STARDAY RECORDS 684

MAY HAWKS

Dec 57  (Billboard review on 27th January 1958.)

45-684-A - Talk A Little Louder

(May Hawks / Les Thomas)   (Starrite BMI)

45-684-B - Forever And A Day

(May Hawks / Les Thomas)   (Starrite BMI)
STARDAY RECORDS 684
(Artist based in Flint, MI)

Source: Lars Lundgren

Born in Cookeville, TN on 16^thJune 1921, Lily Mae Gibson was the sixth child in a somewhat musical family. Her first public appearance was with her sister Leone at a schoolhouse at nearby Algood and by the 1940’s, she was performing over WHUB in Cookeville.

May married a friend of Leona’s husband and moved to Troy, MI, as her husband, Robert Hawks worked there at the Chrysler Plant. Attending a show featuring local band leader Casey Clark and Little Jimmy Dickens, she was asked to sing – which led to a spot on WKNX in Saginaw, MI. After a brief stint in Nashville as part of the “Martha White Biscuit and Cornbread Time” show, she stayed in Troy and began working with Casey Clark, appearing on the Big Barn Frolic based in Highland Park, whilst having her own daily show over WJR.

By 1952, she was contacted by Jack and Devora Brown – owners of the famed Fortune Record Co. from Detroit. Sending her off to the Universal Studios, she cut “Jealous Love” (also covered by the Davis Sisters). (“Jealous Love” / “Year After Year” – FORTUNE 173). Two more discs followed before she moved onto Don Large’s Horizon Label (where she was billed as the “Teenessee Thrush”). Then she did another duet with Lester (Les) Thomas for the North Hollywood Coin label. (Lester also duetted on some Fortune Recordings).

Which brings us to this recording – her last duet with Les. As she was very popular in Detroit and the surrounding areas, Don Pierce decided to issue this on Starday Records, as he saw sales potential for the record.

“Talk A Little Louder” is an amusing ditty of being together whilst ignoring the plea from the other to settle down. Backed by some fine musicians, the tune rolls along nicely. Flip is slower – but vocally she’s on top form. There are shades of a young Patsy Cline vocally.

May continued singing passed this recording before eventually moving back to Cookville, TN. She was elected to the Michigan Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1997 and passed away on 4^thNovember 2010.

For a fuller (and much better written) history of her career, go out and purchase Detroit Country Music by Craig Maki and Keith Cady – a book full of amazing information and anecdotes on and from the many talented musicians that performed around the Detroit, MI area. (The chapter on Ford Nix is work the price on it’s own!)