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Wallace O'Dell: "My Life In Darkness" (Acetate Disc Audio)
Acetate disc recording of Wallace O'Dell, "My Life in Darkness," recorded for Reed Records, March 16, 1959, Birmingham, Alabama. Vocal backing by the Chordaires.O'Dell (as Wallace Odell, without the apostrophe) released this title on the Reed label…
Tommy Reeves and the Alabama Playboys: "You Make Me Happy" (Acetate Disc / Audio)
One-of-a-kind acetate disc recording of Tommy Reeves and the Alabama Playboys, October 25, 1952. The disc contains a performance of "You Make Me Happy." The reverse side of the disc includes a performance by the Johnson Family, recorded on the same…
The Watkins Brothers & The Mother's Best Red Hat Kids (Photo Postcard)
Photo postcard of the Watkins Brothers and the Mother's Best Red Hat Kids, circa 1950s, WVOK, Birmingham, Alabama. Pictured left to right are Curley Fagan, Richard Watkins, Bobby Watkins, announcer Joe Rumore, Jimmie Watkins, Robert [?], and Tommy…
The Alabama Ramblers: Waiting for a Letter
The Alabama Ramblers, "Waiting for a Letter." Vocals by the Hudson brothers.
“Yearning for a message, one from you my dearest, please / I’m waiting for a letter, my poor aching heart to ease.”Recorded in Korea, circa 1952, by the Alabama Ramblers…
The Alabama Ramblers: Steel Guitar Rag / Open Door, Open Arms / Interviews
The Alabama Ramblers, "Steel Guitar Rag" and "Open Door, Open Arms." Steel guitar and vocal by J. W. Hudson.
“Open door, open arms wait for your safe return / Day and night there’s a light and a heart that will burn...”Recorded in Korea, circa 1952,…
The Alabama Ramblers: Mother's Day Poem / M-O-T-H-E-R (A Word That Means the World to Me) / Closing Theme
Recorded excerpt from a Mother's Day broadcast by the Alabama Ramblers. Includes a company member's original poem and a performance by Dale Casteel of "M-O-T-H-E-R (A Word That Means the World to Me)." Written in 1915 by Howard Johnson and Theodore…
The Alabama Ramblers: Missing in Action / The Family Who Prays
The Alabama Ramblers, "Missing In Action" and "The Family Who Prays." Two popular songs of the Korean War years. "Missing in Action," written by Arthur Q. Smith and Helen Kaye, was recorded by Ernest Tubb in 1952 and covered my several country…
The Alabama Ramblers: Gray-Haired Mother of Mine / Make Room in Your Heart for a Friend
The Alabama Ramblers: "Gray-Haired Mother of Mine" and "Make Room in Your Heart for a Friend"
“Back in my home in Alabama, where a gray-haired mother waits for me / Each night in my dreams I can see her, and it’s there that I’m longing to be...”…
The Alabama Ramblers: Away From You / Where the Soul of Man Never Dies (Canaan's Land)
The Alabama Ramblers, "Away from You" and "Where the Soul of Man Never Dies" (AKA "Canaan's Land"). Vocals by J. W. Hudson.
“I’d like to send this song especially to my little niece, Shirley Ann. She seems to like it. And I’d also like to send it to…
The Alabama Ramblers: "Seasick Blues" (Acetate Disc)
The Alabama Ramblers, "The Seasick Blues." Composed by J. W. Hudson, Franklin Hampton, and Bob Grigsby. Vocals by J. W. Hudson and Bob Grigsby.
“Right now we’d like to have a little more music, and we’re going to revive a song that J. W. Hudson and…
The Alabama Ramblers (ARM 322)
Painting of the Alabama Ramblers by Craig Legg, 2024. #322 in Craig Legg's Alabama Roots Music Trading Card Series. Courtesy Craig Legg.Please see also the Southern Music Research Center's Alabama Ramblers, including historic recordings and more.
Smokey Stover Interview
Interview with country music disc jockey, songwriter, singer, and guitarist Smokey Stover (1928-2005), conducted over the telephone by Darwin Lee Hill, January 12, 2002.
Slim Byrant
Interview with Slim Bryant, recorded by Darwin Lee Hill, May 24, 1996. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1908, songwriter, singer, and guitarist Thomas Hoyt “Slim” Bryant made his first recordings in 1928 as a member of the Harmony Boys string band. He…
Roy Lee Brown Interview
Interview with Roy Lee Brown (1921-2017), conducted over the phone by Darwin Lee Hill, March 16, 2002. A complete print transcript is also provided.
The younger brother of western swing pioneers Milton and Derwood Brown, Roy Lee Brown remained a…
Rebe Gosdin and The Sunny Valley Gang: "Pray, Pray, Pray" (Acetate Disc / Audio)
One-of-a-kind acetate disc recording of Rebe Gosdin and the Sunny Valley Gang, "Pray, Pray, Pray." Recorded March 9, 1954, for radio station WBAM (Montgomery, Alabama).
The reverse side of this disc contains a recording of "Release Me" by…
Poster: Johnson Brothers String Band
Poster advertisement for the Johnson Brothers String Band, circa 1950s.
Courtesy George Johnson.
Courtesy George Johnson.
Playlist: The Alabama Ramblers
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…
Photo & Caption: "Negro debutantes of 1950 presented"
Newspaper photo and caption: "Negro debutantes of 1950 presented" at Birmingham Municipal Auditorium: "Fess Whatley's Orchestra furnished music."Birmingham News, December 23, 1950.
Kenny Baker Interview
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…