I bought this disc several years ago and always intended to post it here but never really followed through with it. Until now, when I found time to sit down and do a little research on J. Allen Gann and his career in music. What I found is not the ultimate biography of Gann but at least I found some hints and snippets that I can puzzle together for this post.
Who was J. Allen Gann? I cannot answer this question satisfactorily. There was a J. Allen Gann (born August 26, 1930 - deceased December 9, 1994), who is buried at Holly Springs Cemetery in Harrisburg, Arkansas, which could be the person we are looking for. However, I haven't found a final proof for this theory.
For his career in country music, Gann was obviously drawn to the city of Memphis. The first known release by Gann appeared in the late 1960s on one of Style Wooten's custom labels, Hazel Records (although listing the Memphis suburb Southaven, Mississippi, as location). It comprised "Walking Tall in Heaven" and "A Whole Lot of Whys" on Hazel #1226. Gann stayed in Memphis and followed up with a single on Tom Phillips' Philwood label. Tom Phillips, one of Sam Phillips' brothers, also operated the Select-O-Hits record store on Chelsea Avenue in Memphis. Philwood released numerous discs by such Memphis acts as Charlie Feathers or the Bogard Brothers. Gann recorded two up-tempo country numbers, "I Want You" and "Takin' a Lot" (Philwood #238), which saw release in either late 1973 or early 1974.
 |
| Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1973 |
At one point, Gann made the move to Nashville, where he cut at least one more record ("Road to Nashville" b/w "Talk to Me Mama", World Productions #501). BMI has listed 18 songs by Gann (also as "Junior Allen Gann"), some of them were co-written with female songwriters (one being Shirley A. Gann, either a sister, daughter or his wife).
There is a video on YouTube that has some conversion of Gann family members but my attempt to contact them has failed so far. If anyone out there has more information on J. Allen Gann, feel free to pass it along.
Sources
- 45cat entry
- BMI search
- Find a Grave entry
2 comments:
Hi, I am his daughter.
Hello Arlene, thank you very much for your comment. Would like to get in touch with you to get more information on your father's music career!
Post a Comment