San Records from Bon Aqua

Bon Aqua and Good Music from Hickman County, Tennessee
The Story of the Rockin' Postmaster Harold Tidwell

Today, we spotlight the small San record label from Bon Aqua, Hickman County, located in central Tennessee southwest of Nashville. Its creator was Harold Tidwell, a longtime Bon Aqua resident and part-time country music singer. Tidwell is better known to rockabilly fans under his pseudonym "Don Wade", under which he cut two records, which are loved by many rockabilly music enthusiasts.

He was born Harold Neatam Tidwell on November 10, 1930, in Bon Aqua, a small place in rural Tennessee. The place was named after a nearby mineral spring, which was known for its water of good quality. The Tidwell family were longtime residents of Bon Aqua and members of them can still be traced down there. Tidwell's father Henry Neatam (1904-1993) was a farmer, bus driver, and employee of a furniture manufacturing plant, who married Asaline Lampley (1909-1987) in 1925. The couple gave birth to a child in 1925, which tragically died as an infant. In 1930, their son Harold Neatam followed.

Tidwell served his country from 1951 to 1953 in the armed troops, spending time in Korea. By 1958, he had become the local postmaster of Bon Aqua, which had a post office since 1842. He had also taken up music, playing the guitar and sing, and likely performed locally. Tidwell, who was a bachelor all his life, was equally adept at electronics and built himself a recording studio in his small home in Bon Aqua.

Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1953

We first find mention of Tidwell's music activities in 1953. Back then, he was problably trying his hand at songwriting for the first time. The catalog of copyright entries of that year lists a song called "You Said Goodby" in its section of unpublished music by Harold Neatom Tidwell and a certain Judith Evelyn Tidwell, whoever that may be. No hint can be found to her identity.

Harold Tidwell
(from the collection of Volker Houghton)

By early 1958, Tidwell had decided to try his hand at recording and created San Records, which found first mention in Billboard on March 24, 1958. However, the first known release of San came not into existence until late 1958 or early 1959. Tidwell had assembled a bunch of musicians and cut two magnificient pieces of local rock'n'roll, "Gone, Gone, Gone" and "Bust Head Gin." It is not known where they recorded them but Tidwell's studio could be a good bet. The songs appeared under the name of "Don Wade" on San #206, so judging from the release number, there is a chance that there existed even earlier releases. Underground favorites today, the songs nothing back then. However, it can be assumed they saw next to no exposure as San was a local vanity imprint.

Tidwell had two more recordings in the can, "Oh Love" and a cover of Carl Perkins' 1957 Sun recording "Forever Yours", which Tidwell put out on San #207 in the spring of 1959. Billboard amd Cash Box both took notice of the disc in April that year and appreciated it in its reviews. Though, the record only saw little attention like its precursor. Tidwell continued to record some local talent, including Ronnie Allen, who cut an equally good and cherished rock'n'roller entitled "Juvenile Deliquent" (among other songs).

Billboard C&W review April 13, 1959

Billboard May 4, 1959

Cash Box C&W review April 11, 1959

Tragedy struck on January 14, 1963, when Tidwell was robbed and shot three times at his home by a stranger, who pretended to need help with his car. He lay seven hours in his bathroom, when his father found him. Tidwell was rushed into Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Although his condition was critical, he survived.

Being physically disabled, he ran a small electronics shop to earn a living and even did some recording on a singer named David Barnes. He released the results on San Records around 1967. Harold Tidwell died August 27, 1977, at age 46 years and was buried at Five Points Church of Christ Cemetery in Bon Aqua.

For decades, virtually nothing was known about the name Don Wade. In 1980, they saw release again on Dutchman Cees Klop's White Label LP "Tennessee Rockin'", which also contained various other San recordings by Ronnie Allen and David Barnes. Klop must have discovered the little San label shortly before during one of his many trips to the United States but failed to unearth substantial info on Tidwell, although he found Tidwell's parents.

That same year, Big H Records' "Vintage Rock'n'Roll Collector's Items, Volume 8" compilation included "Gone, Gone, Gone" and "Bust Head Gin". It was not until 2020 when record collector and researcher Volker Houghton unearthed parts of Tidwell's story and made it public though his YouTube column "Stranger Than Fiction". However, other researchers have previously tried their luck to finding Tidwell to no avail, like Barbara Botwinick: "A few years ago I tracked down someome from his [e.g. Tidwell's] home town. She couldn't believe anyone from Bon Aqua would have any talent at all! I can't remember her name - she even sent me a picture of the Tidwell family house, which had been in disrepair by then. She was going to look into finding out some info for me but I never heard back from her. [...]"

Volker Houghton is still in the progress of finding more material on Tidwell, so we stay tuned.

San Records Discography

San 206: Don Wade - Gone, Gone, Gone / Bust Head Gin (1958-1959)
San 207: Don Wade - Oh Love / Forever Yours (1959)
San 208: Ronnie Allen - Juvenile Delinquent / River of Love (1959)
San 209: Ronnie Allen - High School Love / This Love of Ours (1960)
San 300: Ronnie Allen - Gonna Get My Baby / The Best of Me (1961)
San 301:
San 302: David Barnes and the Hearts - Loving On My Mind / I Can't Stand It Anymore (1967)

Sources
• Volker Houghton: Stanger Than Fiction No. 1 - The Don Wade Story
• Find a Grave
• Rockin' Country Style

 

Recommended reading
• Small Independent Rockin' 45rpm Labels