HISTORIANS Come Forth, please!

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Johnny Siebert played with whom?
Don Davis played with whom?

Uglysisters CD Store in England is hyping an album over eBay featuring steel guitarist "JIMMIE TARLTON".

Another eBay item features Vocalist Jimmie Davis' steel guitarist "Buster Jones".

Another eBay item is a great photo of
Steel Guitar Country Western Hoedown #1576140463.......from the Pee Week King's Show-1967. The steelman's photo shows a good looking guy playing a pedal steel with the name Jim Vest on it.

WHO might these guys be? Never heard of them before, here in the far out west.

[This message was edited by Ray Montee on 03 November 2002 at 10:12 AM.]

Jim Vogan · From: Ohio City, Ohio 45874

Johnny Siebert played for Carl Smith and I think I remember Don Davis playing on the Robin Hood Flour Show with George Morgan.

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Hey Jim! Many THANKS! I'd allowed myself to get confused over the years. I too, had heard Don Davis on the Robinhood FLower Hour with George Morgan and yet for some reason, I had my mind made up that he had been Carl Smith's boy. Appreciate you helping me over the temporary hurdle.

billchav · From: Houston, TX USA

Don also played for E.T. on some of the Opry shows and road work in the 40's www.billchaviers.com

Lynn Owsley · From: Hendersonville, Tennessee

I will try to clear up the other two...
Jimmy Davis...2 times gov. of Louisiana,
writer of such hits as You Are My Sunshine,
Nobodys Darling But Mine and many more...
Pee Wee had Jim Vest of Louisville,Ky with him in the late 50s and early 60s til Jim moved to Nashville to make some history here...for many years he had the Nashville Cats playing venues in Printers Alley in Downtown Nashville...you have heard him on countless recordings,seen him in many movies, He also has became known for his pedal steel sounds with Vern Gosdin (Lowering the 10th string on E9th for one of Vern's signature sounds)
Jim Vest was also the one who first suggested a Hall of Fame for the Steel Guitar and its players and with the help of Dewitt Scott (Scotty)of St Louis, Mo and many others this has become a reality (that probally will never happen for other instruments)
And finally Don Davis was a session,road and staff player in Nashville in late 40s and 50s he drifted into other aspects of Country music but not before recording with many of the greats including Hank Williams,Carl Smith,and many others...He served in the US Army with the likes of Gorden Terry,Faron Young,Billy Robinson, in Special Services these guys didn't need no stinkin guns !(according to the late Dale Potter)
It is good that you asked, Billy Robinson, also a forum member, is a wealth of information,and Don Davis now days of Gulf Shores, Ala and a very few others have this info (Mine is 2nd hand)
Jimmy Tarleton and Buster Jones I cant help with but I will be waiting for someone to fill me in on these two...How bout it Billy?

[This message was edited by Lynn Owsley on 04 November 2002 at 03:21 AM.]

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Lynn,

An added note about Don Davis: Don preceeded me with Pee Wee King. He left Nashville while they were on the Opry and went to the West Coast, reportedly to work with Tex Williams. I replaced hin in late 1946 and was with Pee Wee for over 8 years. He had been Pee Wee's steel man for some time before that -- I don't know how long. We (Pee Wee's Golden West Cowboys) moved to Louisville in about 1947, and I saw Don several times when we would return to the Opry on occasion over the next couple of years. Don went into the Army after that and was in Special Services travelling around to entertain troops at various bases in the U.S. I think the gigs you refer to were after he was discharged.

[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 04 November 2002 at 03:48 AM.]

nick allen · From: France

Jimmie Tarleton played acoustic lap style, back in the 20s or 30s - I believe mainly in a duo, Darby & Tarleton. The Frank Hutchinson (another lap steeler) / Carter Family (original) era.
Before your time Ray

Nick

Reggie Duncan · From: Mississippi

I believe Buster Jones was a black man that played on Jimmie's early recordings. I had the great priviledge of being friends with Mr. Jimmie, and was allowed to play on a couple of his later recordings.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Thanks NICK.....All this time Jody Carver had me convinced I was older than dirt!

Appreciate all the info'. Many thanks....

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Jim Vest left Pee Wee for David Houston in 1969 I believe.

Butch Foster · From: Pisgah, Alabama, USA

Roy, was Don or Roy Wiggins with PeeWee when he came to the Opry? Was that the first electric steel to be featured on the show? Jason,did Jim Vest tour with Vern, or just do recording on his sessions?

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Butch:

I don't know who was with Pee Wee when he first came to the Opry, but I DO know that Clel Summey (sp?) was Pee Wee's first steel player. Clel did "funny hat" comedy and, to the best of my recollection, played a 6-string electric steel hung from his neck by a strap. Don followed Clel and I followed Don. When I joined Pee Wee in 1946, Roy Wiggins was with Eddie Arnold, and had been for a few years. Eddie was Pee Wee's main vocalist for awhile before I joined Pee Wee, and I don't know whether Roy Wiggins was with them at that time or not. I knew Roy and Eddie pretty well in those days, and I never heard either of them mention that Roy came to the Opry before or after Eddie left Pee Wee.

With regard to the first electric steel on the Opry, I can't answer that either -- but I suspect that Clel was among the first.

I understand that Don is living down on the Alabama coast. Since he preceeded me on the Opry, he could probably give more authoritative answers to these questions. While my tenure on the Opry was about 56 years ago, by the time I got there Chet Atkins, Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Jabo Arrington, and other GREATS had already gotten there ahead of me.

Regards,

Roy

R. L. Jones · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

Jimmie Davis, two time Governor of La., My great granpappy Wickes was older brother to Jimmie Davis`s Mother ,didnt make us kinfolk, .I loved ole Jimmie, loved his singing,.He claimed authorship to you are my sunshine for many years. He was asked many times if he really ded write it. The last few yrs. seems he co-wrote it . Horace Logan and Paul Rice,say that Paul wrote it and sold it to Jimmie for $17, . Well I guess that made him co-writer

R. L.

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

This is a "GREAT" thread. This is what I like to see on the Forum,,not someone taking
shots at each other.

Ray Montee always starts trouble,,oops,,I mean nice threads...too bad he' so dammed old.

This is another good one by Ray and you guys
did this thread proud. Let the others start
the war,,lets do things like this again.

Now that we have Roy with us,,we have an Army. Im 4F by comparison to Roy and come to think of it,,Ray is smarter than I will ever be,,,but then again,he's much older.

Pat Coyne · From: Gallatin

great thread! I just got turned onto Don Davis this last year through Hank Garland...they did some "knockout" instrumentals in the 40's and 50's, kind of a rival to Bryant/West. Don played so agressivly, very much an "out front" player- if you can ever find some of his playing on record it is a real treat. I believe at one time he was married to Anita Carter? And had some kind of ownership of a steel guitar company? From what I have heard he stopped playing and hosted a TV variety show in the Mobile area for a few years. If any one would know how to find Don, It would be my pleasure to pass that info on to Hank.

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"basso profundo"

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

[This is a "GREAT" thread. This is what I like to see on the Forum,,not someone taking
shots at each other.]
Jody,...You are so right (as usual),I could'nt agree more.You guys keep it up and you'll get to where I start remembering stuff.

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Bill Ford

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

Just on Jimmie Davis and You Are My Sunshine: Wasn't it the Governor in Oh Brother who sang that song with the Soggy Bottom Boys?
Regards Brendan

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Davis really pumped his musical appeal in his successful race to be Governor.
In a way the Coen Bros mocked this when they made 'O Brother,' yet I feel it was more a case of them reflecting the trends of the time, as the process hasn't particualry changed, just the methods and style of appoach.

Jimmie Davis wrote some cute little songs, but he also authored and recorded some of the bawdiest Jimmie Rogers styled blues ever to meet wax, a guy once played me a heap of them he'd gotten on a compilaton. It was a while back, but they were cut in the 1930s and covered such taboo subjects as they joys of interacial lurve (I kid you not), lovemaking and general bawdiness.

By the time he ran for the Governership he had changed style somewhat and his opponents unsuccessfully tried to destroy his chances by bringing up his past recordings.

Actually, here's a snippett from the All Music Guide online:
[quote]Born James Houston Davis in Beech Springs, LA, on September 11, 1899 (he would later report it as 1902, then switch back to the earlier date), Jimmie Davis was the son of a poor sharecropper, but nevertheless he earned a Bachelors Degree from Louisiana College Pineville and in 1927 a Masters Degree from Louisiana State University. The following year, he began teaching history at a small college in Shreveport. Davis began singing occasionally for a local radio station and first recorded in 1928. One year later, he signed with Victor and began recording; these initial releases reflect a style devoted to Jimmie Rodgers, emphasizing Rodgers' penchant for double entendre. Over five years he recorded almost 70 sides for the label, and though none of the singles sold well, Davis was probably less to blame than the Depression-era economy. He moved to Decca in 1934 and gained his first major hit, "Nobody's Darlin' but Mine." Another hit, "It Makes No Difference Now," was bought from Floyd Tillman, but Davis' biggest success came from his own copyright, "You Are My Sunshine." First recorded by Davis in 1940, the song quickly entered the first rank of popular and country music standards, covered many times over by artists from both genres.

Meanwhile, Davis had quit teaching and accepted a position at the Criminal Court in Shreveport. He became the chief of police in 1938, and moved to state government four years later by being elected Louisiana Public Service Commissioner. [quote/]

R. L. Jones · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

As a long time fan of Jimmie Davis, I know you are correct. He startsd off with some bad stuff.

When Jimmie started running for governor his opponetts brought out these sordid old recdrdings

Iwent to visit an uncle, while there I wentto a local music store and bought two Jimmie Davis records. This uncle said " you cant play that stuff in this house". I said Unk these are "Gospel records" . You still cant play them here.

Not to be different, but ,Ole Clel ,or cousin jody, always played a Dobro ,hung from a strap around his neck. I dont recall ever seeing him play an electric steel, or lap steel as it is called.

R. L.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

R.L.; Beg to differ, but; Cousin Jody played a 6 str. Gibson Electric Hawaiian Steel Guitar on a strap around his neck, similar to a Model BR-9! "Big John"

R. L. Jones · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

BRENDAN MITCHELL from Melbourne Aus.
That O Brother movie kinda poked fun at a lot of situations, Texas had a governor W. Leo Daniels . The movie was in Mississippi I believe. The gov. in the movie was O`Daniels .The scene of the crossroads, was mocking another movie about some great Black Musicisn. Of course Baby Face Nelson was portrayed in theretoo. I still watch that ,I have a yape of it

R. L. Jones

Lynn Owsley · From: Hendersonville, Tennessee

It should be added here that Kemo Head was playing steel guitar with Pee Wee King in parts of 1942 and 1943 if not all...
Kemo met Ernest Tubb when Ernest was a guest on Pee Wee's show in Birmingham, Ala.
ET's singing so impressed them that they brought him to the attention of the Oprys Mgt. This was the route to the Opry for ET as a guest of Pee Wee King. Then writting and recording Walking the Floor Over You, later in 1943 sealed his fate.

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Gov Jimmy Davis did most all of his recording
here in New York. He had Vaughn Horton playing steel on "all" his recordings. Vaughn
was the writer of Mocking Bird Hill..My Best
To You.. and Cho Cho Cha Boogie among many others. Teardrops In My Heart,Toolie Oolie Doolie" a monstor hit back in the 40's
This may be "off topic" but I thought you would like to know a little more about Jimmy Davis,,and yes,,,I knew him.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 03 March 2003 at 09:09 AM.]

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Lynn:
I must admit that I had completely forgotten about Kemo Head. I had heard of him, although as best I can recollect I never met him. I recall now that he fit into the picture somewhere prior to my tenure with Pee Wee which began in 1946, but I never knew exactly where. I have a copy of Pee Wee's autobiography "Hell Bent for Music" on my bookshelf. Pee Wee mentions Clel Summey, Don Davis and me -- but I don't recall whether he mentions Kemo. As soon as I get an opportunity I will check the book.

Gere Mullican · From: LaVergne, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Did Dickie Harris coome before or after Kemo Head? I forgot which. And I think when I met Kemo he was selling insurance. But I could be mistaken. Anyhow this old stuff sure makes the memories come back. Thanks guys.
Gere

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