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)

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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.

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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.

Source: Dean Craige Morris / Doug Brown / Ron Lees

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

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Label Shots courtesy of PJ Tricker.

STARDAY RECORDS 555

LUKE GORDON Acc by C Smith and the Tennessee Haymakers.

Apr 56 (BMI clearance on 18th May 56)

45-555-A - Let This Kiss Bid You Goodbye

(Gordon) (Starrite BMI)

45-555-B - Baby's Gone

(Gordon) (Starrite BMI)

STARDAY RECORDS 555

(Artist based possibly in Quincy, KY at time of release.)

Gordon “Luke” Brown was born in Quincy, KY on 15th Apr 1932 and was one of 8 children. Luke started broadcasting over WPAY in Portsmouth, OH with a band called the Rhythm Rascals, thanks to his friendship with Zeke Mullins who was a DJ on the station. After a stint in the army during the Korean war, he returned to the US and continued his music career. he ended up at the Old Dominion Barn Dance from Richmond, VA before heading off to Tennessee for a stint with Ray price and the Western Cherokees.

There he moved on to Washington DC where, working with fiddler Curley Smith, he recorded for Ben Adelman, which resulted in L&C 550 / STARDAY 550 (The “C” stands for Cuca, his first wife, whilst L is for Luke). About this time, he started up his own Quincy Record label whilst settling in Quincy, KY.

The A side is more in the sad Hank Williams vein. Flipside is a superior country rocker with some fantastic lead guitar bubbling behind his vocals. (I wish I knew who the lead guitar player was). Luke’s got one of those voices I could listen to for hours; a cross between Hank Williams and Luke McDaniels. Luke died on the 14th of September 2010 (MC)

Whether this also appeared on the L&C label is undetermined at present.

Slightly Blurred Label Shots: Phillip Tricker

STARDAY RECORDS 554

STARDAY RECORDS 554

(Artist based in OH at time of release)

MARTY LICKLIDER

Apr 56

45-554-A - Cold Hands, Warm Heart

(Licklider)    (Starrite BMI)

45-554-B - Our Anniversary Day

(Licklider)    (Starrite BMI)

Mr. Licklider was business manager, singer, guitarist and song writer for a band called the Fox Hunters. Marty was also a DJ on WICA (Ashabula, OH) in 1952. The Fox Hunters consisted of Marty, Buell Licklider (Marty's brother) on mandolin and bass fiddle, Andy Hill (Violin), Eddie Allen (Accordian) and Marty's son, Larry who also played a violin. Marty had at least one disc issued on Coral (64126) ("Down By The Missouri River" / "I Don't Want My Darlin' To Cry.") The A side of this disc is a very pleasant hillbilly bopper with good steel & lead guitar. Flip is a ballad about the joys of marriage. Billboard described this disc on the 28th April, 1956 as:- "Cold hands, Warm Heart" - Licklider, new to the label, has a deep voice and relaxed style that reminds the listener of the incomparable Ernest Tubb. He employs his voice to good advantage on this humorous, bouncy tune." "Our Anniversary Day" - "The singer portrays the feelings of a couple that has been happy in marriage for many years. A thoughtfully presented reading that many country deejays will want to program." (MC)

Label Shots courtesy of Al Turner

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ARKANSAS RECORDS 553

ARKANSAS RECORDS 553

Box 336, Judsonia, AR

ALTON GUYON and his Boogie Blues Boys

Apr 56 (BMI clearance on 27th Jul 56)

45-553-A - River Boat Blues

(K Murphy / A Guyon)    (Starrite BMI)

45-553-B - Leave My Baby Alone

(K Murphy / A Guyon)    (Starrite BMI)

Tough as old boots hillbilly bopper, bordering on early rock-a-billy from Alton and his Boogie Blues Boys from Judsonia, Arkansas. According to the excellent sleeve notes by Wayne Russell on the CD listed below, about a year after this disc was pressed, Guyon’s manager sent Starday four more sides for consideration which were (sadly) rejected. Quite why they didn’t press these onto a Starday Custom is anybody’s guess. As an aside, the A side was recorded by Buddy Phillips for the CKM label from Bald Knob, AR, with the flip (Coffee Baby) also written by K Murphy and Alton. I wonder if this track is also one of the remaining unissued sides. Over to you, Ace Records!! By the way, the CD is a “Must Have” in any collection. (MC / Wayne Russell - Starday / Dixie Rockabilly Vol 2 - ACE CDCHD 708).

Below is an email sent to Mark Lee Allen.

Hello Mark,

 

Yes I am relative.  I am his granddaughter.  He had three children with his only wife Matlida B. Guyon.  His oldest daughter passed at 9 years old of cancer.  The other two children-one boy (my dad) and one more girl.  Unfortantely, we do not have any of his records.  We live in south Louisiana and everything was lost due to Hurricane Katrina.  I would love to receive copies of his 45s.  Another thing you may not know is that in the late 80's he had his voicebox removed due to throat cancer.  So, i can barely remember his voice.  The record I purchased from you is a Christmas gift to my dad. He passed away almost 10 years ago. I thought my dad would enjoy hearing his fathers voice again. 

 

My sister who was very envious of the fact that I found this record first went on a mission this weekend to find his other records.  I can ask her if she has found any copies.

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Label Shots courtesy of Terry Gordon.

STARDAY RECORDS 552

LUCKY WRAY

Apr 56 (BMI clearance on 26th May 56)

ST-2421 - It's Music She Says

(Cindy Davis / Larry Stone) (Starrite BMI)

ST-2422 - Sick And Tired

(Cindy Davis / Joe Drew) (Starrite BMI)
STARDAY RECORDS 552

Lucky, Doug and the more famous sibling, Link hailed from North Carolina, although by the early 50’s they were playing in and around Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia. (Lucky (real name Vern) took the name lucky because of his luck at gambling). The original band were called Lucky Wray and the Lazy Pine Wranglers, playing mainly Country / Western / Hillbilly music. They worked mainly at the Fernwood Farms Dance Hall in Virginia. By 1955, they had renamed themselves Lucky Wray and the Palomino Ranch hands and had relocated to Washington, DC, which included Shorty Horton on bass. The track above (and the other two singles) were cut at Ben Alderman’s studio. The A side on this disc bops along with Links’ guitar to the fore and an unknown steel guitarist - a hillbilly bopper that’s almost Rock-A-Billy. Flip is more mainstream hillbilly with Vern in fine vocal form and nice harmonies in the chorus. Both sides sport a Starday matrix which makes me wonder if Starday were considering placing this in their main series instead of pressing it up as a custom. (MC / Link Wray - Missing Links Vol 1 - (Norton CED 210) - notes by Billy Millar).


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Label Shots: Neil Scott

MID WEST RECORDS 551

MID WEST RECORDS 551

MOWEE JOHNSON and his Rocky Mountain Boys

Apr 56 (BMI clearance on 13th Apr 56)

551-A - I Hope Tomorrow Never Comes

(Johnson) (Starrite)

551-B - What Am I Going To Do

(Johnson) (Starrite)
Wichita, KS

Yet again, another artist had slipped past my radar and vanished into that "Bermuda Triangle" of obscure artists. (MC)

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STARDAY RECORDS 550

LUKE GORDON acc by C Smith and the Tenn Haymakers

Summer 56 (Billboard Review 7th Apr 56)

45-550-A - Goin' Crazy

(L Gordon)    (Starrite BMI)

45-550-B - Married Life

(L Gordon)    (Starrite BMI)
STARDAY RECORDS 550
Possible Location:- Quincy, KY

Here's the Starday version of the L and C disc Luke had issued previously. They are the same recordings, just reissued on the Starday label. (MC)

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Label Shots: Phil Tricker