Dinky Harris limited edition reissue 45

Thanks to the Birmingham Record Collectors and Dinky Harris himself, you can now get the official reissue of the 1959 rockabilly rarity by Dinky Harris and the Spades "She Left Me Crying" - a song once described as capturing "lightning in a bottle".  The other side,  "Think It Over Baby" a song written by Dinky is from a previously unreleased acetate. Dinky Harris and The Spades included Jerry Woodard, Bobby Mizzell, Johnny Carter and Frankie Benefield.

"She Left Me Crying" was penned by Jerry Woodard who Dinky first met at a race track. Jerry was a driver and needed some tools to get work done on his car called "TV6" the same station where Jerry played with Country Boy Eddie's band.  Dinky had the tools he needed and they became friends.

Dinky was born Derron Doyle Harris in Cordova, Alabama in 1938. "She Left Me Crying" was Dinky's first record, others followed under other names – Dinky Harris and the Nuggets, “Linda”, Dinky Harris and the Draft Dodgers, “Who’s Gonna Rock My Baby”, Dinky Doo, “Think It Over, Baby”, and Dinky Harris, “I Need You”.

In 1962 he went to France as a member the Air National Guard and after returning to the US he entered the ministry in 1965.  He continues his work as a pastor in Illinois where he has been living since 1977.

Dinky still appreciates his fans and personally directed this reissue project.  Copies of a promotional picture of Dinky are also available and he will autograph the 45 rpm record, the white sleeve as well as the photograph. 500 copies of the record were pressed and 200 were sold at the Birmingham Record Collectors show in August 2011.  This limited pressing is going quickly so don't delay getting your copy.

You can purchase both the record and the photo from Dinky's friend and Birmingham Record Collectors member Johnny Powell on Ebay. All money goes to Dinky and all materials are shipped by Dinky himself.

Sound clips are included in the listing which you can find at this link:  Rare rockabilly - Dinky Harris on Fad - new repro 45

Note: Cross-posted from  Alabama Music History blog.

Alabama Musicians, Musical Heritage from the Heart of Dixie by C.S. Fuqua

Released in September 2011, Alabama Musicians, Musical Heritage from the Heart of Dixie by C.S. Fuqua is a welcome resource for anyone interested in Alabama's role in music history.  The book begins with an essay on the history of Alabama's musical contributions, including people who have been instrumental in the preservation of the state's musical heritage, beginning in the early 20th Century with folklorist Ruby Pickens Tartt.  Fuqua gives us over 70 biographies that focus on Alabama-born musicians and music industry notables.  His profiles include early figures like the champion of shape-note gospel, Jesse Randall "Pa" Baxter and old-time music stars The Stripling Brothers; mid-century ground-breakers Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton and the Delmore Brothers as well as jazz luminaries Sun Ra and Cleveland Eaton.  Also included are some historically conscious contemporary figures like The Civil Wars and "American Idol" contestant Taylor Hicks. 

Particularly interesting are the combined biographies, like the one for Clarence "Pinetop" Smith and Charles Edward "Cow Cow" Davenport who each played prominent roles in the emergence and popularization of the boogie woogie style.   Alabama Musicians is illustrated throughout with photographs, some of which are from the musicians' own collections.   The book doesn't attempt to cover every aspect of Alabama's music history which would, of course, take many volumes.  At a concise and well-written 176 pages it does provide an excellent snapshot of the rich diversity and accomplishments of Alabama musicians, promoters and producers.  Alabama Musicians, Musical Heritage from the Heart of Dixie is both a good read and a valuable reference.  It's available thorough Amazon.com.


Note: Cross-posted from  Alabama Music History blog. 

Larry and the Loafers Return! November 11th 2011 in Birmingham

Those who are fortunate enough to have met him know that Larry Parker is always glad to autograph a copy of one of his records.  Above his signature he writes "Rock & Roll Forever" and you'd better believe he means every word!

He'll be debuting newly reformed Larry and the Loafers at Workplay in Birmingham on Friday November 11th.  Treat yourself to tickets for Hangout with Larry and the Loafers on line at http://www.workplay.com/



In 1960 Larry Parker's band, Larry and the Loafers took an unusual approach to grabbing their place in rock and roll history. They scored a hit on Birmingham radio before they ever recorded a record. It was called Panama City Blues and it premiered on WIXI AM-1480 radio in Irondale where Larry was working as a DJ.

Soon other radio stations began calling to find out where they could get a copy of the record all the kids were calling in to request. Faced with this fortunate predicament Larry immediately negotiated a Reed Records release with Homer Milam but it was still over a month before copies of Panama City Blues were available. In an October 2011 interview, Larry talks about how this first version of Panama City Blues came about.



Larry had a hit song and now he needed some trousers for his group of young rock and roll stars.  The Birmingham Liberty factory was making some pegged pants called Skeets that were just the thing for outfitting Larry and the Loafers.  Larry needed some skeets and Liberty needed a commercial that would inspire their teenage customers.   So Larry and the Loafers recorded "Skeets are Neat" that became a hit on its own.   Check it out on YouTube and don't miss Larry in his custom-made Skeets with gold and sliver threads!



Over his career Larry has has recorded on Heart Records, Ed Boutwell Studios in Birmingham, with musicians Ronnie Eades, Barry Beckett, Glen Lane, and the ‘Roulettes’, Bill Lowery and Master Sounds Studio in Atlanta where he wrote and recorded “Let’s Go to the Beach” (co-written by Emery Gordy who later produced for the group Alabama and played with the Atlanta band ‘St. John and the Cardinals’, and Fame Recording Studio in Memphis with producer Sonny Limbo where he joined the ‘Hombres’, Booker T. Jones, and the ‘Memphis Strings’ and recorded “Sunshine” and “Paper Man”.  His songs have been reissued on a number of collector compilations including The Best Of Greasy Rock 'N' Roll, Teenage Time and The Big Itch.


Check out Larry and the Loafers official website: http://www.larryandtheloafers.com/
Larry Parker's complete bio is here http://www.alabamamusicoffice.com/artists-a-z/p/866-parker-larry-larry-and-the-loafers
Check out the more of the interview with Larry at Alabama Music Office's YouTube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/alabamamusicoffice
 
Special thanks to Larry Parker and Birmingham Record Collectors.

"An Evening of American Music" on Friday October 14th 2011

The Green Bar in Tuscaloosa will be hosting "An Evening of American Music" on Friday October 14th as part of the University of Alabama American Studies Department's 50th Anniversary celebration. Tuscaloosa's own Midnight Mayor, Craig "Sweet Dog" Pickering put together the show for the AMS Undergraduate Club. It will feature AMS All-Stars – Alumni & Friends as well as gospel great Reverend John Wilkins (son of the legendary blues and gospel musician Robert Wilkins); Louisiana's Jay Chevalier who is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and was named “Official State Troubadour” by an act of the Louisiana Legislature in 2006.

Michael Hurtt and his Haunted Hearts are a favorite of everyone from Lazy Lester to the late, great Hunter S. Thompson, the Haunted Hearts convened in 2003 with the sole purpose of single-handedly resurrecting New Orleans' once rich, now nearly invisible hillbilly music heritage. The Haunted Hearts will follow Reverend Wilkins and will back up Jay Chevalier.

Thanks to the American Studies Department this event is free of charge! Green Bar is located at 2209 4th St, Tuscaloosa, AL

Here's the schedule:

8:00pm – AMS All-Stars – Alumni & Friends

8:30pm – Reverend John Wilkins

9:30pm– The Haunted Hearts

10:15pm – Jay Chevalier

More Information on the artists:
Reverend John Wilkins
Michael Hurtt and His Haunted Hearts
Jay Chevalier

Birmingham Record Collectors Record Show

It's nearly that time again.  This is one of the best record shows going and it happens in every August in Birmingham.  LPs, 45s galore and some 78s as well as CD collections on ACE and other labels.  Also a great  opportunity to guzzle some of Birmingham's own extremely delicious Buffalo Rock ginger ale.

Date/Time: Saturday, August 20, 2011 (9AM-5PM) and Sunday, August 21, 2011 (10AM-4PM) 
Location: The Cedars Club, 301 Green Springs Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205 
Admission: $3.00