Saturday, November 24, 2012

Bob Tyree on Monza

 


Bob Tyree
22151 ~ Honky Tonk  Man
22152 ~ Momma Don't Allow
Monza
10435 Val Tierra S.W., 
Albuquerque, NM
1968


Nothing found on the internet about Bob Tyree, unless that he is/was THIS Robert Tyree, country singer,  who ran off with his  2 years old daughter, named Dodie Tyree.  There were rumors that he killed her and buried her in the desert.





Friday, November 23, 2012

Clarence Johnson And His Tom Cats on Jerome


Clarence Johnson And His Tom Cats


 Jerome 7363
1964

 
 One copy of this RARE record was recently auctioned by records dealer (and blues collector) John Tefteller, described as follows  :
M- GREAT AND RARE!!! Rockin' Country Blues Masterpiece! MB $2000

 Clarence Johnson

On Feb. 18, 2006, Clarence Johnson, 86, was found wrapped in clothes, trying to stay warm in sub-freezing temperature in an unheated, ramshackle duplex at 480 N. 26th St. in East St. Louis. Johnson died 20 minutes after reaching the hospital
 
It was rumored among the blues community that he was the son of the renowned blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson, whose distinctive style he drew from heavily. But Fannie Harper, his half-sister,  discounts the connection. "I don't know where they got that from," she says of the legendary lineage. "His father was Jack Johnson."

Perhaps shrewdly, Clarence did little to clarify the matter while he was alive.
 
Johnson worked mainly as a sideman.  He backed up a young Miles Davis, as well as several other area musicians.   Over the years he managed to lay down a few tracks of his own for Jerome.   Though he played music all his life, he earned his keep fixing radios and other small electronics out of his house.

Sources:
  • Beth Hundsdorfer, obituary published in Belleville News-Democrat on March 8, 2006 :  Blues singer identified; family to be at funeral
  • Malcolm Gay,  "Going Down Slow" article, Riverfront Times,  Apr 26 2006

Jerome label

The Jerome label is listed in the Song-Poem records discography (Phil Milstein)


 The question of who operated the label is still open. 





Saturday, November 17, 2012

The Northanaires on Process


The Northanaires

(Melvin  Blue, Process Music BMI) 
Lead by Theodis Buchannan

11526 ~ You Pray For Me 
(Clarence McGuire, Process Music BMI) 
Lead By Clarence McGuire

Process 118

1964


Black gospel group from Akron, Ohio. They had another single on United Audio in 1970.

Theodis Buchanan transitioned to his heavenly home on July 13, 2011. He was born April 19, 1928 in Tuskegee, Alabama to Narcisus and Walter Buchanan.

He moved to Akron in 1951 where he resided until his transition.   Theodis retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in 1987, after 37 years of service.   He was a member of various gospel singing groups, including The Buchanan Brothers, The Northernaires and The Buchanan Singers. He was a devoted member of New Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, where he faithfully served as a Deacon for decades. His hobbies included watching sports, fishing and gardening. He won numerous “Keep Akron Beautiful” Awards for his gorgeous yard. He was a role model and father figure to many. 
  [Obit.]

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Johnny Dot And The Dashes on Vaca



Johnny Dot And The Dashes
 
CP-5233 ~ I Love An Angel
CP-5234 ~ Just For You

Both songs wr. Johnny Dot
Opal Music, Co.
 
Vaca 102
 1961
 
[ Also issued on in the UK on Salvo in March 1962 ]
 


 Johnny Dotson, leader of Johnny Dot and the Dashes


There is a strong possibility that Vaca Records was owned by Speedy West (1924-2003), steel guitarist who frequently played with Jimmy Bryant, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others.     If he wasn't the owner, he was certainly involved with the label.

  • Opal Music, publisher of both songs, was owned by Speedy West
  • The opportunities no longer available for country musicians in the L.A. area, Speedy made arrangements to go to work for Fender Musical Instruments as manager of their warehouse in Tulsa, OK.   He moved to Tulsa in September, 1960

After moving to Tulsa, Speedy continued to play steel guitar, although not full time because of his employment with Fender. He had his own band for several years and played at various locations in the Tulsa area for dances, special events, etc.  



 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

The Lyrics (JWJ 1002/1003)


The Lyrics

20711 – Stronger Than Before (R.B.Johnson, Barlak Music)

20712 – What Do I See ? (R.B.Johnson, Barlak Music)

Produced By D. Wright - J. Johnson
    JWJ Enterprises 1002/1003
217 Lincoln St. 
Allegan Michigan 49010

This is the second of the four records issued by this soul/RnB group on JWJ. Enterprises. 



Saturday, November 3, 2012

The Epics on Lifetime



 
The Epics
 
CP-3349 ~ Let's Dance

CP-3350 ~ Lonely
 
Lifetime 1004
 
black vocal group




Billboard review, October 31, 1960


Lifetime Recordings was founded in 1952 by Lester W. Osband (1913-2009).  As a local custom recording company, Lifetime recorded various Rochester High School bands, church choirs, etc. before launching his own Lifetime label in 1959 The initial release was by The Capris, a black vocal group, now a rare item.

Lifetime records pressed by Rite Records are listed HERE.




Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Marcelles on Renown


The Marcelles

24017 – Ding-A-Ling, Act I
24018 - Ding-A-Ling, Act II

Richard Lucas and Charlie Williams
Renown Records & Publications BMI

 Renown 1024


Soul/funk from 1969 on Durham, North Carolina label. The label, started in 1957, had a dozen of releases until 1960 in a 100 series .  The most successful Renown releases from the period were by Wayne Handy, a rock 'n' roller who performed both up-tempo numbers and Elvis-type ballads. 

Renown Records seems to have been dormant during the most part of the sixties and was reactivated with a new 1000 series, all known releases being by country singers, with the exception of  The Marcelles.