Story of Pike Records

Pike Records was founded in 1959 by Roy Flowers in Bakersfield, California. Both Roy and his wife Vancie originally hailed from Oklahoma but moved to California in the 1950s. At the same moment, Flowers also set up his publishing firm Flowers Music Publ. The first record of the label shows Arvin, California, as location but all subsequent singles show Bakersfield.

The label's initial release was by Flower's wife Vancie, who was a talented singer in her own right. Her musical repertoire included Rockabilly, Blues, Country, and even Pop hits of the day. By 1961 she was under contract with the publishing company American Music, Inc. from Hollywood (Jerry Capehart and Terry Fell worked for this company, too) while recording for Pike. Flowers recorded for example a cover of the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" (written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon) and an answer song to Dave Dudley's 1963 hit "Six Days on the Road" entitled "Six Days a Waiting." She also had a single out on Crest.

Another artist that had a couple of singles out on Pike was Leon Hart. Hart went on to play an important role because he purchased 50 percent of the company soon after starting to record for Pike. Flowers and co-owner Hart prolifically recorded artists during the next two years. One of these local artists was Arizona born Dickie Garland, who had written some songs and contacted Hart. Hart in turn set up his own management firm and got Garland on Pike Records. The Rialtos, a local group from the Californian Central Valley area, were chosen to be the backing band on Garland's first session, which produced "Lonely Hitchiker" b/w "Please Don't Pretend." He had another release out in 1961 with "Shake Bop."

The Rialtos, formed in 1961 by singer Bobby Hollister, had two records on Pike in their own right. The first one was released in 1961 and comprised two Surf instrumentals. The second one was a Rock'n'Roll/teen ballad cut with Hollister on vocals. The Rialtos also did a few gigs in the early 1960s with Della Quinn and her brother, known as the Quinn Teens. They had a release on Pike under their own name (Pike #5922 "Dickie" / "I Hurt So"). Another of the Quinn siblings later married Rialtos lead guitarist Freddie Thomas' sister.

Classic Rockabilly Al Hendrix artist also recorded his "Monkey Bite" for Pike in 1962. Other artists on the label were Ronnie Sessions, Bill Bryan, J.R. LaRue and many others. Tommy Dee waxed a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Vallens and J.P. Richardson together with Bonnie Owens in 1963 for Pike entitled "Missing on a Mountain." The label was active until the mid-1960s but Flowers and Hart relaunched it in 1978 for some time. This incarnation lasted at least until 1984. By that point, the company was located at 420 Oswell Street in Bakersfield. Vancie Flowers died in 2008.

Discography
5901: Vancie Flowers - What a Man / I Threw My Orchid in the Water (1959)
5902: Dickie Garland - Lonely Hitchiker / Please Don't Pretend
5903: Kuzzin Herb Henson and the Trading Post Band - Big A Special / I Lost You (1961)
5904: Ronnie Sessions - Bunny Rabbit / ? (1961)
5905: Dickie Garland / Music by the Rialtos - Shake Bop / You're Gonna Be Sorry (1961)
5906: Tommy Dee - Halfway to Hell / Loving You (on Someone Else's Time) (1961)
5907: The Rialtos featuring Freddie Thomas - Like Thunder / Breakin' (1961)
5908: Ronnie Sessions - Keep a Knockin' / ? (1961)
5909: Tommy Dee - Look Homeward Dear Angel / A Little Dog Cried
5910: Bobby Hollister with the Rialtos - Love's Gamble / Ring Around Your Neck (1961)
5911: Leon Hart - Long White Line / New Home Sweet Home (1962)
5912: Al Hendrix - Monkey Bite / For Sentimental Reasons (1962)
5913: Bill Bryan and the Goldtones - Rocking Chair / Wasted Words (1962)
5914:
5915: J.R. LaRue & the Goldtones - Three Hearts / I Know Better
5916: Vancie Flowers - Orchid / What a Man (1963)
5917: Tommy Dee - Look Homeward Dear Angel / Tommy Dee with Bonnie Owens - Missing on a Mountain (1963)
5918: Highlanders - Hot Hot Sun / Penny-Penny (1963)
5919: Tommy Lewis - Go Where You Wanna Go / Dissatisfied
5920: Vancie Flowers - I've Just Got to Tell You / Foot Prints in the Dust
5921: Vancie Flowers - Thick and Thin / Six Days a Waiting (1963)
59021: Vancie Flowers - I'm So Lonely / Birds and Bees
5922: Quinn Teens - Dickie / I Hurt So
59022: Vancie Flowers - Can't Buy Me Love / Private Part
5923:
5924:
5925:
5926:
2927:
5928:
5929: Flowers & Hart - Remembering Patsy / ? (1963)
59-17: Bill Fields - Midnight Wine / Marsha
No#: James Gilreath - Lollipops, Lace, and Lipstick / ?

598301: Kenny Walters and the Moosehead Band - Too Much Tequila / Grapevine Going Down (1983)
598302: Mark Meadows and the Blue Sky Band - Time is Killing Me / Is She Gone? (1983)
598401: Mark Meadows and the Blue Sky Band - Don't Turn Me Away / Caught Up in Your Lovin' (1984)

Thanks to: Rocky Lane, DrunkenHobo, Steve Hathaway, Anonymous, the Quinn Teens