TEX" Jenks Carmen any info??

Ed Naylor · From: portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.

In my collection of Steel Guitar records I have some of "TEX" Jenks Carmen. He has probably been dead for a long time but,I would like to do a little "History" search on him.Where was he born,Who did he play with,etc,etc. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Ed
I have or had a few recordings of Tex,,Most all of his recordings were done on King Records. He had a very unique style with a wide vibrato and played much like Roy Smeck only with a country type approach. You may be able to find something on him on the net if you do a search.

I would guestimate that Tex has been gone since the early 1950' or mid 50's at the latest.

I had recordings of him where it was his name
that was featured as the main artist and not as a side man.

Ed Naylor · From: portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.

Jody- He did have a "Wild" vibrato.I have almost all the old KING 78,s but I think he had some Instrumental 78,s also.Could it have been on the "Champion" label? ED

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Jenks "Tex" Carman, The Dixie Cowboy....

I have a 33rpm of him but there are no liner notes. Heavily Hawaiian influenced single string playing. A voice that only a mother could love went well with his jumpy style.

It would be interesting to learn his history.

Walter Stettner · From: Vienna, Austria

Hi Guys!

The German Bear Family Label has reissued the Capitol recordings of Jenks Tex Carman from 1951 to 1953. Very interesting record!
www.bear-family.de

Regards, Walter

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HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Ian McLatchie · From: Sechelt, British Columbia

Ed: Carman died almost 36 years ago, on Feb. 2, 1968. He was born May 14, 1903 in Hardinsburg, Kentucky. He first recorded for Gennett in 1929, and later had a number of records on Four Star before signing to Capitol in 1951. The Bear Family album that Walter mentioned consists of Capitol sides recorded between '51 and '53 and is well worth picking up. Few people are as entertainingly bad as Carman. The liner notes to the Bear Family include some hilarious stories from Ken Nelson and others about how painful it was to try to come up with a usable take. I'm not sure if it's in those notes, but I've heard several times that there was a joke among other members of the Town Hall Party on which Carman performed that Tex had beaten his son for tuning down one of the strings on his father's guitar and refusing to tell him which one.

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

Jenks "Tex" Carman Biography

Born: May 14, 1903, Hardinsburg, Breckinridge County, Kentucky, USA. DIED: February 2, 1968. There are probably few completely accurate facts (even his year of birth) known regarding this eccentric country music entertainer. Carman enjoyed embellishing details and at times, may well have stretched the truth. He claimed Cherokee Indian ancestry, a fact reinforced by his penchant for appearing in Indian costume, but research of the Cherokee Nation failed to find any reference to him, although one of his great-grandmothers did claim to be Cherokee. He learned to play guitar as a child and in his teens, he left the family farm to become an entertainer. He worked in Louisville, for a time as leader of the Glee Club Quartette, hoboed, busked and toured the vaudeville circuit and, in 1929, he even recorded for Gennett. After becoming friendly with Frank Plada, a noted Hawaiian guitar exponent, he changed to that instrument, which he always played as an acoustic instrument hanging around his neck. Although his playing has drawn considerable criticism, he proved popular throughout the 40s and 50s. In the late 40s, he relocated to California, recorded for Four Star and as Jenks Tex Carman, the Dixie Cowboy, he played on KXLA radio, the noted Compton Town Hall Party and Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree. In the early 50s, he recorded five sessions for Capitol Records; some tracks remained unissued until a 1991 release by Bear Family Records. His most popular recordings were "Hilo March" and "Hillbilly Hula". Speaking 40 years later, Capitol producer Ken Nelson still winced at the memory of recording him: "He was so lacking in rhythm but he had this goofy sound on the guitar and he sold records." After Capitol, he recorded for Sage and had material released on several other labels, including Old Homestead. He was always liked by his fellow artists although most commented on his vocals and guitar playing. Wesley Tuttle rated him the worst musician in the world but paid tribute to his stage presence. Johnny Western commented, "He'd come to the show half-bombed and with a bottle in his guitar case but he was a born entertainer. He'd come on with a big smile, play the Hawaiian guitar with all those flourishes and playing 'drums' on it but he could never play in tune. One of the major jokes that went the rounds was that Tex beat one of his kids half to death because the kid untuned one string on Tex's guitar and wouldn't tell him which one". Carman died at the age of 64 and there is little doubt that he was indeed a character who deserves to be remembered.

Discography:
Country Caravan (Modern 1959)***, Jenks "Tex" Carman (Sage 1960)***, The Ole Indian (Sage 1962)***, Early Dobro (1962)***, Jenks "Tex' Carman Sings And Plays (Sage 1963)**, Tex Carman (Crown 60s)***, Wreck Of The Old "97 (Old Homestead 1982)**, Hillbilly Hula (Bear Family 1991)***, Chippeha! 1947-1957 recordings (Revenant 1998)***.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Sounds like a character...would of loved to have met him

Ed Naylor · From: portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.

Thanks for this info. It is responses like these that make this forum useful. I have been around a "FEW" years and feel I have a good knowledge of music and especially Steel Guitar. It really makes me feel good when I can offer a little info that may in some way fill in a gap especially "History" or research of the music scene. I have thousands and thousands of old 78's and I love to SYEAP {Shut your eyes and pick] old records and play them . Ed

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

I remember Tex Carman very well, he used to play on my favorite TV show from the 1960's, "Cal's Corral." He was totally a freakin' joke! We in the bluegrass circles in those days used to laugh our asses off to his music. He wore an Indian get-up, huge feathered war bonnet, the whole nine yards, couldn't play "Come to Jesus" in whole notes, and had a voice most reminiscent of the dying moans of some wounded forest animal... good, though.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Boy what knowledge and information here.
Ian that was Great as was Rogers information.
Ian I still owe you something.

Herb I wonder what you guys will say about me
After I'm gone?? nice things I hope. Howard
didnt you mention that you had an uncle Jenks
or was it Jake? Oy.

I didnt want to say this is an earlier post but Jenks would make Roy Smeck sound like
Alvino Rey by comparison,,,nevertheless may he and his "vibrato rest in peace" amen.

Thank You as well Walt for the information.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 04 January 2004 at 03:06 PM.]

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

In the words of U. Utah Phillips "Why, that's moose turd pie! Good though!!!

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Howard
Can you see if you have Jenks Carmens guitar somewhere in your pile.? If not you must have the feathers

not meant as disrepectful. But..maybe a few feathers will tickle all of us.

May he rest in peace and I'm sure he is. Its
those who are buried near Tex that will have a difficult time resting in peace if they can hear that "Wild Vibrato"

No Disrespect intended. He was a character.
But a good soul at that.

Bob Stone · From: Gainesville, FL, USA

Hi,

I have the Revenant CD. It's a hoot.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

"He sold records".....I'm sure he did because of his crazy style.

When I was getting involved with blugrass dobro,(1970s) I was also becoming enamored with Hawaiian style. I purchased a compilation record of Hawaiian artists and "Hillbilly Hula" by Carman was included. It was such a weird wacky thing that I kept playing it over and over, I guess for the novelty of it. I then searched and found an entire album of his "gems."

Yep, he sold records.......

[This message was edited by HowardR on 05 January 2004 at 10:46 AM.]

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

How do you fellas think this guy stacks up with Cousin Jody? That was one goofy steel player.

Ian McLatchie · From: Sechelt, British Columbia

"A voice that only a mother could love went well with his jumpy style."

" . . .couldn't play 'Come to Jesus' in whole notes, and had a voice most reminiscent of the dying moans of some wounded forest animal... good, though."

"May he rest in peace and I'm sure he is. Its those who are buried near Tex that will have a difficult time resting in peace if they can hear that 'Wild Vibrato.'"

I trust that anyone who's not familiar with Carman has had their curiosity whetted by these comments, yes? Bear Family may sell more copies of the album this month than they have in the past ten years.

Jody, can you email me? I have something I wanted to pass on to you.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Billy, I'd give the nod to Cousin Jody, because he intended his music to be the ridiculous.

In the case of Tex Carman, I believe his lack of musical skills were not self-acknowledged, shall we say?

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

So in other words,,he sold records Howard?

I guess he must have sold records.

How Many?

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Jody, I wish I could have taken a few lessons from him. It would have improved my playing

.....I wonder how he tuned up? JI?

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Jody, since you, me, & Ed have some of his records, does that constitute a quorum for a fan club?

With regard to sound samples....someone....I can record one of Tex's gems onto a cd. Then what? I'd love to post his stuff...it would clear out this thread faster than Exlax with a burrito chaser.....

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Howard
Send them on. I would like to get a load off my mind.

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Are any of you aware that his sister was a famous movie actress in the 1940's..she used
his last name as her first name and she too liked feathers,,I guess they tickled each other for laughs her name ?? Carmen Miranda

Rememeber her?? if you do your as old as I am
She had feathers and bananas stuffed in her hat. I have never seen a hat like that since.

Alvin Blaine · From: Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA

I have a video of him on the "Ranch Party" and Tex Ritter introduces him as a "Cherokee Indian, called the Dixie Cowboy, from Oklahoma, named Tex, playin' a Hawaiian guitar".
I'll have to go watch the video, but if I remember he was playing with a flat pick and pretty much stayed in between the frets with no recognizable melody.

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