The happy man from Happy, Texas Buddy Knox was another singer/songwriter whose future changed when he saw Elvis Presley’s first 1955 performance in West Texas. While attending West Texas State College, majoring in psychology and business administration, Buddy put together a band with two fellow … [Read more...]
Gene Vincent
Rock and Roll Rebel Biography (1935 – 1971) Gene Vincent, Vincent Eugene Craddock in real life, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly. … [Read more...]
The Johnny Horton Biography
Biography (April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) Johnny Horton moved to Shreveport to become a regular on the Louisiana Hayride in 1952. There he met Tillman Franks, the quintessential talent booker/manager/promoter and upright bass player. The two became fast friends, and Franks became Horton’s … [Read more...]
The Bob Luman Biography
Biography (15 April 1937 – 27 December 1978) Before 1955 the only hits Bob Luman had were on the baseball field. In fact, he was a star baseball player for his high school team in Kilgore, Texas. He also fronted a band that performed the country hits of the day, including those of his idol, Lefty … [Read more...]
The Burnette Brothers Biography
Boxing Brothers Born in Memphis, the boxing brothers, Johnny and Dorsey Burnette, along with lead guitarist Paul Burlison, were “tearin’ it up” in the honk tonks of west Tennessee in 1953 with their hyped-up, no-holds-barred versions of traditional country and R&B songs. Paul Burlison met … [Read more...]
The Charlie Rich Biography
“How a Blues Man Scores” While Jerry Lee Lewis vented his pent-up frustrations on the piano, Charlie Rich caressed the keys with the smooth tones of jazz and R&B. Following his stint in the Air Force, Rich returned to Arkansas and tried to make a living as a farmer, while moonlighting as a … [Read more...]