JOHNSON RECORDS 511 (Updated)

JERRY and the String Trio

Jan 55 (BMI clearance on 28th Jan 55)

511-A - Lead Me To The Promise Land (sic)

(No writers credits)   (Starrite BMI)

511-B - Judgement Day

(No writers credits)   (Starrite BMI)

JOHNSON RECORDS 511

1417 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA

Although both sides of the record credit vocals to Jerry and Steve, only 511-A is a duet. It’s a wonderful disc that has been described as an early example of “Gospelbilly”, although I think only the gospel part is correct. Nevertheless, you could say that the music certainly has rockabilly overtones., especially the “B” side. No writers credits and although Starrite published both sides, that info seems to have been left off of the label. As far as I know, there’s only two known copies of this disc. As yet, it has not surfaced as a 45 and probably only exists in it’s 78 format. (MC / Phil Tricker/Al Turner/Dave Sax).

Any info? malcychapman@mac.com

20-NOV-2018

According to Pete Sturman, The artist could be Jerry Barlow, who released records on OT, Lyric, Khoury's and Pa-Nee (possibly others). Here is his email:-

"I talked with Cledis Mott in Lake Charles last night and asked if he had ever heard of Jerry & The String Trio. Right away he told me it must be Jerry Barlow. Jerry had 3 or 4 records on Khoury's all C&W. I have no way of proving it. Cledis told me Jerry might have had polio, he had some type of disability, which Cledis thought might have been polio. At the time polio was the biggest scare in the US.

This is the reply i got from Lyle Ferbrache, still not much to go by, but Cleadis is very knowledgeable of musician in the Lake Charles area.

Lyle was going to e-mail other people he knows so may get more info."

My Reply

"As you mention, a Lake Charles Artist. As the writers credits are missing on the Johnson Record 78, and the “Jerry” lacks a surname, the link between the two is still credible. Since he didn’t seem to record Gospel before (or after – as far as I’m aware), perhaps he dropped his surname for the record.

So yeah, maybe it’s the same guy. But I don’t think they sound very similar. Sure, by 1955 maybe his voice dropped a little in range. But they sing and pronounce things differently - (maybe intentionally?). Plus, can’t believe Jerry Barlow was the only singer in Lake Charles called Jerry. I compared the Starday Custom with the Khoury Release.

So I don’t know. I wouldn’t have linked them before but glad you mentioned it. Happy to add the above in the update section of the next box set, but I’m not entirely convinced. Feel free to add anything you feel is relevant.

The guy who MIGHT know is John Broven who wrote an excellent book on Louisiana music. Don’t have an email for him but he must be contactable somehow."

Label Shot: Al Turner via E-Bay. (a), Pascal Perrault (b)