Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Broken Arrow and The Tomahawks


Broken Arrow and The Tomahawks

CP-6335 ~ I Get Rainy River Blues

Roger Smith


CP-6441 -  Land Of Liberty

Salamanca Records
515 Clinton St.,. Jamestown,. N,. Y.



" I Get Rainy River Blues " was also issued twice by Salamanca backed with "You're A Million Miles Away " (numbered CP-5674 on one issue and numbered CP-6336 on another).  It's possible that "You're A Million Miles Away" was previously released at an earlier date with a different flip, still to be discovered.  It is possible, as well, that "Land Of Liberty" was separately issued with a different flip, still to be discovered.  That would make FIVE different Salamanca releases. Hmmm?

Several speculations or false informations can be found at various internet places, but it's quite aurally clear that Broken Arrow is actually Roger Smith, a song poem singer who had a relatively extensive discography in that special branch of the music industry.

Salamanca Music Publishers were not exactly a newcomer in the music business. "SONG TITLES BRING FAME, FORTUNE - NO knowledge of music or poetry required.  Only story and song title " reads a small ad from 1943 from Salamanca Music.  by all appearances, exactly the the kind of ads the song-poems companies would place in any publication for which they perceive a large and credulous readership: movie mags, comic books, supermarket tabloids...

Behind this release is Stanley Johnson, a teacher, who was also a long-time associate of Salamanca founder Robert Formica who died in 1948.


Born in 1898,  Stanley W. Johnson was a graduate of the Lebanon Springs high school and studied at Albany, Cortland and the Buffalo State Teachers' college. He served 11 years as principal of the Tuscarora Indian Reservation school and, in 1937, was transferred in by the state department of education to the Allegany reservation.
Ardent student of progressive education, he saw the need of a business training for the children and organized a practical situation whereby the children could learn from real situations.  He had a real store and the boys and girls learned the true lessons of life.  They bought and sold. They learned the value of money.

In Salamanca, he organized an orchestra of  Seneca Indian school boys with such success that they not only reached their objective, the New York World's Fair, but were asked to appear on Dave Elman's nation-wide "Hobby-Lobby" broadcast program.

Throughout the winter months of 1939, they had been practising and earning money for the trip. By the time school was out they had $80 in the treasury. Then came the big opportunity to appear on the "Hobby-Lobby" program.

Most original part of the band was the drum section. The tops were removed from one quart and five quart discarded oil cans and replaced with tops made from inner-tubes. Enamelled and decorated with scenes from Indian life, these home-made instruments proved so successful, that an additional supply was made for tourists, to sell from 25 to 50 a piece.



Robert M. Formica (1895-1948) Born in Italy. Bob Formica immigrated to the US in 1902.  A music teacher, he was also the director of the Salamanca Legion Concert Band.  
  
Stan Johnson and Bob Formica wrote several songs together.  One of these songs was "Land of Liberty", from 1940, a patriotic song for which the lyrics were written by Stanley W. Johnson and the music by Prof. Robert M. Formica, song which is on the flip side of this Salamanca single.



Monday, September 21, 2015

Bobby C. And The Fantastix


Bobby C. And The Fantastix
 
21009 -  Soul Pie
C.P. Froelich - M. Tice

21010 - Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta
Ernst Kador

A Fantastix Production 
45-6702
Route 4 - Box 29 - Chapel Hill, N.C.
Recorded At AMH Productions, Chapel Hill







Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Rev. and Mrs. A.R. Vander Ploeg




Rev. and Mrs. A.R. Vander Ploeg

CP-1215 - The Train Song
CP-1216 - Led By The Masters Hand

Musical Vann's 7


Rev. and Mrs. A.R. Vander Ploeg
CP-1217 - Down From His Glory
CP-1218 - Someday, It Won't Be Long

Musical Vann's 8

631 Green Street
Toledo, Ohio


According to an article published in 1951, the Rev. Vander Ploeg was a chaplain during the last war, "The minister and his wife play a variety of instruments including the electric organ, piano, accordion, cornet, electric guitar, banjo and musical saw. This evening they will show a religious film, "The Man that Forgot God." Saturday the entire evening will be devoted to a sacred musical program. The Rev. and Mrs. Vander Ploeg have traveled in 45 states and two foreign countries.
Alton Evening Telegraph from Alton, Illinois · October 19, 1951 
 
These two early Rite pressings came after several 78 RPM releases and predates albums, all on the same Musical Vann's label.

The Reverend A.R. Vander Ploeg died on September 15, 1964.



The Musical-Vann's

Monday, September 14, 2015

Sgt. Kelly (Sand Surf & Sea)


Sgt. Kelly

32577 - Wonderful
32578 - You Made Me Do It
both wr. Kelly Kettner, Bounce Music BMI

Prod. Herb James
SAND SURF & SEA
6005 NW 7th Av.
Miami, Florida

  1974


*





Sunday, September 13, 2015

Cross-Walks


Cross-Walks

38683 -  Learn To Laugh 
Frank & John Muratore

38684 - Foxy Lady

Recorded At Krieger Field Recording Co. 
Eng. Tom Krieger
Producer Jack Smith

1977


The Krieger-Field Recording Studios were located in Akron, , Ohio.  Some rock bands recorded there such as White Harvest, Devo and Tin Huey.

Frank Muratore has been a lifelong resident of Ohio, born and raised in a musical family. From his mother’s singing talent, to his brother John’s accomplishments on classical guitar, Frank had an early introduction to rock and roll from the family radio, listening to the pioneers Chuck Berry, Ricky Nelson, and the Everly Brothers.The real revelation was 1964’s performance of the Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Through his older brothers, Frank was exposed to the Beatles even earlier when all saw the famous “Jack Parr Show” performance, and all thought how strange they looked. Buying the first Beatles record in January of 1964 before they were on “Ed Sullivan” put Frank first in his classroom to have the new sound, and later that year, he formed his first tribute, calling themselves The Jr. Beatles. After playing several instruments in high school, and forming a rock band with his brother, Frank has performed in several professional groups through college and after.

In 1996, he joined Hard Day’s Night, A Beatles tribute band,  to fulfill his dream to one day be a Beatle, and has had a “fab” time ever since.


 
Frank Muratore (left) as Paul McCartney


The Colonials Sing Gospel Favorites


The Colonials
Sing Gospel Favorites


Side 1 [27343]

1. The First Day In Heaven  (Hamblen)
2. The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference (Gaither)
3. Then I Met Jesus   (D. Allen-H.Harper)
4. Jesus Is Coming Soon (Winsett)
5/ Amazing Love
6. God's Not Dead

Side 2 [27344]

1. I Shall Not Be Moved
2. He Looked Beyond My Fault   (D. Rambo)
3. No One Cared So Much
4. I Wouldn' Take Nothing For My Journey (Goodman)
5. He Touched Me  (Gaither)
6. Sweet Sweet Spirit  (D. Akers)

L.C.L. Records
Recorded at Malaco Studio, Jackson, Miss. 
Engineer : Gerald Stevens
1970

Gospel trio from Jackson Mississippi.  The members of the trio are Bill Clark, who sings lead and plays the piano, Don Legg, first tenor and Tom Larrimore, baritone.


Jim Willingham & The Country Travelers




Jim Willingham & The Country Travelers

17627 - Tears, Coffee And A Ring

17628 - Guitar Split
(Gene Wyatt, Newcastle Pub. Co., BMI)

Marco Records

1966


James Roland Willingham (1934-1982) from Spartanburg County, South Carolina, was the son of Elbert Arthur and Bertha Swofford Willingham, native of Chesnee, SC, employee of Southern Shops in Spartanburg, SC, musically gifted. Husband of Margie (Coggins) Willingham and Elizabeth "Lib" (Pettit) Willingham. Father of Mike, Ronnie, Wayne and Wanda Willingham.


 
One copy now on ebay (auction has sound clip)


Friday, September 11, 2015

Tracettes


Tracettes
Vocal trio with piano

Side one (16707)
My New Love (Barbara Adkins)
Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen (Neil Sedaka)

Side Two (16708)
Go Tell It On the Mountain (Folk tune)
Has Anyone Seen My Boyfriend (Sanders)

 Gayle P-1104 (EP)

Conventry Recording Co.
(Akron, Ohio)
 1966


First (and only?) record from The Tracettes, Barbara, Rodney, and Gail Adkins of Akron, formerly of Dover, Ohio.

According toThe Daily Reporter from Dover, Ohio dated September 19, 1966, "The youthful singing group perform frequently on the Gene Carroll Show on WEWS- TV. They recently joined the Cuyahoga Falls Cathedral of Tomorrow where Barbara sings with the choir."

Now on ebay(starting bid US $ 75.00). Auction has sound clips