STARDAY RECORDS 559

DON OWENS and the Circle "O" Ranch Boys

May 56 (BMI clearance on 18th May 56)

45-559-A - Somethings You Cannot Change

(Owens) (Starrite BMI)

45-559-B - Adios Novia

(Owens) (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY 559

(Artist based around Arlington, VA)

This Don Owens was a DJ who broadcasted over WARL (Arlington, VA)and he once appeared on a Jimmie Rogers Memorial Show with the likes of Hank Snow and Ernest Tubb. (Billboard also mentioned that attendance was very good despite the almost torrential rain that poured from the heavens that day) He also appeared before the Pastore Senate Subcommittee in 1958, saying that " ... The strongest condemnation of rock & roll and country music comes from people who have never spent five minutes paying attention to it." (Good for him, although, as a DJ & musical director of Arlington's only country music station, I doubt if he was defending R&R - but still ... kudos to the man for speaking his mind in public.) A further tale from this artists was mentioned in Billboard in Oct 55 which states ... "Don Owens, WARL, Arlington, VA debuted a new ballad recently on one of his shows that was composed by a local detective and his prisoner. The unusual writing team got together when Detective Alvin Fuchsman picked up 24 year old Ted Borrelli of Hoboken, NJ on a vagrancy charge. Upon discovering that the prisoner had with him some 50 odd poems that he had written, the detective put music to a few, tape recorded one of them ("Underneath The Lamp Post") which was later played by Deejay Owens.

Before this disc, he also appeared on CORAL Records (Mr Mystery Moon / 

I’m Not Ashamed - #61297) and also appeared on the Blue Ridge Label.

Don had a Regular TV show broadcasting out of WTTG (The Don Owens TV Jamboree) and was manager of Vernon Taylor, the Sun artist. 

Sadly, Don Owens was killed when he fell asleep at the wheel of his car (this was the second, or third time he had fallen asleep at the wheel.) It is said this was due to the long hours as a DJ, and his TV Show.

Musically, Don almost talks his way through the A side instead of singing. It's a nice love song I guess and the band are excellent. Flip side is more of the same really. I could hear Hank Williams singing this song better. Danny Pendleton is on steel guitar.

 (MC / John Burton)

Email me!

Label Shots courtesy of PJ Tricker.

SULLIVAN RECORDS 558

THE LEWIS FAMILY

Apr 56

558-A - Did You Do What The Lord Said To Do

(No credits) (No publication info)

558-B - Wait a little long please Jesus

(No credits) (No publication info)
SULLIVAN RECORDS 558

Greensboro, SC 

See previous Entry.

Email me!

SULLIVAN RECORDS 557

THE LEWIS FAMILY

Apr 56

557-A - Lights In The Valley

(No credits) (No publication info)

557-B - My Jesus is the one

(No credits) (No publication info)
SULLIVAN RECORDS 557
Greensboro, SC

The Lewis Family were from Lincolnton, GA originally. According to the Starday LP (All Night Singing Convention - Starday LP 252), the family consisted of Polly, Janice, Maggy (or Meggy / Miggy - depending on where you read it), Pop Lewis (String Bass), Little Roy (Banjo), Wallace (Guitar). They made at least 12 LP’s for Starday as well as Nashville records and Canaan records (Waco, TX.)

This (and the next release) were possibly their first recordings. At this time the band consisted of Talmadge (Mandolin), Esley (Bass), Wallace (Guitar), Roy (“Pop”) and Little Roy (Banjo). The sessions were held at WJAT in Swainsboro, GA and was originally intended for the Bibletone label. When that went bust before being able to release any of their recordings, they had them issued on Sullivan Records from Greenwood, SC. Hoyt (Label owner sponsored thet family on the TV station WJBF in Augusta, GA where it continued for an astonishing 38 years!

Hoyt then leased a few sides to Hollywood Records before they recorded for Starday Records proper.

Sadly, even after 20 years of hunting, I’ve never seen label shots of these discs, nor have I managed to hear these recordings. (They did rerecord a few of the titles later on.) They were also released on 78RPM speed.

H&C RECORDS 556

H and C RECORDS 556

Tulsa, OK

OKLAHOMA MELODY BOYS Vcl by Jearl Ritter

Apr 56 (BMI clearance on 18th May 56)

45-556-A - Wasted

(Goldie Hood) (Starrite BMI)

45-556-B - Your Heart And Mine

(Thelma Conrad / Goldie Hood) (Starrite BMI)

Nothing on this band. Possibly T Texas Tyler’s band that he used on some of his 4-Star recordings. Nothing again on Jearl Ritter or Goldie Hood (who penned both sides.) Both sides of the disc is pleasant hillbilly. MC

Email me!

Label Shots courtesy of PJ Tricker.