HOYT'S RECORDS 546

WALTER PONDER Jr.

Mar 56 (BMI clearance on 13th April 56)

546-A - I Had A Chance

(Unreadable) (Golden State Songs)

546-B - Carry On

(B Harris) (Golden State Songs)
HOYT'S RECORDS 546
PO Box 2098, Greenwood, SC

A nice piano led gospel-type number, sung with feeling (as almost all gospel records are). Both sides are slightly similar to each other and that’s a good thing cos it’s a great record. I found a Walter Ponder Jr listed on the net as having a CD release in 2001 (Breathless - no label info) where he sings 14 gospel songs. The brief bio says he was a two time winner of a contest at the the Apollo Theatre in NYC (no dates). he also had his own TV show in Jacksonville, FL and has been singing since the age of four. He also had his own prison ministry and apparently received high recognition for his rendition of the National Anthem. He was last heard of running and  organizing "Thunderbolt Ministrys" out of Jacksonville. (MC)

Source: Ron Lees

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HOYT'S RECORDS 544

RANSOM GOSPEL SINGERS

Mar 56 (BMI clearance on 13th Apr 56)

544-A - I'll Tell It

(No writers info) (Golden State Songs)

544-B - I'll Make It Home Someday

(No writers info) (Golden State Songs)
HOYT'S RECORDS 544
(No location)

Yet another in a long line of Starday Custom discs I haven't seen, heard, or know nothing about. The previous Hoyt's release was from South Greenwood, SC (# 521), so perhaps this is the same label.(MC)

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HOYTS RECORDS 521

REV. CAMPBELL with the Wonder Boy

Jun 55 (BMI clearance on 1st July 55)

521-A - Old Ship Of Zion

(R Campbell / J Smith Jr.)   (Golden State Songs)

521-B - You Can't Hurry God

(R Campbell / J Smith Jr.)   (Starrite BMI)
HOYTS RECORDS 521
Po Box 2069, South Greenwood, SC

HOYTS 521 was also issued on HOLLYWOOD 1036. I believe Rev Campbell is a black artist - a rarity amongst Starday Customs. Wonder Boy is apparently a J Smith Jnr. Two other recordings on Hollywood (“No Room For Liars” / “Stop That” - Hollywood 1037), (“This Is A Mean Old World” / “You Can’t Fool God” - Hollywood 1064) and at least three releases on HSE in the late 60’s pretty much exhaust the info I could find on Campbell. As an aside, Billboard stated (Feb 6th 1954) that Don Pierce had gained complete control of the Hollywood and Rec In Hollywood labels from John Dolphin. (MC / PJT / Gospel Records Vol 1 - C Hayes / R Laughton / Nate Gibson / M Proost)

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Label Shot (Hoyts): Michel Proost / Doug Brown

Label Shots (Hollywood): Nate Gibson

label Shot (Hollywood)78: Malcolm Chapman