Chicago singer Marie Jordan

Singer Marie Jordan recorded four 7-inches on the obsure AIA-label.
Who was she, I wondered. Well, I found her orbituary .

She was Maria Rispoli, born 1920 in Sassano, Italy, she immigrated in 1923 into the US. She sang in Chicago in the 1940s and 50s as Marie Jordan. She died age 92 in 2013. An interesting article about mother Marie Jordan and her daughter Bobbi was written in 1990 by Bill Gringer in the Chicago Tribune. It tells of how Marie could have had her big break when music star Jimmy Durante wanted her in his program in Vegas, but Marie's boss/manager, Chicago gangster Jimmy Allegretti, refused to let her go as she was too good for his business.
In the mid 1960s, when Marie was 45 years old, she recorded a couple of songs for a label called AIA (American International Artists). At least four singles were released.
The AIA-discography of 45cat.com mentions these 4 records, all released in 1965. These records were pressed by RCA Custom Record Division. Produces, arrangers were musical aces like Stan Kesler, Charles Chalmers or Jim Hall.
AIA-670A-1580: Talk To Me b/w Don't Go To Strangers
AIA-670A-1581: I'll Remember April (DePaul, Johnston, Raye) b/w Somewhere In Your Heart (Faith, Kehner)
AIA-670A-1582: Magic Circle (Loudermilk) b/w Silver Dollar (Palmer, Van Ness)
AIA-670A-1995: I Can't Get You Out Of My Heart b/w Mala Femmena (Pennino, Gaudiosi)
It seems that no other artists have recorded for AIA. I could not find any other release between 670A-1582 and 670A-1995
Some of these songs are 1940s standards that Marie probably had sung all of her life, others were recent covers of Italian crooners' hits of the early 1960s (Sinatra, Jerry Vale, Al Martino).
But there is just one obscure song that intrigues me: her cover of the 1964 John D. Loudermilk song, "The Magic Circle". It's a beautiful ballad that probably has been brought to Marie's attention by RCA's Jim Hall who arranged the song for her. Loudermilk's song was released only once before, on a 1964 LP by 'obscure' Jana Louise. Though a strong and catchy song, it seems like it hasn't been recorded anymore.

Acetate of the original John D. Loudermilk demo.
If somebody can provide me the music of Marie Jordan's recording, please contact me, I'd love to hear it!  (thank you Ian for finding it!)

Jeff Hughes, who recorded for Mel Tillis' obscure label?

Who was this Jeff Hughes who recorded a single for Mel Tillis' obscure label? And may have recorded more?

This record is the release on the label Tillis TI-1002:
"If I Had The Right" b/w "Sorrow's Tearing Down The House (That Happiness Once Built)" (sample).
The Tillis Recording Company must have been a label of Mel Tillis, who was the producer and composer (of the B side). I know of only 1 other release on this Tillis record label (Tillis 1001: Johnny Wiggins "It’s no surprise" / "I'm not gonna love you anymore", probably 1960 or 1961). I did not find any other Tillis' release, the label might have stopped after 2 efforts.
Mel Tillis' song on the B side is a May 1962 release by Stonewall Jackson. Hughes' version on the Tillis label may come from about the same time. Probably his version is the original. The song on the A-side was copyrighted in 1961, the (original?) version was on a Kitty Wells LP.
So, date of the release of Jeff Hughes' single may well be 1961/1962 as a source claims, based on the Columbia ZTSB-listing, corresponding end 1961/ begin 1962

Then there is another Country flavoured record release from 1962 from a Jeff Hughes on the Karen label:
"Our Space Man Did Come Back" (listen) b/w "I Should've Kept Moving", Karen 59 (May 1962).
Both sides are a Hughes composition, probably both written by Jeff Hughes himself, though BMI-files couple the A side to a June Hughes and the B to a Jess Hughes. But the Library of Congress copyrights are both by Jeff Hughes. Billboard mentions the release May 5 and gives both sides a 3-star rating ('moderate sales potential'). An eBay seller writes: "great rockabilly tribute to the historic outer space flights of astronaut John Glenn and the flip is a fine country bopper". The novelty song is chosen in a later years various artists compilation cd, "Out Of This World Flying Saucers", now titled "Our Space Man Came Back".

I don't know if these two records are by the same Jeff Hughes. For the time being, I suppose so.
They both seem to be from around 1962, when the Gettysburg Times write of a Jeff Hughes, "famous recording star", playing with the Southland Playboys. In 1963, newspapers mention the Jeff Hughes Band of York, PA. Same man?

Over the years, there are a couple of more songs  to be found composed by several Jeffrey Hughes'. But I doubt if they deal with the same Hughes who recorded that 45 for the Tillis label. And these days there's a Jeff(rey Paul) Hughes playing in a band called Chaparral.

Who was the Jeanie Greene who recorded 1964-1965?

I'm trying out to find who was the obscure singer Jeanie Greene who recorded two sides in 1964.
She seems to be another girl singer than the rather well known girl by the same name who recorded for Atco and Elektra in 1968-1971, see Jeanie-2. Jeanie-2 is soul, while 'my' Jeanie-1 is country.

I know of two records that 'country' Jeanie Greene recorded:

• April 1964: "Land of Lovin' (The License Plate Song)" b/w "The Doggone Machine", released on Kangaroo 45-K-28, also released on Sparton 1263 (Canada).
  Kangaroo was the label of songwriter Les Kangas, who wrote both sides. Les Kangas was an interesing 1950s C&W songwriter. A song writer who could not read music but could write (most novelty) songs. His best known song was "Beetle Bug Bop" (1955) by the Collins Kids 

• Probably end 1964: "What'll I Do?" b/w "Halfway Loved", released on Beck 45-106. The A was a good old John D. Loudermilk song, the B was written by Walker & Powell. Click to hear samples. The song What'll I Do is copyrighted December 1964, while the Raleigh Register of Jan. 15th 1965 mentions a music dance in Big Ed's Owl Club with What'll I Do-recording artist Jeanie Greene. So I guess release was late 1964.

Where is this Jeanie from? The Kangaroo-label is a San Gabriel CA label, as the label says, though other sources name it a Houston TX label. The Beck label is the Chuck Nary label from West Virginia, which also is where the Raleigh Register comes from.

Who can give me more information...?

Jan Sanders - who was this singer?

I think it is rather unlikely that I will ever learn more about the artist Jan Sanders who recorded just one 45-record in 1962. But who knows if this blog entry may help....





The poor facts:
Jan Sanders recorded for the New York label Todd one record: the songs "Teenager Three" backed with "You Reap Just What You Sow", on Todd-1075.
The release was reviewed by Billboard on July 7th, 1962. The record got a 4-star rating ("strong sales potential"): The teen-age triangle is told, both sung and spoken, by the lad here. He sings against a simple backing employing trombone, organ rhythm and fem chorus.
The record was also released in Canada on REO-8648.

In June 1962, "Teenagers Three" was labeled one of the Mighty Mitchell Battle Winners in the San Francisco KYA Swingin' Sixty Charts.
But the song apparently did not chart.

The A-side was written by Jan Hutchens according to the label, but BMI claims the song to be written by a V. Pinelli. May be the same guy, for Pinelli's composition "Save a minute, lose a wife" is elsewhere labeled a Jan Hutchens composition.
Is Jan Hutchens the same as Jan Sanders?

Googling on Jan Sanders gives no specific information. The name is a very common (Dutch) name. Singer Jan Sanders is male, while in English the name Jan often is female.

UPDATE Jan. 2010:
I've got a great reaction from rockabilly singer Keith O'Conner Murphy who knew Jan back in the sixties. Jan Sanders in fact is Jan Hutchens, born in Wabash, IN. Read his reaction in the comments section below!

UPDATE Apr. 2011:
I've got a reaction from Greg Peterson. He was close friend with Jan Tillman Hutchens who was from Wabash, IN. See reaction below. Greg is planning to make a website/blog in Jan's honor. He checks with Keith to see if they are talking about the same Jan Hutchens, who apparently lived a colourful life under many names.

Emmy Oro - fantastic rockin' girl

It was the song "Fish House Function" by Emmy Oro that blew my mind. It starts off kind of slow, then speeds up a little, halfway the music goes wilder and at the end, that fantastic part sung in Italian and rolling piano, it rocks like mad.
What was this song about, who was this fantastic rockin' girl??

When Bob Dylan played the song in his Theme Time Radio Hour, he commented: "we play an artist that confuses us totally: I know nothing about Emmy Oro, except that she recorded this song, and by the end of it, she starts talking a language that I can't understand. A song that raises more questions than it answers. First time I heard it, was on a hot summer day, I thought I was hallucinating!"
So Bob, read below who Emmy Oro was!

The artist is Emmy Oro & her Rhythm Escorts. Composer credits were: words Mel Howard (ps. for Neville T. G. Hall), music Emily Orofino. The song was recorded late 1960 for the Chelsea label. That New York label was formed in November 1960 by Frank Allen, and Michael and Richard Orofino. Emmy Oro was born as Emilia Gramaldi in 1919 in Queens, New York. She was married to Michael J. Orofino.
On the other side of the record was another Howard/ Orofino composition Is it a sin?, a good doowop ballad.
So after all, 'savage rockin' girl' Emmy Oro was in fact over 40 years of age when she recorded her great sides.

I contacted Paul Orofino, who was very helpful in giving information about his aunt Emmy. He wrote:
"Aunt Emmy was an amazing person, and my favorite aunt. Chelsea Records was formed by my older brother, Richard, my Uncle Michael (Emmy's Husband). He is the voice you hear on Fish House Function as the Judge ("Now tell ME what was going on"). Believe it or not, Fish House Function was recorded in my house with me on the piano, and then mixed at a small studio.
Emmy was an amateur singer as a very young woman but gave it all up to have a family. Then, when her children became older, she and my uncle Mike decided to do a record together. This was the start of Chelsea Records. She did record one other record on Chelsea: her rendition of Sophie Tucker's great "Some of these Days". This is an amazing record with full orchestra.
Emmy Oro passed away in 1982 from Cancer. I love the fact that you are interested in her and enjoyed her record "Cross Eyed Cat Named Sam". She loved singing the part in Italian."

---

Chelsea discography, first 10 releases:

1001 (1960/61): Emmy Oro & her Rhythm Escorts
Is it a sin? / A Fish House Function (for a cross eyed cat named Sam)

1002 (Jun. 1961): The Keytones
Don't Tell William / Parking Field 4

1003: ? (Some people list Emmy Oro & Grp "Is it a sin" as Chelsea 1003. Correct?)

1004 (Feb 1961): The Keytones
I Was A Teenage Monster / I Don't Care

1005 (Mar. 1962): Emmy Oro with Billy Costa & Orch.
Some Of These Days / Is it a sin?

1006 (Mar. 1962): Jimmy Wilde (=Paul Orofino)
Crazy eyes for you / Bonnie Bonnie

1007 (Jun. 1962): Vito Columbo
This Time It's Really Goodbye / Jezebel

1008: ?

1009 (Jun. 1962): El Domingos
Made In Heaven / Lucky Me, I'm In Love

Al Turnage & the Turnpikes - wild Texas rock

I know of two 45's that Texas rocker Al Turnage recorded, and both are fantastic. One is called Hollywood Rock b/w Lonely Days. Original release was on Corsair 605, an obscure rockabilly label, probably 1963-64. Hollywood Rock was recently included in one of those great Buffalo Bop samplers, Rhythm Feet.
The other is Bad News b/w Honey Hush, a record released in 1965 on the Texas label JOX.

Who is this Al Turnage, did he record more?

Hollywood Rock sounds like an early 1960s rocker. Great wild sax and piano rock (sample). The singer's voice reminds a little of John Lennon in his best rocking performances. The music compares to other fantastic Texas sixties rock (early Doug Sahm doing Crazy Daisy, Sam the Sham's Wooly Bully). The song is a Bobby Rich composition.

Bad News has that pounding beat garage rhythm. The JOX-discography says it is from 1965. It sure sounds that way (sample). Al and his band turned from a rock and roll group into a beat group. Piano and sax have gone, Liverpudlian guitars, Starr-drumming and the acoustics of a garage make it a stomping record. The band here plays a cover of a 1964 Johnny Cash hit.

JOX-label is from Texas (San Antone), what makes me think this Al is from that state. There is an Al Turnage Sr. now who works in building designing in Texarkana TX. Is he the same man?? I mailed his company, but got no response so far.

Lita Marino - one record wonder?

This girl recorded one 45 for Warner Brothers. That is all I know about her. Nothing more.

The record was released in the summer of 1962 on WB 5302. On the A-side was John Loudermilk's Big Daddy, the B-side was "Sittin' On A Train".
The record was a tiny local break out in the fall of '62. In Seattle, Washington, on the KJR Fabulous Fifty, Lita reached a #41-spot on October 1st, 1962.

Listen to a sample of Big Daddy.
She sounds a little like Sue Thompson (Sue actually covered the song 2 years later and reached a bubbling under Billboard's Hot 100 chart position).

Lita's song may have been released in Spanish countries, as a part of the WB sampler "Bailable".

I wonder if there is anybody who can tell me more about this Lita Marino...

Update Jan. 2011
Lita Marino herself gave a reaction to this blog!!! See Reactions below

Bonnie Prater, Miami rocker

The track "Pass Around The Apples" was selected for a Various Artists CD Honey Doll. A fantastic CD with a bunch of great rocking unknown girl pop rock and roll.
"Pass Around The Apples" is one of the highlights. Very catchy, up tempo song, a haunting voice, wild, rocking guitars. Click to listen to Bonnie Prater's song.

Singer Bonnie Prater is one of these Rock and Roll mysteries. It seems to be impossible to find any information about her.
But I was lucky to get a mail from Kathleen, who happened quite accidentally upon an internet page of me where the track was listed. It was the song by her husbands Aunt Bonnie, who had passed away. She liked to have the song as it meant a lot to her husband, for Aunt Bonnie was a great influence in his life.
I sent the song to them and asked what more information there was about Bonnie Prater.
Here's the story of Bonnie Prater.

Bonnie Morris Prater was born with the given name of Bertha Louise Morris and called Bonnie all her life. She was born on November 28, 1941. She passed away from cancer on March 26, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Her singing debut was at age 11 on a local television show in Miami Florida called The Uncle Martin Show. She appeared on the Uncle Harv and Happy Harold shows with her older sister as The Morris Sisters. But when the promoter misunderstood the groups name and announced them as The Massey Sisters and they were a success, they kept that name.
As the Massey Sisters they had a successful career in the local area. Individually Bonnie went on to open shows for Faron Young, Buck Owens, Webb Pierce and other big names that came to the Miami area to perform. At Criteria Studios in Florida, Bonnie sang with individual stars and groups as a back up singer.

In the mid 60's she and her husband, Bill Prater (a studio musician and lead guitarist) started their own band called 'The Cruisers' and played venues in the south Florida area.
In 1968 Bonnie went to Nashville with King Houston to cut her single 'Pass Around the Apples' and back up on the flip side for Houston on 'I Struck the Match'. After hearing her performance Decca Studios offered Bonnie a contract, but she was already signed with Houston, who refused to release her from his contract.
Later Bonnie and Bill went on to do show work with Lee Irvin and the Kentuckians performing in and around the southern United States for several years.

Bonnie and Bill decided to start a family in the 70's and she devoted her time to her two children and husband, eventually leaving Florida and moving to Atlanta, Georgia where she became very successful in the banking business, but continued to entertain family and friends with her beautiful voice.
She is dearly missed by all.

Thank you Kathleen and Bonnie's family for all the information!

Carol Hughes - pop singer ± 1960

Carol Hughes is a not uncommon name. There is an actress by that name who played in a Flash Gordon movie, there is a British writer, and many many more Carol Hughes'es around. That's what makes it hard to find more about that singer Carol Hughes who recorded from 1956-1962 on various US labels.

I have no personal information about the singer. She may be born around 1940 in the Los Angeles area (one of her songs figures on a soul compilation The Sound of East L.A). She's got a good, swinging, deep, powerful voice. She could be black.
Listen to her song Lover Boy

Below an autographed single release.



She has recorded quite some songs. She must have been known outside the US. The record on Mercury that I've got is a release printed in Norway.
That makes it extra strange that I haven't been able to find any other information about her.

Discography:
1956-57 on Mercury:
Merc 70986 Fancy Dance/ Mine all mine (Oct. 1956)
Merc 71095 My Big Brother's Friend/ Lover Boy (Apr. 1957)
1957-58 on Roulette:
Roul 4032 Pick Another Baby / Never Go 'way (Oct. 1957)
Roul 4041 Lend Me Your Comb/ First Date (Jan. 1958)
1958-59 on Dot
Dot 15863 The Bass/ Don't forget I love you (Nov. 1958)
Dot 15923 Bobby/ Sholem Aleichem (March 1959)
1959-60 for RCA-Victor
RCA 7605 Staying Young/ Going to the dogs (Sept. 1959)
RCA 7617 It's me, it's me, it's me/ I must have done something wonderful (Oct. 1959)
RCA 7665 Let Me Go Lover / When Did I Fall In Love (Jan. 1960)
RCA 7726 Creation/ Love, Kisses and Heartaches (Apr. 1960)
RCA 7763 I Can Tell/ Congratulations (June 1960)

For Corby (note: read comments below: this is another Carol Hughes...)
Corby 212 Let's Get Together Again/ Don't Turn Your Back
year unknown; some 1965-67 Corby releases exist, but 1960 could also be possible

1961-62 for Carlton
Carlton 571: Hello Heartbreak/ She's right for you (end 1961, early 1962?)

No information of recording after 1962.
Any help...?

Update Nov. 2009:
Picture of Carol found!
Paper (1956) says: "...a 14 years old, sophomore at West Oranje (NJ) high school, singing since the age of 2, TV experience in Athur Murray Dance Party and the Dean Martin Show...."

Sophie Pascal - Yé-yé girl from Belgium/ artiste belge?

Sophie Pascal, a 1964-1965 recording artist, probably from Belgium.




Je manque toute information personnel sur Sophie Pascal. Tout que j'ai, sont les titres de ses disques, et une CP avec photo.
Ses disques sont lancés par Palette, maison de disques belgique. Alors, je devine, elle est belge. Ces disques ont été paru en Hollande aussi, en 'picture sleeves'.
Elle a été bien connu, années 1964-65.
Où est madame Sophie maintenant? Elle a renregistré d'autres disques? Quelqu'un peut me renseigner?

Ecoute Sophie: Je ne frapperai plus à ta porte. Disque début, avec l'orchestre Willy Albimoor (1924-2004), un flamand bien connu. C'est une translation de "I ain't gonna knock on your door". Pas la chanson de Eddie Hodges d'ailleurs. Les 'covers' de Sophie sont toujours des disques qui, en version originale, sont restés obscure aux pays d'origine aussi.
Peut-être Sophie faisait sa texte lui-même: la chanson "Plus la même" c'est l'adoption d'une composition de Chip Taylor, texte de Pascal (=Sophie?).
D'autres textes sont fait par Nelly Byl et Van Aleda, des noms fort connus en Belge de 1965.

Discographie:
1964:
Palette 40184 Je ne frapperai plus à ta porte (I ain't gonna knock on your door/ Tant pis pour moi (I don't care anymore)
Palette 40206 Seule sous la pluie / Plus la même (He's my little devil)
1965:
Palette 40230 La petite grive (The little grave) / Les larmes aux yeux (Linda with the lonely eyes)

EP Palette 7256: Seule sous la pluie / Tu es là / Plus la même / Ne te moque pas de moi

Update March 2026

Na meer dan 15 jaar ontving ik uiteindelijk een reactie die iets zegt over de persoon van Sophie Pascal. Een anonymus schreef me:

Sophie Pascal als artiest gekend onder deze naam is op 24 maart gestorven in Veurne. Overlijdensbericht te bekijken op Uitvaar Kesteloot Veurne.

Ik gaf deze informatie aan AI en er kwam een verhaal over een zangeres die Magda Deboodt zou hebben geheten en platen als Sophie Pascal zou hebben afgeleverd. Maar verder zoeken op die naam gaf geen enkel resultaat. Het was me een raadsel waar AI die informatie uit had gehaald!

Een link naar uitvaart Kesteloot Veurne gaf wel informatie. Bij een overlijdensbericht van Dela stond een onmiskenbare foto van de zangeres bij de naam van Jeannine Debrauwer. Geboren Etterbeek 22-04-1941, overleden 24-03-2026 te Bulskamp. Dit zou onze Sophie moeten zijn geweest.  

Pamela Law - Oklahoma rocker on Boyd?

She recorded, as far as I know, 4 vinyls for Boyd records. An Oklahoma City label, of Bobby Boyd, some releases with an Indian's chief head depicted on a brownish label.
These were her 4 45-rpm records:

Boyd-1985 (Jun 1960) When The Band Plays The Blues b/w Not Like It Was With You
The A-side is a fantastic rockabilly rocker, with a hammering honky tonk piano. The song was composed by John D. Loudermilk and originally recorded by Hank Locklin on RCA one year before. The B-side is probably a cover of the Mel Tillis song, recently unearthed by daughter Pam Tillis on her 2002 cd.

Boyd-1986 (Nov 1960) Just Like You Like It (click to listen) b/w What Did You Do
This record probably was Pamela's biggest seller, though 'big' is of relative notion. The song was penned by a Robert Riley (not likely to be the nowadays Alabama governor!). The B-side was a Walker/ Wilkins song.

Boyd-3036 (May 1961) End of the Line b/w Bingo
Both Robert Riley songs. The seller who labelled the record 'Northern Soul' probably preferred to fool ignorant buyers over giving an accurate description. "Bingo" is a great, fast rocking song, hear it!.

Boyd-119 (Apr. 1962) Naturally / Secret
Again, 2 Robert Riley songs.

Who can tell me who and where Pamela Law (sometimes misspelled as Pamala Law) is, or add other information?


Update Apr. 2010:
I now found more information:
Pamela was born on May 20, 1944 in Davidson County, TN. Her first recording was when 15 years old. Billboard magazine wrote "a Gallatin Tenn. youngster, high school sophomore, frequent guest at Noel Ball's show".
Pam married Joe Lewis Blankenship in 1963 (date explains the end of her recording career).
She was a substitute teacher and later a secretary at Union Elementary and a member of West End Missionary Baptist Church in Gallatin, TN.
Pamela passed away age 58 in 2002.

Still, no more information, no artist photo, ... help!

Don Argo - 1965/66 artist

Don Argo, a pop singer whom I have no biographic information about.

Don recorded 3 singles for the Nashville Hickory label. See discography below.

I have no other recording information about him, nor have I seen a picture, birth date or whatever. Anybody can help me?

This Don Argo is not the math professor/ writer (book: Canaveral Light). I mailed him, but he does not know his musical namesake.

Don's first (?) record I Love You, Lucy was a local success in Clovis, New Mexico. It hit the KCLV Top 10 in July 1965.

Two follow-up records flopped. Of which Candy Sue shows Don doing a nice Buddy Holly style pop song. I haven't heard the third one.

Any additions will be appreciated!

Discography:

Hickory 45-1318 (1965): I Love You, Lucy / Linda With The Lonely Eyes

Hickory 45-1352 (1965): Blue Heartaches / Candy Sue

Hickory 45-1380 (1966): Go To Him / She's Not A Bad Girl

Nellie Rutherford - a Northern Soul Hickory label mystery

All I know of this Nellie Rutherford, is that she recorded 2 45-records in 1962. Very interesting records too, for these are covers of Boudleaux/ Bryant, John Loudermilk and Roy Orbison/ Joe Melson penned songs.

After these 2 recordings, she seems to have quit recording.

I haven't got one tiny piece of information about the person Nellie Rutherford. Please help...

Nellie's recordings are catalogued as Northern Soul and Doo-Wop.

"Laughing At Me", can be described as a R&B stomper, with a touch of Harlem Shuffle.

Her cover of "Turn Me On" is an important one. She took the song that was released by Mark Dinning one year earlier. Mark's version treated the song as a crooner's ballad, which did not work. Nellie changed it into a soulful version. Nellie sounds like a black singer, but -recording for Hickory- I would not be surprised if she turns out to be white.
The version by Nellie must have been the inspiration for Nina Simone to record the song in 1966, what eventually led to the mega hit cover of Norah Jones (in 2000). So in a way, Nellie is Norah's grandma.

Listen to a sample of Turn Me On.

Discography:

Hickory 45-1172 (May 1962): Turn Me On (Loudermilk) b/w Laughing At Me (Boudleaux/ Bryant)

Hickory 45-1182 (Sept. 1962): Lavender Lace (Orbison/ Melson) b/w Looking At The Ceiling

Bobby Wattrell - one 45rpm only?

Bobby Wattrell, [a name that seems to rhyme on: what the hell] who is he...?

I've got this nice 45 rpm of him, but have no information about the singer at all...
The facts: Bobby recorded one 45 rpm record on Magnasound 45-701: Terry b/w Bye Bye Blackbird. One side a John D. Loudermilk song, the other written by Dixon-Henderson. Released December 1963.

Magnasound is a subsidiary label of Monument records. The song is labeled as "A Norro production". Without a doubt this is Norro Wilson, the country singer/ songwriter, who worked for Monument records.
Listen to a sample of Bye, Bye, Blackbird.
Google does not give many clues to the name Bobby Wattrell. He probably hasn't recorded any more as a solo artist.

The family name Wattrell seems to be not very common. Which gives me hope that someday someone somewhere will happen to find my page and be able to tell me more about the singer...

Update March 2019: the Tennessean, March 1970, reports about a concert by the Newbeats, with a Bobby Wattrell added as a drummer.

Bobbi Staff = Barbara Grindstaff

Bobbi Staff recorded a few good pop/ country songs in the second half of the 1960s.
Her real name was Barbara Grindstaff, she was born in Shelby NC, 1946.
According to Tom Armstrong's site she grew up Forest City, NC and was married to a fellow who wound up playing piano on Ralph Emery's TV show.



Though she is labeled a country singer and had a minor C&W hit, the songs are not strictly country but more general teenage Nashville pop music.

Listen to a sample of Pride (1966). A good song with a catchy organ. Composed by Lou Zerto.

Bobbi's discography:

1963, as BARBARA GRINDSTAFF:
Showcase 2500: Have Mercy (Mel Tillis) / Where The Red Roses Grow

as BOBBI STAFF:
1965:
RCA 8689: Where Did the Summer Go (Gary Gold/ Peter Udell) b/w I'm Available (Just For You) (Oct 1965)
1966:
RCA 8333: I Didn't Cry Today (Skeeter Davis) b/w Chicken Feed (#31 C&W hit, Vance Bulla)
RCA 9024: He Can Be Your Baby (Loudermilk) b/w Pride (Zerto)
1967:
RCA 9093: The Red Light Is Green (Robison-Wilson) b/w Straight To Helen (Blackwell)
RCA 9251: Sun Tan and Wind Blown Time (Jean Chapel) b/w I Can't Find My Walking Shoes (Sandra Rhodes)
RCA 9363: He Chickened Out On Me (Alexander) b/w Bobby Blows A Blue Note (Light)
1968:
RCA 9504: Back Away (Fort) b/w Ring Beats A Promise (Briggs-Rule).

I have never seen a picture of the singer and no idea what has happened to her after 1968.
Anyone who can help me...?

UPDATE Feb 2008:
A reaction by anonymous gave me a link to the book about Forest City by Anita Price Davis and James M. Walker, with 2 Staff pictures and more details of her career.

It turns out she sang at a very young age for talent shows. Singing and touring abroad, in Europe in 1957.
Later she performed for 'my' queen Juliana and President LBJ in 1963, (that must have been after Kennedy's funeral??). She was a regular at George Hamilton IV's shows.

UPDATE May 2009:
I was very surprised to find out a 1963 footage of Bobbi singing live on tv still exists!. She is singing "Honey Comb", backed up by The Hayriders, for Dutch television, December 1963. About 99% of all that has been aired on TV those years has gone lost, it seems to be a wonder that the tape with TV-show that had Bobbi's performance has been saved!
Two stills form that show:


See video clip below

And after 1968...? No more details yet.

UPDATE
I've got a reaction on the video from 2 nieces of Bobbi. They wrote: Aunt Barbara is still alive and well and living in Nashville. She has two children, a daughter and a son. Barbara stopped recording and performing around 1969 when she became pregnant with her daughter. Barbara divorced Jerry Whitehurst (performed on Hee Haw) in the late 70 – early 80’s and she never remarried. Aunt Barbara is awesome, they wrote, she is fun, quick witted, and has always been very close to them.

Sarah Northcutt - RKO artist

Who was Sarah Northcutt who recorded 2 songs on the RKO label? The RKO 1840 release: Leav'n Woman Blues b/w Don't Quit. Both John D. Loudermilk penned songs.

Two great songs. A little blues, folk, jazz. Catchy and moving.
"I came into this world, an innocent baby-girl. My dad played tuba with Lombardo...", what a way to start the song!



Is this RKO Master label a sublabel of the well known 1950s RKO Unique label based in New York?

I haven't found another RKO Master release so far and the numbers and label outlook do not seem to correspond with the RKO Unique releases.
And who was this Sarah, who recorded these two great sides? The Northcutt family genealogy forum could not help me so far.
A Sara(h) Northcutt does not seem to have recorded any other songs.

Update Oct. 2009:
From the Billboard magazine of April 1960, I learned that RKO Master probably was an Oklahoma label. The record was released in April 1960, and got a three-star review. RKO published an add, with a picture of Sarah. She was described as Oklahoma University Coed. For the details see my page.

Update Apr. 2011:
Found! I've got a reaction from Sara's son in law who contacted me with Sara (no H, mistake made by the record company). She now lives in CA and is practising attorney. She just made this one 45 record. Read the story on my page.

Jay Fanning from Kentucky

Jay Fanning looked like a boxer.
A singer that released 4 records for the Kentucky ACME label. Debuted early 1960 with These Foolish Things b/w Dreamer (his own composition).
In 1961 followed This Green Earth b/w East of the River and West of the Sea, It's Love b/w Be My Sweetheart (even released with picture sleeve! see image), Baby, Baby b/w Your Love, and Church Bells b/w Destiny.

That's all I know so far. No biographical information about the man, no further releases known.
Who can help?

Cynthia Muse - Kangaroo girl

A complete obscure singer, this girl. She sounds young, has a good voice. She seems to have recorded just one 45. On Dot 16335, March 1962.
The A-side "Kangaroo" is a great swinging, crazy song catching in on the dance craze of those days, the B-side High School Play a sentimental teen song.
Two fine sides.

I haven't any information about Cynthia. I asked music forums, no answers (except for an OZ joker who concocted complete crazy details that obviously were false). I wrote to a few Cynthia Muses (a not completely unusual name) of whom I found an e-mail address, but no match. Her name probably isn't Muse any more, or it might never have been.
Reading an orbituary of a Andrew C. Muse, I noticed he had a daughter Cynthia Muse Watkins. Was this the singer? Andrew done a little music somehow, so his child could have recorded. This Cynthia now is a teacher in Spotsylvania. I wrote the school but no reply.
Help... who was Cynthia?

Update Jan. 2009:
Cynthia is found! When she happened to see this blog on internet, Cynthia mailed me. The 'Kangaroo girl' is still alive and kicking (hopping)!
The music was coming from a young 13 year old, in the year 1962. Cynthia recorded just this one record. She traveled and sang locally and was on early morning tv programs. Fondly called the "little darling of tv".
The Kangaroo song was followed by the Kangaroo Hop dance which was performed by her "friends" at local events. Oddly, the B side of the record High School Play got more play than the A side Kangaroo.
More details are to be added on the John Loudermilk site, at the section of the song Kangaroo.

Yancy Bond - Swampy soul

Yancy Bond, a singer from down south USA. I've got one 45 of him, from August/September1967 on MGM 13765: You're The Guilty One / Keep Walking On. Good songs, good voice, good production. Produced by Huey P. Meaux, A-side composed by Loudermilk, B-side by Fussell.

He also released on Pacemaker 241: My Baby's Calling b/w Keep Walking On, probably second half 1966.
Pacemaker was a label of the (in)famous Huey 'Crazy Cajun' Meaux.

The song Keep Walking On has got that great New Orleans flavoured band's sound. You're The Guilty One has a great swinging organ that makes it even better than the 1966 Loudermilk original. Two great sides.

That's about all I know about this obscure singer. He may have recorded more on obscure Louisiana labels. Got no idea what else in music or else he did. What he looked like, where and when he lived, what has become of him now.

Jana Louise - step dance singer from Boston?

Jana recorded one LP and a few 45's for Dot in 1964/65.
The LP has my special interest as it contains all John D. Loudermilk penned songs. John D. remembers the album, but has not met her back then, and doesn't have additional info on Jana, he told me.

What happened since then, where is Jana now? Who is this Jana?
I think Louise is her middle name and she might have been Jana Jensen, Jana Pedersen, Jana Rasmussen or whatever, her father was Danish. She must have been born circa 1944 and grew up in Boston.

Listen to Jana's "They'll Love You", a C&W up-tempo song. Jana's voice is a little sharp, I would say. A little more sweet, gentle or versatile sound in her voice would have given her songs a lot more appeal.

All the info I got about this singer is from the liner notes of her 1964 Dot-label LP "A dixie cup of sand".

From the liner notes:
A sparkling newcomer as a bright new star. Her first professional engagement took place in one of Boston's larger ballrooms at the age of 15 when she was hired for 2 weeks as a replacement. Jana stayed the 2 weeks... and the management added 102 consecutive weeks to the booking.
Jana also had a talent for Irish step-dancing: Jana won over 100 medals and trophies competing throughout the US. Highlight: being acclaimed as national intermediate champion for 2 successive years.
Add to this her skill with the fife and piano, and one realizes that "America's sweetheart" is synonymous with lovely Jana.
Jana's mother is from County Mayo, Ireland, her father a native of Copenhagen, Denmark. She has won several beauty crowns - among them the title of "Miss Shamrock" at the international Auto Show, an also that of "Colleen", which she received for greeting the first travelers to board the newest BOAC jet on its maiden flight from Boston.
Last year, the 19-year-old star appeared at Carnegie Hall, performed with Gordon McRae during a concert in Boston, and sang in well-known ballrooms in New York, Chicago and San Francisco.
A stint at the Berkeley School of Music convinced Jana that professional training is just a simportant as professional experience. With this in mind she plans to enter the American Academy of Dramatic Arts of New York to prepare her for musical comedy, which she aspires.

Who can me tell more about the singer? What was her career after 1965?

Discography, on Dot record label:
45-16618 1964 Dixie Cup Of Sand / Up To My Knees In Happiness
45-16659 1964 Dream Of Him / Paper Doll Harem
45-16718 1965 Goin' Downtown / The Heart I Have To Live With
45-16736 1965 A Boy Like You / Dream Boy (click to play)

DLP-3598/25598 -A Dixie Cup Of Sand [1964]
Side 1: Why Not / The Crying Kind / Up To My Knees In Happiness / They'll Love You / The Heart I Have To Live With / You're Jealous
Side 2: A Dixie Cup Of Sand / Goin' Down Town / Dream Of Him / A Paper Doll Harem / The Little Wind Up Doll / The Magic Circle.

Update:
I received mails from Jana's family.
Jana was born Janice Louise Hansen. Besides her releases on DOT, she did not record any more. She taught Irish dancing for a number of years, and only sings at family functions and charity events. She lives near Boston. She has three kids and her husband is a retired pilot.