Browse Items (55 total)

The_Montgomery_Advertiser_Mon__Sep_20__1954_ 2.jpeg
In September 1954, the city of Montgomery, Alabama, hosted a Hank Williams Memorial Day, celebrating what would have been the singer's thirty-first birthday. Williams had died on New Year's Day, 1953, and the world of country music was shaken by the…

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Happy Hal Burns on Tractor.jpeg
Birmingham radio personality Happy Hal Burns on his tractor, 1955.

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https://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/69313/archive/files/95bfdf70c0213282c27e0c7b3366e654.jpeg
Happy Hal Burns (Harold Frank Byrnes) was a popular, longtime Birmingham radio personality and a mentor to many of the city’s “hillbilly” and country acts, including Hank Penny, Sidney “Hardrock” Gunter, and Gordon Edwards “Country Boy Eddie” Burns…

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Hardrock Gunter .jpeg
Two fan-made photos of Sidney Louie "Hardrock" Gunter (1925-2013). The Birmingham, Alabama-born country musician got his start in the 1930s as a member of the Hoot Owl Ramblers and, then, Happy Wilson's Golden River Boys. His first two singles on the…

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Hardrock Gunter and Band.jpeg
Fan-made photo of Sidney Louie "Hardrock" Gunter (1925-2013) and his band, onstage at the Santa Fe Ranch. The Birmingham, Alabama-born country musician got his start in the 1930s as a member of the Hoot Owl Ramblers and, then, Happy Wilson's Golden…

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Hardrock Gunter With Family.jpeg
Sidney Louie "Hardrock" Gunter (1925-2013) poses with his wife and daughter.

The Birmingham, Alabama-born country musician got his start in the 1930s as a member of the Hoot Owl Ramblers and, then, Happy Wilson's Golden River Boys. His first two…

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Hardrock Gunter With Fans 2.jpeg
Sidney Louie "Hardrock" Gunter (1925-2013) poses with fans at Pennsylvania's Santa Fe Ranch. The Birmingham, Alabama-born country musician got his start in the 1930s as a member of the Hoot Owl Ramblers and, then, Happy Wilson's Golden River Boys.…

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ARM 120 Harry Blevins & the Steel City Playboys.jpeg
Painting of Harry Blevins and The Steel City Playboys by Craig Legg, 2023. #120 in Craig Legg's Alabama Roots Music Trading Card Series. Courtesy Craig Legg.

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Harry Blevins, Alone with the Blues label.jpg
One-of-a-kind acetate disc recording of Henry Blevins and the Steel City Playboys, June 6, 1953."Alone with the Blues""Broken Hearted"Henry Blevins and the Steel City Playboys appeared weekly on Birmingham, Alabama, radio station WVOK's "Dixie…

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DLH : Howard Vokes Transcript.pdf
Interview with Howard Vokes (1931-2018), recorded by Darwin Lee Hill at the home of Howard Vokes, New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Vokes and Hill are joined by Vokes’ old friend, the country artist Hank King.Interview concludes at 32:40 and is followed…

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Dale Casteel Transcript.pdf
Dale Casteel, interview with Burgin Mathews, recorded over the telephone, February 10, 2024. A founding member of the Alabama Ramblers, Casteel reflects on his time with that band, as well as on other musical experiences both before and after the…

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Alabama Ramblers Cover.jpg
Though the Alabama Ramblers never released a commercial album, a friend, admirer, or band member apparently created this "album cover" for the group, sometime after the war. The cover is now on display, along with the Ramblers' eight surviving…

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ARM 21 John Lee.jpeg
Painting of John A. Lee by Craig Legg, 2023. #021 in Craig Legg's Alabama Roots Music Trading Card Series. Courtesy Craig Legg.

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put your hands on your hips!.mp3
Complete hourlong radio broadcast by the Johnson Family, WAVU, Albertville, Alabama, 1950s. Transferred from a cassette recording of the original broadcast. Courtesy George Johnson.Full playlist: Farmall Tractors Portion (00:00-30:00) IntroSally…

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Johnson Family acetate label.jpg
One-of-a-kind acetate disc recording attributed to the Johnson Family, October 25, 1952. Mislabeled "Wildwood Flowers," the disc contains a performance of "You Are My Flower."Though there are some broad similarities, it appears unlikely that this…

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DLH : Kenny Baker Transcript.pdf
Interview with Kenny Baker (1926-2011), recorded by Darwin Lee Hill, July 29, 2004. One of bluegrass music’s most revered and influential fiddlers, Baker is best known for his long-running career with Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys.A complete print…

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Interview with Lawton Williams, conducted over the phone by Darwin Lee Hill, Feburary 1, 2003.

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The_Birmingham_News_Sat__Dec_23__1950_.jpg
Newspaper photo and caption: "Negro debutantes of 1950 presented" at Birmingham Municipal Auditorium: "Fess Whatley's Orchestra furnished music."Birmingham News, December 23, 1950.

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Alabama Ramblers Cover.jpg
The complete surviving tracks for the Alabama Ramblers. Additional information and lyrical excerpts follow the track listing, below. Track 1: Seasick Blues Track 2: Missing in Action / The Family Who Prays Track 3: Away from You / Canaan’s Land…

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Johnson Family Poster (2).jpg
Poster advertisement for the Johnson Brothers String Band, circa 1950s.

Courtesy George Johnson.

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