1-Did Billy own the Fargo records that he did so many early recordings on?
I suspect I asked Billy about this, but I either forgot or never committed it to memory.
Quote: In his final years, he was involved with a singer/song plugger guy that Billy fed newly written songs to, in hopes they might get some publicity and get recorded legitimately.
2-Do you know the guy’s name? I’m guessing Don Albright and/or Kevin Lord?
If memory serves, the guy had a very common first name beginning with R--quite possibly Ray? Don Albright and Kevin Lord don't ring bells, but Billy may well have been involved with multiple people. Sometime after speaking with Billy, I got wind of "Ray's" work and apparent mode of operation and was appalled that Billy was reduced to dealing with him.
3-Do you have recording dates (even approx) on your discography? I don’t have any except the Big D.
Here's a few approximations:
4 Star 1282: late 1948 or early 49
King 609, very late 46/very early 47
Fargo 1119, early to mid 48
Gilt-Edge 5018, late 1950
Gilt-Edge 5027, early 1951
I don't have it in front of me, but the Space 78 has all the visual earmarks of an early 50s release.
I completely forgot about Jerry Jericho on Daffan, so I am obviously losing my marbles.
Frankly surprised to see that price on the Big D single. It is very hard to find, but it isn't a rocker and isn't even one of his best recordings (in my opinion). I don't think it has been reissued, so I would guess some of the bidders have not heard it or are interested only because it is Billy's only 45 rpm release. I've seen only 3 or 4 copies offered in 30 years.
[This message was edited by Mitch Drumm on 19 April 2006 at 06:15 PM.]
