Dumb Dumb Bunny

Cal Starr

Dumb Dumb Bunny

Erman, Venetian Music, BMI
Arr. by A. Kavelin

Ermine 779

Ermine Record Co.

Chicago, Illinois

1960

The earliest copyright date for Dumb Dumb Bunny is from February 1955, words & music William Thomas Erman & Helen Saltiel Erman.  This Cal Starr recording predates the Steve Bledsoe and Johnny Cooper versions of the same song (on Witch Records and, again, Ermine Records)

Somewhat surprising is the presence here of Al Kavelin as arranger.  Does that mean that it was recorded in Los Angeles ? Probably.
Further association between songwriter and label owner Bill Erman and Cal Starr, singer resulted in two singles : 

• Yes, I'm Robbin' the Craddle, on Sam Wigler and Henry Tobias' Rego label in October 1960 (with the backing of the Anita Kerr Singers and orchestra led by Chet Atkins).
• Pain Of Love / Little Bride, on Thanx Records, a label located in Skokie, a Chicago suburban city.

CAL STARR was born in Chicago, IL but grew up on a small farm in Kentucky. He was taught a few chords on the guitar by his father and began to develop a love of music. This led to him entering and winning a talent contest with Bob Parsons, a highschool friend. His first performance was on a live radio show in Huntington, WVA.. During the early years that followed he worked as a disk jockey on KEBE radio in Jacksonville, TX and had his own program on KFLA TV in Shreveport, LA. He eventually moved back to the windy city of Chicago to pursue his love for music and the world of entertainment.  

The Lip

Doug Johnson & The Outlaws

The Lip

Johnson-Pitman, Venetia Pub. BMI

Prod Howard Pitman-Doug Johnson

Corina 101

1963

"The Lip" was also issued on Witch Records.  A previous record issued in late '62 by Doug Johnson and the Outlaws was on Bethlehem Records.  You can listen to both sides on YouTube.

Doug Johnson, about who little info can be found, collaborated with Howard Pitman for a release on Concord Records by the Candidates. Concord Records was started by Howard Pitman, a former member of the Five Chances on Blue Lake.  Initial release was "The Gorilla" by The Ideals. The master was leased to Cortland Records.

Venetia Music was owned by Bill Erman.  He was the owner of the Diamond Coal Company, at 1501 Est Cortland on the Chicago North Side.  He made his money from coal and oil, but his real love was music.  Bill Erman founded the first of his labels in 1961 : Witch and Cortland for r&b music and Ermine for rock 'n' roll and country music.  (Robert Pruter : "Chicago Soul", book)