That Million Dollar Memphis Sound

"That Million Dollar Memphis Sound"

The Story of Eddie Bond's Millionaire and Western Lounge labels

Memphis music personality Eddie Bond had many occupations at the same time. A singer, club owner, radio DJ, TV personality, producer, promoter, and label owner are likely only a couple of functions. He set up his first label Stomper Time Records in 1958, named after his background band, the Stompers. He went on to cut countless 45s for small local labels, including his own Stomper Time, Millionaire and Western Lounge imprints.

Eddie Bond at KWEM

After Stomper Time folded in ca. 1963, he kept recording for small labels and major companies as well. Stomper Time was replaced with by his Diplomat label in 1963, which was named after his night venue, the Diplomat Club in Memphis. Bond filed a petition in bankruptcy in early 1965. He had led a night club in partnership with Baxter Turnage (maybe the Diplomat) but the club proved to be unsuccessful and after Turnage's sudden death in 1964, Bond was left alone with the debths.

However, Bond was provided with enough engagements, recording releases and his steady job as the program director of KWAM. He released "Cold Dark Waters" on Buford Cody's Memphis label in 1965, which turned out to be a moderate seller for Bond. Soon, things were "looking rosier" for him, as Billboard reported in February 1965, and around the same time, he created the Millionaire Music Corporation, which included a publishing firm and two labels, Millionaire and Western Lounge (named after Bond's new venue, also shortened to Western at times). The company's name and its slogan "That Million Dollar Memphis Sound," which was printed on both labels variously, were a bit of ironic nature, regarding Bond's financial problems. The Diplomat label was discontinued at the same time.

In November 1965, Billboard reported that the Western Lounge on 1298 Madison Avenue, Memphis, had set up a label of the same name. Bond's involvement in this label and the venue was not mentioned probably due to his bankruptcy. The first two discs on the label were by Dean Cross, a local singer who regularly appeared at the Western Lounge. On February 13, 1966, Cross took part in a charity concert at the Lounge at also included Ace Cannon, Ray Scott, Jerry Fox, and Bond.

Bond released several 45s on Millionaire as well as an album "Favorite Country Hits from Down Home" (Millionaire #MLP1618) in 1967. Both Millionaire and Western Lounge became dormant after 1967. Bond recorded one disc for Stan Kesler's XL label in 1968 and that same year, his Tab recording label came into existence, for which he recorded steadily during the early 1970s.

Discography

Millionaire

Millionaire 45-101
Leftus & Rightous
Wobbling Stone () / ?
SK4M-0887 / SK4M-0888 (RCA)
1965

Millionaire MC-108

Eddie Bond and the Stompers

I Just Found Out (B. Cody-C. Leatherwood) / Back to Viet Nam (Jim & Gary Climer)

S4KM-0934 / S4KM-0935 (RCA)

1965

Millionaire MC-109/10 (698B-3587)

Chuck Comer - Jukebox Serenade (n.c.) / Doug Stone - She Moved to Kansas City (n.c.) / Buck Turner - What Will I Do (n.c.)

S4KB-3588 (RCA)

Eddie Bond - Hey Joe (n.c.) / Jim Wells - Home in Shelby County (n.c.) / Jim Morgan - What's Gonna Happen to Me (n.c.)

S4KB-3588 (RCA)

1965

Millionaire MC-111/2

Melvin Endsley

To Have My Baby Back () / Keep the Water Running (Melvin Endsley)

SK4M-3643 / SK4M-3644 (RCA)
1965

Millionaire 660S-0885

Sylvia Mobley

Hearts Have a Language (G. Williams) / In and Out of Love (Melvin Endsley)

SK4M-0885 / SK4M-0886 (RCA)

1965

Millionaire 45-120
Leon Starr
Honey Child (B. Huskey; J. Surber) / Have I Wasted My Time ()
T4KM-5282 / ? (RCA)
1966

 

Millionaire MM-124

Joyce Davis

Actions Speak Louder (Than Words) (Jeffrey Laman) / You Lied to Me (Jeffrey Laman)

T4KM-5285 / T4KM-5286 (RCA)

1966

Millionaire MM-126
Lloyd Arnold
Wake My Heart () / That's How I Wake Up (Lloyd Arnold)
T4KM-5279 / T4KM-5280 (RCA)
1966

Millionaire MM-128

Ed Veglio

I've Got to Tell Somebody (Ed Veglio, Wm. H. Talbert) / I Just Thought I'd Ask ()

TK4M-4066 / ? (RCA)

1966

Millionaire MC 444/5 (698B-9721)

Eddie Bond

Is My Ring on Your Finger (Wayne Walker) / The Little Black Book (Webb Pierce; Wayne Walker; Polly Harrison)

T4KM-9721 / T4KM-9722 (RCA)

1966 

Millionaire MC-446
Eddie Bond
Looks Like a Monkey () / Daddy's Drinkin' Up Our Future ()
112 / 113
1967


Western Lounge

Western Lounge 1298 [1]
Dean Gross
Hello Frisco, Goodbye Viet Nam (Gene Rowe) / The Stronger of the Two (Gene Rowe)
SO 2731 / SO 2732 (Plastic Products)
1965

Western Lounge 1298 [2]
David Dee
How to Throw Away a Memory (Candy Niel ) / I Know (Barbara George)
1298-1 / 1298-2

Western Lounge W-1300
Dean Cross
Look In My Boot (Curtis Marshall) / Six By Six By Three (Curtis Marshall)
TK4M-4030 /  TK4M-4031 (RCA)
1966 

Western Lounge W-1301/2
Tommy Tucker
Everybody's Darlin' Plus Mine (Robbins) / Sorry About That (Edna Lee)
TK4M-4547 / TK4M-4548 (RCA)
1966

Western W-111
The Fabulous Jack Fargo
Little Rosa (W. Pierce; R. Sovine) / I Just Dropped In to Say Goodybe (J. Pierce)
P-14 / P-15
Note: This disc was also released in 1962 on Pen #111. 

Western Lounge WPR-311
Frankie Bonds
Ballad of H. H. McKnight (Tommy Tompsen) / Go on Break My Heart (Frankie Bond)
A / B 

Thanks to Apes Ville