Eddie Skelton
John Reynolds-Bill Way, Moss-Rose BMI
produced by Cliff Williamson
Chart Records 5077
1970
Eddie Skelton RCS page
Colorado Queenie
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I Hear My Baby
Bixie Crawford
Indigo Records #104
June 1960
Arranged and directed by Evelyn [Evlen on label] Freedman (sister of Ernie Freeman) and her husband Tommy Roberts.
She was fired when Basie's wife discovered her making advances toward the Count.
"Before she joined Count Basie orchestra as singer, Bixie Crawford was teaching school in Los Angeles. She holds classes for band members in French and Spanish" (quoted, Jet Magazine, September 4, 1952)
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Splish Splash Twist
Desda
(B. Darin-J.Murray, Portrait BMI)
An Aragon and Therry production
Del-Fi 4174
March 1962
★
Co-producer Aragon is Johnny Aragon who had at least 3 "teen" records on Airlok (re-issued on 20th Fox), Dondee and Sound-O-Rama.
Other producer is Nick Therry. Nick wrote the lyrics of "Too Soon" which was sung by Duke Mitchell (uncredited) in the movie "Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla" (1952). He recorded for Spin-It Records in the mid-fifties, a label he co-owned in Hollywood with Eddie LeBaron. And in 1956, he was doing some promotion for Bill Haley in the West Coast.
But who was Desda ?
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Sweetie
Irene Reid
with Kelly Owens Orchestra
Crossroads (BMI)
Savoy 1170
Recorded in New-York, August 8, 1955
Budd Johnson, Jerome Richardson (tenor saxophone) Dave McRae (baritone saxophone) Kelly Owens (piano, arranger) Milt Hinton (bass) Panama Francis (drums) Irene Reid (vocals)
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China Rock
1960
Pressed by RCA Records (custom division) in September or October 1960.
Matrix numbers are from a batch of Midwest labels (Chicago mastering and Indianapolis pressing).
A Midwest label, for sure. No further info.
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A Little Bit Of Some Of You
Debbie Sciame & The Rhythm Rockets
Words & Music by Debbie Sciame
Sha-La-Mar XB-2610/1
1968 (if Capitol custom pressing)
Audio is from mp3 of very low quality, probably from a record well played to say the least. But this a so good and so obscure chick bopper...... Take that Cees (Klop)!
Rockford, is the second largest city in Illinois after Chicago. Yet Rockford sheltered very few records labels in the fifties or the sixties : there was the Rustic label (Jimmie Dawson, 1957). There was also Allstar Records (Jim Friis And The Valiants, mid-sixties). And Vincent Record Co. (Vincent Chiarelli?).
To that very short list, you now can add Sha-La-Mar.
Rockford housed the Time Museum (now closed). It was the world's biggest museum dedicated to the history of humankind's efforts to measure time's passage. Behind the times however is Debbie Sciame. She bop like if the surf, the twist or even British Invasion have never happened.
No info about Mrs Sciame, unfortunately.
The only other record found on the same label is by Mr. Lonesome And The Knight Riders. Mr. Lonesome is quite likely Bill Davis. Bill Davis and/or the Knight Riders or Knight Ryders on Sara, Cuca and Ator, The latter was located in a Rockford suburb at 1819 Juniper Lane, Loves Park.
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Rocking Robin
Nedra Price and the Skeptics
(J.Thomas, Recordo Music)
Thrush 1003
1965
B/W Jerry Waugh and the Skeptics : It's All Over Now.
Cover of the Bobby Day hit (Class Records, 1958), a song written by Leon René under the pseudonym of Jimmie Thomas.
Nedra Price is probably best known for her version of "Let's Have A Party" on Ponca. A previous song, "Not Another Cloudy Day", (w/the Skeptics) was issued on Thrush 1001, which can be found is on the Gear Fab release : The Skeptics - The Complete Early Years (1965-69). Well, complete is not accurate, as this (last) Thrush release isn't included. Complete, definitive, ultimate and other hyperbolic statements should be avoided...
Nedra Gale Price was a Graduate of Latta School (Ada, Oklahoma), and holder of a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater in 1963. She majored in elementary education. In 1966, she married Paul Hinchman then employed with the Agricultural Chemicals Division of Monsanto Company in Brooksville, Florida. where the young couple settled, And Nedra worked there as a school teacher.
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Lurchin'
Dave S. Trio
Dave Schumock & Gene Lawrence
Pub. Sixteen-Ten Music (BMI)
Birthstone Records
Tacoma, Washington
1963
Odd rocking instrumental with accordion, sounding in some parts almost as a Cajun band !
This Mount Tahoma High School band was led by David Lloyd Schumock (1947-2008) and included Gene Lawrence. A (later?) line-up is listed in the Pacific Northwest Bands discography HERE Page has a picture of the band.
The quite obscure Birthstone label was perhaps owned by Attilio ("Art") Mineo, a jazz pianist, who, thanks to his connections in the East Coast introduced the Wailers and other Northwest acts to Golden Crest. Chance Eden, a Birthstone recording artist, was later signed by Roulette Records.
“Here was a man who knew Jacqueline Kennedy, Al Capone, Frank Sinatra, Babe Ruth, not to mention all the musical greats of the 20th century,” said Barry Johnson, a local opera singer and good friend of Mineo.
Mineo also wrote operas about the Mafia, though he made clear he wasn’t part of the official organization.
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Rock and Roll Baby
Barbie Gaye
Big Al Sears and his Band
Neas-Thorn-Vastola
Thornett Music BMI
Darl R-1004
1957
Her second single.
Perhaps recorded at the same session that produced her minor hit " My Boy Lollypop " (1956). She was backed by guitarist Leroy Kirkland, saxophonist Al Sears and drummer Panama Francis. DJ Alan Freed played it on radio and she appeared in Freed's annual Christmas show at the New York Paramount in 1956. She also inspired singer/songwriter Ellie Greenwich to issue her first record as "Ellie Gaye".
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Perhaps recorded at the same session that produced her minor hit " My Boy Lollypop " (1956). She was backed by guitarist Leroy Kirkland, saxophonist Al Sears and drummer Panama Francis. DJ Alan Freed played it on radio and she appeared in Freed's annual Christmas show at the New York Paramount in 1956. She also inspired singer/songwriter Ellie Greenwich to issue her first record as "Ellie Gaye".
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Barbie Gaye, then-14 year old singer, was discovered by Gaetano Vastola in Coney Island, Brooklyn, after hearing her sing on a street corner.
Barbie Gay discography
Darl 1002 – My Boy Lollipop / Say You Understand
Darl 1004 – Rock And Roll Baby / A Letter To Johnny
Regalia 11-7 – Love Me A Little / In This Day And Age
Also known as Tommy, Sonny, or Corky, Vastola was a partial owner of Roulette Records and an underboss in the DeCavalcante crime family of New Jersey. He worked as a booking agent, and took credits for several doo-wop tracks Other activities ranged from shaking down dice games to promoting concerts by Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. He also golfed on occasion with Sammy Davis, Jr. He served time in prison several times (including for extortion and assault of a record company executive in the 1980s).
Vastola is believed to be among the models for the character Hesh Rabkin in the TV series The Sopranos, played by actor Jerry Adler.
Note 1 : There is much information about "My Boy Lollipop" to be found on the web. Most sources are inaccurate and conflicting. The best (and the more likely story, in my opinon) is the Wikipedia article. But still it has errors.
Note 2 : Regarding the Darl label, after hours of research and fascinating readings, there is much unsolved and nagging questions surrounding it's story, such who was behind Darl Records Inc. ?
Like said Edward Dahlberg "It takes a long time to understand nothing. "
Millie Small uncovered
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Rocket Honeymoon
Larry Cartell
Rocket Honeymoon
Lawrence Gray, Larlon Music BMI
Roman Records
Arranged And Conducted By Bob Lowden
Produced By Tony Alano
Rocket Honeymoon
Lawrence Gray, Larlon Music BMI
Roman Records
Arranged And Conducted By Bob Lowden
Produced By Tony Alano
196?
Sounds to me like a mid-sixties recording with a slight Freddy Cannon influence (?). Incidentally, Freddy Cannon produced one Larry Cartell's single on Glenolden in the late sixties.
According to a press kit published by Glenolden Records in 1967 :
Larry got his start in show business at the age of three, singing with his father in bars in his native Philadelphia. Larry holds the record for winning song contests. Beginning as young boy and through his teens, Larry won every contest he entered, he won one contest for 64 weeks straight.
The 23 year-old recording artist is a talented song writer as well as a singer and also writes the lyrics.
His career as a singer really got under way last spring when he was discovered by Nick Busillo, who also discovered Al Martino as well as other famous entertainers. Under Busillo's guidance, Larry recorded "Cowboy Santa", destined to become an all-time Christmas smash.
Larry was the only artist permitted to take part in the Gimbel Brothers annual Thanksgiving Day parade with is own float. He was seen by 40 million viewers. He will soon be seen of the "Ed Sullivan," " Tonight," Joey Bishop", "Mervi Griffin," and "Mike Douglas," as well as several other television shows. Larry lives in South Philadelphia, spawning ground of such recording greats as Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Eddie Fisher. Larry is already carving a name for himself in the recording industry, and he also plans a career in films and television.
Larry Cartell's real name, I assume, is Lawrence (or Laurence) Gray, as I can't find any Cartell song's signature on his records.
Larry sung also the title song in “Girl In Golden Boots”, a movie directed by Ted V. Mikels.
Read more about this by Jeremy Allison, a big fan of the movie HERE.
Nicholas "Nick" Busillo, Larry Cartell's manager, was a veteran of the Philadelphia music scene, when he first recorded Larry Cartell for his Glenolden label in 1967. In the early fifties, he was involved in music publishing and was with BBS Records and Crosley Records labels, which he co-owned with Bill Borrelli and/or Russ Smith. (The Crosley label was revived in 1958-1960.)
Larry sung also the title song in “Girl In Golden Boots”, a movie directed by Ted V. Mikels.
Read more about this by Jeremy Allison, a big fan of the movie HERE.
★
★
"Larry Cartell, singing star, is enjoying great success with his first release, "Cowboy Santa", on Glenolden Records (150). At this early point, the record is earmarked as one of the greatest Christmas hits of all times" (Billboard ad, 1967, Decembre 16)
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I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry
Steve Rowland
with Earl Palmer and band
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.
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 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'
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 by 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/
Credit : http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/06/photos-bikini-babes-back-then/
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The Harvard Coop
Christopher B. Cerf
with Gordie Main and the Mainiacs
From the album The Harvard Lampoon Tabernacle Choir Sings at Leningrad Stadium
Vanitas Records (V-440)
1961
On the Harvard "in-house" label. Top billing goes to the 'Poon, Cerf, who wrote, sings, and provides piano accompaniment for most of the numbers; and "Gordie Main and the Main-iacs," a student rock 'a' roll combo. The successful "The Penguin" is on this LP and was subsequently issued on a single in 1962.
Chris Cerf is perhaps best known as the writer on Sesame Street songs, including "Put Down the Duckie" and "Monster In the Mirror."
The Harvard Coop was founded as a cooperative by a group of Harvard students. In the beginning, the Coop was simply a place to buy books, school supplies and coal or wood for those cold Cambridge winters. Over the years, the Coop has grown into one of America's largest college bookstores, as well as a full service store that's stocked with almost all the items and services you'll need on campus or off. Best of all, the annual membership fee is still just $1, as it was in 1882.
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B.B. (sur un air de samba)
Silvo Silvera and his Brazilian Orchestra
(Miguel Gustavo, Plan Two ASCAP)
Barclay 300
Written by Miguel Gustavo. First released in Brazil in December 1960 by Jorge Veiga on Copacabana, it was an international hit on Barclay the year after. Many, many versions followed. A lot are available on YouTube (links below), but not this Silvio Silvera version and also my favorite.
"Brigitte Bardot" versions on YouTube
Jorge Veiga Brazil, the original version 15.558 views
and in order of number of views top down :Dario Moreno Born in Turkey, but most of his career was in France. 470.944 views
Roberto Seto (Live, 2 mn) 25.852 views
Roberto Seto Armenian-French artist. Full track (2 mn 20) 12.883 views
Chakachas Belgian group. 12.693 views
Gastone Parigi (Scopitone, Italy) 7.711 views
Laila Kinnunen (Finland) 2.203 views
The Emeralds Moluccan duet established in the Netherlands 1.673 views
Marion Rung (Mexico) 1.170 views
Michelino (Italy) 1.151 views
Eddy Kouyioumdjian 580 views. Amateur accordionist from Greece. Has posted 1.308 videos onYouTube. I've not checked - and you'll certainly understand why- , but it seems that ALL features Eddy himself.
Digno Garcia (Spain) 454 views
Ljiljana Petrović (Serbian) 382 views
Antonio Del Playa 85 views (Was on a budget label called "Stella for Teenagers", from Belgium)
Achilles and his Heels 8 views (On Fontana, United Kingdom)
And among other versions (unheard) :
- Burt Bachrach [sic] orchestra (vocal Joel Grey), Bigtop (USA)
- Josepe Torres y sus Cumbacitos, Disco Foon (Netherlands) , on W&G (Australia, "A Teeny recording")
- Günter Moritz and Milly Arduini (Elite Special, Germany)
- Orchestra Da Ballo "Italfon" canta Gino Rotigliano (Italfon, Italy)
- Jack van Doorn und der Botho Lucas-Chor (Columbia, Germany)
- Jean-Marc Torchy (Marianne Mélodie, France)
- Mike Westbrook's Brass Band (English jazz pianist, Transatlantic, 70s)
- Serge Maldini (Vesuvius, Italy)
The couple who never was
Hey John, wherever you are. I'm not a big expert of Photoshop,
but here it is : you and B.B. on the cover of Two Virgins!
That's how it should have been.
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Climate change
Here at Dead Wax, we are really concerned by all these contemporary issues. The climate change is one of them. There is a flowchart found at the Mother Jones website HERE to help you to win every argument :
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Duck Walk
Judy Cross
Miller-Rene, Wilco Publ. Co. BMI
MGM 12902
1960
✔ Spotted this one en ebay today described as "hilarious insipid teener". Auction
✔ Wanted to know more.
✔ Searched YouTube.
✔ Found "Duck Walk" by Youtuber Puddlebacky.
✔ Wanted to know more about Puddlebacky.
✔ Found out that is a genuine crapdigger (see video of him digging in the woods HERE).
✔ Found out that he is also Puddleboy on Flickr where he exposes some of his finds.
And what about Judy Cross ?
Judy Cross was a morning radio show producer (and assistant-librarian) at WINS in New-York and probably in need of some attention decided to make a career in music. Joe Rene, owner the tiny Claro label in New-York was glad to help and she recorded her first single (Mrs. Billy Brown b/w Old Enough to Know) for Claro which was issued in mid-1959 (probably in July). She promoted her single on the Hy Lit show on July 30th and on American Bandtstand on August 20.
"Duck Walk", her second single followed in the latter part of 1959 backed with "When's He Gonna Kiss Me". She approched Bruce Wendell, WINS' chief librarian, attempting to bribe him for pushing her record on air. That's probably why she had to resign in December 1959 and came back only when WINS program director Mel Leeds left. (Mel Leeds and other staff members were caught up in the web of the Payola scandal hitting the entire radio industry in 1959-1960). MGM Records re-issued the single in 1960.
And what about Joe Rene ?
Joseph René, born September 4, 1924, Amsterdam, Holland. Father radio violonist. Mother : concert pianist. Studied violin, harmony and orchestration with the famous professor W. Buescher . Trumpet player and arranger with big bands. Career was interrupted by Mr Adolf Hitler. Went into hiding and remained 3½ years in an attic three doors down from Anne Frank. Resumed career after Liberation in 1945 and became musical director for United States First Army. Came to the United States in 1949. Big bands, radio, T.V. etc arranging and conducting recording dates and went into producing.
Was A&R for Beltone Records, 1960-1961 ("Tossin' and Turnin'," Bobby Lewis, a song co-written by his wife Malou Rene)., for RCA Victor (mid-sixties) and recorded himself with his orchestra a number of albums on Manhattan, Tops, Epic and other labels.
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Wonder, shrunken heads
Two ads found in Billboard (1947 and 1949)
Born in Poetry Texas, September 7, 1884. Homer Tate would become the prolific creator and purveyor of all things weird and bizarre to the sideshow men and women of the the 1940's & 50's.
A Shrine to Homer Tate, The Desert Pygmy King, is open to the public HERE.
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Sweet Little Sixteen
Rufus Brown
Gateway Records
1958
Cover of Chuck Berry biggest hit
Old Chuck with young girl
According to Maxwell Demon :
"During a show at the Ottawa Coliseum Berry saw a little German girl, seven or eight years old, pursuing singers for their autographs to add to her ‘wallet full of pictures’, seemingly more interested in the trophy than in the music being performed. The idea for one of his most successful songs was born, although the girl who provided inspiration was a little too young for his taste, she became ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’.
Early in December 1957 Berry laid down a demo of the song, perfectly capturing the excitement of its teenage heroine and is another striking demonstration of Berry’s ability to think himself into the mind of someone half his age. When released in February ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’ proved Berry’s biggest hit to date."
Note 1 : Chuck Berry is well known to think (or else) himself into the mind (or else) of someone (female, preferably) half his age.
Note 2 : there IS a website named Chuck Berry - Mr. Rock'n'Roll, dedicated to the memory of... Bo Diddley (?!?). This site has detailed tour information for several artists, including Chuck Berry : he played the Auditorium Arena in Ottawa, Ontario on November, 18, 1957.
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East L.A.
Solid Jackson
(John Orvis)
A Free-Sac-Andrews Production
Candix 308
1960
Bob Arlin's version on Olympia Records is probably best known and was a minor hit around San Bernardino and San Francisco. The two versions were released about the same time (late November/early December 1960).
Singer Solid Jackson is totally unknown. Probably not the Solid Jackson on Nucraft (1952) found HERE.
Song writer John Orvis (1936-2001) is slightly better known :
Blues, r&r guitar player and vocalist, first record with Sessionaires,
"Boogie Boo" released in early 1950s. Also recorded as Johnny Wilde on
Coronet label, played with local blues talent that morphed into Canned
Heat into the 1960s. Member of Galopping Gooses Motorcyle Club, wrote
"East L.A.," recorded by Bob Arlin. Also member of Smoke (Uni), John
Orivs Blues Band. Wrote various songs, lived in Ojai since 1971, known
as "The Original Ojai Blues Man."
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How About It
Dave Brockman
(Bob Mooney - Tommy Mooney, Fayette Pub. BMI)
Fayette 1002
1955
(Lexington, Kentucky)
Second release on early Bob Mooney owned label. First one was "Let's Change The Alphabet" by Middletown, Ohio girl Loretta Thompson.
Backed by the Twilight Ramblers Dave Brockman will later have a record on Starday in 1957 (Foolish Pride / Feel Sorry For Me, Starday 669). In 1959 he was disc jockey on WTMT (Louisville, Ky.)
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Twin Guitar Boogie
Leichester Howard “Corky” Edminster
1916-2013
Corky Edminster
Cormac Records
(Santa Ana, Calif.)
1950
Mr. Edminster was born Feb. 16, 1916, in Wichita. As a boy, he attended Roosevelt Junior High School and was a graduate of Wichita High School, now East High School,where he was an honor student.
By 16, he was playing with Wichita bandleader Gage Brewer. In addition, Mr. Edminster studied music at Friends Conservatory of Music.
“He was trained classically and when times were hard, he could get jobs as a piano man,” said one of his daughters, Peggy Moore of Edgerton. “He could play and read music. He could transpose. When vocalists needed something in a certain key, he had the ability to transpose the music quickly.”
During the 1930s , Mr. Edminster’s band, the Ark Valley Boys, performed on KFH, Wichita’s first radio station. That was in the days when the Lassen boasted that it was "Kansas’ Finest Hotel." The station, a one-time tenant on an upper floor, took its call letters from the hotel’s slogan.
During World War II, Mr. Edminster played in the U.S. Navy Band, where he was musical director and helped produce programs, Moore said.
After the war, Mr. Edminster’s band evolved into Corky’s Corral Gang and played on KANS radio. In 1952, they went to Hollywood, working with Gene Autry and his comic sidekick Smiley Burnette on a number of B-grade Westerns.
In later years, he was known throughout Wichita, where he played at the Candle Club and with the Dads of Dixieland.
When he wasn’t entertaining, Mr. Edminster was vice president of Shamrock Oil and Tire for 32 years.
By 16, he was playing with Wichita bandleader Gage Brewer. In addition, Mr. Edminster studied music at Friends Conservatory of Music.
“He was trained classically and when times were hard, he could get jobs as a piano man,” said one of his daughters, Peggy Moore of Edgerton. “He could play and read music. He could transpose. When vocalists needed something in a certain key, he had the ability to transpose the music quickly.”
During the 1930s , Mr. Edminster’s band, the Ark Valley Boys, performed on KFH, Wichita’s first radio station. That was in the days when the Lassen boasted that it was "Kansas’ Finest Hotel." The station, a one-time tenant on an upper floor, took its call letters from the hotel’s slogan.
During World War II, Mr. Edminster played in the U.S. Navy Band, where he was musical director and helped produce programs, Moore said.
After the war, Mr. Edminster’s band evolved into Corky’s Corral Gang and played on KANS radio. In 1952, they went to Hollywood, working with Gene Autry and his comic sidekick Smiley Burnette on a number of B-grade Westerns.
In later years, he was known throughout Wichita, where he played at the Candle Club and with the Dads of Dixieland.
When he wasn’t entertaining, Mr. Edminster was vice president of Shamrock Oil and Tire for 32 years.
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More Pages to Explore .....
