukebox"

This post is to honor George Kent, who recently passed away at the age of 75. "Hello, I'm a Jukebox" was on one of the cheapo-comps I listened early on when I was not so familiar with country and I always liked it. It was a typical country song to me and his recordings of "I Always Did Like Leavenworth" and "Mama Bake a Pie, Daddy Kill a Chicken" also were great.

"Hello, I'm a Jukebox" was written by the legendary Tom T. Hall, whose most famous song was "Harper Valley, PTA", recorded by Jeannie C. Riley. Kent, who had started his career in the 1950s and had recorded since, had his best days at Mercury in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He recorded "Hello, I'm a Jukebox" in 1969 with the wonderful background voice of Diana Duke. Early in 1970, the song charted in Billboard's Hot Country Singles and peaked at #26. It was Kent's most successful single.

George O. Kent was born on June 12, 1935, in Dallas, Texas, to Edna and George Olen Kent. Kent was a member of KRLD's Big D Jamboree out of Dallas, one of the more prominent country shows in the late 1950s. He recorded for Shannon, Rice, Maverick (1959), Roulette (1965-1966), Starday (1966-1967) and Mercury (from 1969 on). Although he also wrote songs for other artists such as Jim Reeves, the big break never came for him. He also performed with such stars as Elvis Presley, Buck Owens, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. In 1980, he bought the Cow Palace with his wife and sold it in 1997 to raise horses. He died in Loveland, Colorado, on August 12, 2010.

Sources: various Billboard issues, Hillbilly-Music.com

Rock-a-Round Hop

My newest compilation! Many of you will recognize the artists featured on this disc because they are rockabilly heroes. Charlie Feathers, Johnny Burnette, Andy Starr, Ray Harris and many more are selected to bring you the rockin' sound of the 1950s. What is special about this compilation is that the tracks commonly are more unknown recordings by the artists. For example Charlie Feathers' "Can't Hardly Stand It" was the flip to one of his killer King sides and Johnny Carroll can be heard here doing a great cover of "Rock'n'Roll Ruby". I hope you will enjoy it.

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track list:
1. Andy Starr - Round and Round
2. Art Adams and the Rhythm Knights - Indian Joe
3. Bobby Lord - No More, No More, No More!
4. Buck Griffin - Bawlin' and Squallin' (Over You)
5. Buck Owens - Hot Dog
6. Carl Perkins - Her Love Rubbed Off on Me
7. Charlie Feathers - Can't Hardly Stand It
8. Hardrock Gunter - Birmingham Bounce
9. Hardrock Gunter - Rock-a-Bop Baby
10. Jack Earls and the Jimbos - Take Me to that Place
11. Jack Turner and his Granger County Gang - Hound Dog
12. Jack Cochran - Riverside Jump
13. Jerry Lee Lewis - End of the Road
14. Jimmy Lloyd - I Got a Rocket In My Pocket
15. Johnny Burnette Trio - All By Myself
16. Johnny Burnette Trio - Lonesome Train (on a Lonesome Track)
17. Johnny Carroll and his Hot Rocks - Rock'n'Roll Ruby
18. Moon Mullican with Boyd Bennett and his Rockets - Seven Nights to Rock
19. Randy Atcher - Indian Rock
20. Ray Harris - Lonely Wolf
21. Ray Smith - Shake Around
22. Roy Moss - Corrine Corrina
23. Roy Orbison - Chicken-Hearted (Instr.)
24. Tommy Blake / The Rhythm Rebels - Lordy Hoody
25. Warren Smith - I'm Movin' On

George Kent died

Country music singer and songwriter George Kent died on August 12, 2010, in Loveland, Colorado, at McKee Medical Center. He was 75 years old.

Kent was born in 1935 in Dallas, Texas, and started his career in the 1950s. He was a member of the Big D Jamboree and recorded for Starday, Roulette, Rice, Shannon, and Mercury more than 60 singles. He also enjoyed success as a songwriter, penning songs for Jim Reeves and performing with Elvis Presley, Buck Owens, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings among others. He spent his last years in Lovlenand, Colorado, with his wife Jeanne.

Read more at hillbilly-music.com.