Friday, March 31, 2017

Geneva's Blues


Geneva Vallier

Geneva's Blues

Cash Records 1009
1955

The flip is “Said You Had A Woman”, answer to the Ray Charles smash “I’ve Got A Woman.” available on several compilations and on YouTube


West Coast night club vocalist, Geneva Vallier was born Geneva Griffin near Crew Lake, Richmond Parrish in 1918.  She recorded with the Emanon Trio on Swing Time Records (1952) and with Clarence "Candyman" McGuirt  on Irma Records (1956).

Geneva died Geneva Phipps in Los Angeles County in 1982



Thursday, March 30, 2017

Please Please


Jackie Johnson
with
Leon Smith & His Guitar

Please Please

Willamette 102
product of Orbit Sound Company

1959


Jim Reeves and Jackie Johnson in 1956 (1)

Jackie Johnson

Jackie Johnson, singing an original song, was first place winner in the amateur talent show sponsored by the Medford Junior Chamber of Commerce in April 1956.  But it was'nt before 1959 that she recorded her first single. According to the Medford Mail Tribune [July 1, 1959] 
Jackie Johnson, . 14-year-old former Jackson county resident, has had her first recording released under the Willamette label.  She is the daughter of Mr. and  Mrs. John Johnson, ' who lived in Eagle Point until ' moving to Eugene last month ' after Jackie completed the eighth grade.    The new recording is "Star Light Star Bright" backed by "Please, Please written by the singer and her mother.    The singer had performed with various local bands and appeared on a program over KBES-TV.  She also sang for Rogue Valley ballroom dances. According to the report from Eugene, the singer has appeared on the same programs with such stars as Hank Thompson, the Maddox Brothers and Rose, and last September toured- for a week with the Jim Reeves show.  She is now on a show staged in Eugene by Leon Smith who made the hit recording of "40 Ford."  The Johnsons will return to the valley for the week end and Jackie will sing at the Camp Corrall July 4.  

Located at 2272 Roosevelt Blvd in Eugene, Oregon, Orbit Sound Company, Willamette Records and Myrtle Mountain Publishing Company were founded by Lloyd “Grandpappy” Smith, an upright bass player and bandleader of the Western Valley Boys, the Melody Ranch house band.  Located at the same address Melody Ranch was a country western dance hall operated by Grandpappy Smith from 1947 to 1957.  

Leon Smith, son of Grandpappy Smith, recorded “Little 40 Ford” and it was released in May of 1959 on Willamette, the master was sold to Columbia later that year and released on the Epic label.


Leon Smith discography
Jackie Johnson discography
(1) Jim Reeves & Jackie Johnson picture is from David Bussey Scrapbooks

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Love Party


Chano and The Rialtos

Love Party
J.O. Duncan, J.D.A. Music (BMI)

Cue 711
Produced by Jimmy Duncan
1962

This is Chano Rodriguez from Galveston County, Texas. 

Paul Renfro, who played drums with Chano and the Rialtos, still recalled in his mind's ear walking down the hall at Lovenberg Jr. High School in 1954, and hearing Chano singing the "Ave Maria" solo in a choir classroom.
 "I get goose bumps when I think about it, just like I did then, and I didn't even know Chano at the time," Renfro says. My brother, Frederick Cherry, says Chano's voice had a sweetness to it, a very unusual quality, and he followed Chano's entire career beginning with his performances at Larry Kane's Record Hops at the Pleasure Pier's Marine Room in the 1960s. Often when Rodriguez was appearing, his wife Margaret, the only wife he ever had, would sit alone at a table for two. It was obvious to everyone, including her, that she wasn't really alone, because Chano sang every one of the romantic ballads to her. He would join her during the breaks. They would hold hands, and she would get his undivided attention. And then sometime during the night he would leave the bandstand, go to her table and ask her for a dance. The floor would become theirs, and theirs alone
Chano Rodriguez, 58, died of a heart attack in 1998, and a big part of the hearts of Galvestonians went to his grave with him.    

(From The Galveston Daily News, November 21, 1998)

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Shake It Baby


Ilene Rushing


Shake It Baby
Leo Teel, Phil York
Buena Vista Publishing Co., Teelbilly Publishing Co.,
Yorkshire Music, BMI

Bollman Int'l Records 936
1973



Ilene Rushing had three releases on the Bollman International imprint out of Texas.  This is her second record.

The Plano Daily Star-Courier from Plano, Texas, reported the release of her third record in January 1974 as follows :
A former area resident, Ilene Rushing, has cut a new record. Bollman International Records in Dallas has released “Brand New- Key” and “He's My Baby." Bollman International is a new recording company, and Miss Rushing was the first artist to sign with the company three years ago. She was discovered by Bob Massey of Blackbird Records and B L. Bollman while she was performing with J.W. Davis and "Saturday Night in the Country Band" at Wylie, Miss Rushing was formerly employed by the Plano Star-Courier and also played softball with the Plano Women’s Softball League for three years under coach George Henson.    The daughter of Mr. and Mrs, John E. McCrary of McKinney, Miss Rushing is an active member of her church. She is soloist, teacher of the Young Adults, Youth Director and was elected delegate to the G r a y s o n Baptist Association, Miss Rushing travels over Texas with Joe Paul Nichols and the Four Pennies and Orvile Couch and the Troublemakers. She has performed for radio, television, carnivals, rodeos, benefits, gospels and various other activities. When she has an open Saturday night, she sings at Farmersville with “Saturday Night in the country Band."



Richard Wolfe

Shake It Baby

Bollman Int'l Records 115

Leo Teel and Phil York had probably faith in their song as they recorded also an instrumental version by Richard Wolfe, also conveniently here for your enjoyment

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Dance With The Drummer Man


Legends

Dance With The Drummer Man
Duane Eddy, Lee Hazelwood
Linduane,  BMI

Surfs Up
Legends, Dunes, BMI

Doc Holiday Records 107
1963

45cat (fredhoyt)
Picture Sleeve
(posted by fredhoyt at 45cat.com)
The Legends : two saxes, three guitars and one drums : Ron Anderson, Brad Ritter, Doug Donoghue, Sherman Koons, Frank Silva & Pat Shew (not necessarily in that order on the picture).  Perhaps not band regular members, the girls on vocal duty on Dance With The Drummer Man are not credited on label and not pictured on the sleeve. Too bad.

The largest record company in the world (below sea level) was owned by Irvin "Doc Holiday" Smith (1931-2009), from Charleston County, South Carolina.  Doc Holiday was a disc jockey on various radios and later a show host in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He was with KREO, Indio, Calif. when in 1962 he started his own label, releasing about eight singles in 1962 and 1963.   In his last few years, Irvin Smith owned and operated Payless Tires on Jefferies Blvd. in Walterboro (South Carolina)


Doc Holiday label listing :
101 Bobby Verne
102 Gale Davis
103 Jimmy Doyle
104 Diplomats
105 Barry Richards
106
107 Legends
108 Johnny Royal