clarkspicks.com

Here is a clip of Johnny with his original Tennessee Two on the Town Hall Party television show in Compton California. Luther Perkins’ deadpan expression as he plays his guitar break is priceless. Whatever it is that Johnny wants him to do, talking to him while he takes his solo, Luther is having none of it. Marshall Grant, meanwhile is having a party of his own while playing bass.

Guitar affectionados will note that Johnny is playing his custom built Gibson J200. This guitar had his name inlaid in mother of pearl on the fingerboard and an unusually shaped pick guard. Luther Perkins is playing a rare early Fender Jazzmaster. You can catch just a glimpse of Luther’s tweed Bassman amplifier. if you are a real guitar nerd, and a subscriber to the FDP, you won’t miss it.

Jimmie Rodgers invented country music. Before he recorded his songs, which were influenced by early jazz, blues and tin pan alley recordings, “hillbilly music” consisted of fiddle tunes and traditional Scots Irish ballads. Rodgers worked at various railroad jobs, including brakeman, until he was forced to quit because he had tuberculosis. He was able to sing, despite having this pulmonary disease.

He made his first recording,“Sleep, Baby, Sleep,” and “The Soldier’s Sweetheart” in 1927 for the Victor Talking Machine Company. (later RCA Victor) He recorded solo, just his voice and his guitar, because the band that he had been working with had an argument and broke up, as they were traveling from their Blue Ridge mountain resort job to Bristol VA to make the recording. Demand for this record led Victor to bring Rodgers into it’s home studio in Camden New Jersey where he recorded “Blue Yodel” also known as “T For Texas” which propelled him to stardom.

In all Rodgers recorded 110 songs including “Waiting for a Train,” “Daddy and Home,” “In the Jailhouse Now,” “Frankie and Johnny,” “T. B. Blues,” “My Blue-Eyed Jane,” “Miss the Mississippi and You,” and a series of twelve sequels to “Blue Yodel.” Jimmie Rodgers was the first person inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

This video clip is from a 15 minute short film, made in Camden N.J. by Colombia Pictures in 1929, called “The Singing Brakeman.”

Jimmie Davis (1899-2000) was a popular country singer, following the example of Jimmy Rodgers. He also served two terms as Governor of Louisiana, first from 1944 to 48 and again from 1960 to 1964. Davis owned the copyright to “You Are My Sunshine” and is credited with writing it, but it has been reported that he bought the song from another performer, Paul Rice. This was a common practice at the time. “You Are My Sunshine” was made the state song of Louisiana in 1977.

Here Governor Davis sings “Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine” another one of his songs, and “You Are My Sunshine” with the help of Dottie Rambo, a gospel singer (we would call it contemporary Christian music now) popular in the 1960s. The setting is quite formal. It may have been recorded at the Governor’s mansion sometime during his second term in office.

Happy Valentine’s Day