A Gruntin' And A Groanin' (The Wrestlers Song)

Maurice Tillet "The French Angel"

Scat Man Crothers's  recording of “A-Gruntin’ And A-Groanin’ (The Wrestlers Song)" backed by the Red Callender Sextet, combined R&B with professional wrestling, which was just getting some high profile popularity on TV out of the Olympic Auditorium in L.A.   It was issued on Intro in 1951, a subsidiary of Aladdin Records. The Billboard's reviewer wasn't that impressed by this side : "Another case of a good performance and flimsy material, here some nonsense about the wrestling matches" (Billboard, May 26, 1951)

The French Angel (picture above) was one of these wrestlers who appeared in L.A. at that time. Maurice Tillet (The French Angel's real name) is widely believed to have been the inspiration for the cartoon character "Shrek", although DreamWorks has never confirmed precisely from where Shrek's inspiration arose.

A Gruntin' And A Groanin' (The Wrestlers Song)

Thumpity Thump

Gracie Lind

with

Jim Rollins on guitar

Thumpity Thump

B. Blue - J. Rollins

Fairway Music Corp.

Intro 45-6094
1956

Her only record?

Billboard rev. 24 Nov. 1956

Cash Box rev. 5 Jan. 1957

A Dallas artist, or at least a Dallas recording.

B. Blue is a pseudonym for Bob Belyeu, "a Dallas up-and-coming tunesmith", who was with the Charles Wright Agency.  For guitarist Jim (Jimmy) Rollins, see Wikipedia article

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry

Steve Rowland

with Earl Palmer and band

 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry

Joe Thomas - Howard Biggs

Coblin Music Co. BMI

Intro 6098

1957

Cover of a song first recorded by Roy Hamilton (Epic Records, 1954) issued on the soon-to-de defunct Intro label, the country-arm of Eddie and Leo Mesner’s Aladdin records.

Steve Rowland (born Stephen Rowland, 3 September 1932) is singer, columnist, record producer and actor. He grew up in Beverly Hills and now lives in Palm Springs, California. His father is film director Roy Rowland ("The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T"), his mother Ruth was a writer.

In 1950s, Hollywood, he went on to act in thirty five TV shows such as "The Rifleman", Bonanza, Wanted: Dead or Alive and a two year role in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Film appearances included co-starring roles in Battle of the Bulge with Henry Fonda; Gun Glory with Stewart Granger; Crime in the Streets with John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo, and the original The Thin Red Line with Kier Dullea and Jack Warden.

SEE :

Steve Rowland official site

Steve Rowland Wikipedia article (no mention of his 1950s records)

Steve Rowland discography

56 Liberty 55030 - Steve Rowland and The Bystanders
How Many Miles
Flat Wheel Train

57 Intro 6098 - Steve Rowland & Earl Palmer band
Say The Word
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry

59 Virgo 1003 - Steve Rowland
Dear Little Pen Pal
How Would You Like It  

63 Cross-Country 1-1818/9 - Steve Rowland and The Ring Leaders
Here, Kum The Karts
Out Ridin'    

70 Bell 863 - Steve Rowland & Family Dogg
Sympathy
Moonshine Mary

 Steve Rowland signed to Intro Records

Billboard, 1957, June 3

Actress Natalie Wood stands on the shoulders of actor Steve Rowland 

at the Thalians Beach Ball which was held at the home  of Elaine Stewart on July 15, 1956 

in Malibu, California. (Getty Images)
Credit : http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/06/photos-bikini-babes-back-then/