Buddy Keele on Eugenia

Jack & Buddy Keele & Ozark Melody Boys - Memories of You (Eugenia 1002), 1964
This record comes from a batch of Style Wooten 45s that I bought recently from Bruce Watson, the man who opened his massive Designer Records collection for Big Legal Mess that in turn released an amazing 4CD reissue set of Memphis gospel recordings a couple of years back.

Finally, this gem and milestone of Style Wooten legacy is in my possession. This is not like Slim Dortch's "Big Boy Rock", the holy grail of Eugenia Records, but I won't lie when I tell you that Buddy Keele's Eugenia record was on my want list, too. The music is nothing special, though I like it very much. Both "Time After Time" and "Memories of You" are relaxed country music and the recordings have a rural charme, comparable to Buck Trail's "Young Sweethears". This is one of Style Wooten's earliest productions from 1964 and the music sounds quite out of date for mid 1960s Memphis but there were still artists that performed this kind of music and people who enjoyed listening to it.

I have compiled the info I found Jack & Buddy Keele in another post about them. Actually, "Mailing My Last Letter" from Slim Dortch's Eugenia record as well as his "A Long Time" and "Broad Tennessee" from Dortch's Lightning Ball single have that same rural sound and I wonder if the Ozark Melody Boys were backing him up on that number.

See also:
• The Ballad of Big Style Wooten
• Eugenia Records discography
• Buddy & Jack Keele on Eugenia

Good News

Good News
3109 Park Avenue

This was another label associated with Style Wooten, though it seems not to be fully controlled by him. The only known release has "Olive Branch Gospel Productions" printed on the label., which was one of Wooten's companies. Olive Branch is a city south of Memphis across the Mississippi state border.

45/7277: Jessie Clerk - Our Pastor / I Said Ode to Willie Joe (1977)

Hazel Records Discography

Hazel
P.O. Box 11522 East Memphis Station

I discovered Hazel Records much later than Wooten's other labels. It seems that this record label was not fully owned by Style Wooten as the J. Allen Gann release superficially had no connection to the Wooten company but was certainly on the same label (it has a Southaven, Mississippi, adress). Also, the publishing company on the Hazel releases was Abide Music, which is not known to have been a Wooten imprint.

45-1218: Bobby & Hazel - Little Tavern / Hazel Holloway - The Wife of a Wino
45-1219: The Joy of Memphis Quartet - I Know the Lord Laid His Hands on Me / I Feel Like Flying Away (1968)
45-1220: Jimmy McCarter - One Dozen Blue Roses / The Heart You Stole (1968)
45-1221: The Joy of Memphis Quartet - Oh Lord You Know / Tell Me What You Going to Do (1969)
45-1222: Lillian Minor - You Been a Long Time Gone / Bar Room Daddy
45-1223: Hazel Hollowell - I'll Make Believe / There Goes My World
45-1224: Bob Liles - Try Me / Don't Try to Explain
45-1225:
45-1226: J. Allen Gann - Walking Tall in Heaven / A Whole Lot of Whys (on My Mind)

Frank Gilreath on Torino

Frank Gilreath and the Southern Swingsters - Homesick for Home (Torino 45-1052, 1969)

There are a couple of Frank Gilreaths in the United States and a quick search did not turn up anything particular on this special Frank Gilreath here. Reading the name of his band, the Southern Swingsters, one may expect a western swing outfit, which it is not, of course. Both songs are straight mainstream country cuts.

Torino was one of the many custom labels operated by Style Wooten in Memphis.

Read more:
• Torino Records Discography
• The Ballad of Big Style Wooten

Herbert C. Woolfolk on Camaro

  Herbert C. Woolfolk and the Stargazers - I Wonder Why You Said Goodbye (Camaro 45-3431), 1971   Born on October 25, 1932, Herbert C. Woolfolk hailed from Nesbit, Mississippi, which is located just a few miles south of Memphis and the Tennessee-Mississippi state border. Woolfolk made a couple of unreleased rock'n'roll recordings, which were cut "in Herbert's garage in his lovely home just outside Memphis in the late 50's" according to Cees Klop on his 1986 "Memphis - Rock'n'Roll Capital of the World, Volume 3" White Label compilation. Klop also further explained that Woolfolk backed up Stax and Fernwood recording artists during this period.

In 1964, Woolfolk released "Strenght of Love" / "Diamond of My Hear" on Tateco Records (Tateco #45-446) out of Senatoba, Mississippi (south of Nesbit). He was accompanied by the Rocketts on this disc, which included Billy Yount, Billy Hardison, Herbert J.C. Hicks, Rufus Waldron and Willard Speers. Band member Billy Yount also had a brother Harold, with whom Woolfolk would perform occasionally.

It seems Woolfolk stayed true to his rock'n'roll sound, as he released another marvelous disc in 1971 on Style Wooten's Camaro label. These were recorded with the Stargazers, the band of Woolfolk's friend Ken Lynes. Woolfolk gave the old Ernest Tubb song "I Wonder Why You Said Goodbye" an overall new sound and rocked his way through it with nice guitar work, a billowing organ and a dynamic background chorus.

Woolfolk died on October 11, 2013. A great portion of his recordings were issued by Cees Klop in 1986 on the "Memphis - Rock'n'Roll Capital of the World, Volume 3" White Label compilation. 

Gene & Martha Burns on Camaro

  Gene and Martha Burns - You're Looking at Me (Camaro 45-3447), 1971
Following my latest post, here's another one from Style Wooten's Camaro imprint. I don't know very much about Gene and Martha Burns other than they had three releases in 1971 on Camaro and another on Ouachita Records.

The Ouachita record was a Rimrock custom pressing and featured their version of the old Gene Autry & Jimmy Long hit "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine." The label was based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, which is located south of Hot Sprints and likley took its name from the Lake Ouachita or the Ouachita River in the Ouachita National Forest north of Hot Springs. Thus I believe they were a local act from Arkadelphia and possibly a brother-sister duet rather than a husband-wife duo, since it reads on their Ouachita release "arranged and produced by the Twins."

If anyone out there has more information on them to share, please feel free to contact me. I'm really interested in their story.

Gene & Martha Burns Discography

Camaro 45-3432: The Valley of Death / Old Time Faith (1971)
Camaro 45-3447: You're Looking at Me / Wonder Who (1971)
Camaro 45-3448: Shake You From My Mind / 100 Proof Tears (1971)
Ouachita OS-34: Silver Haired Daddy of Mine / ?

Read more

• Camaro Records discography

• Ouachita Records Discography

Wallace Gillispie on Camaro

Wallace Gillispie - Dim Lights Thick Some (Camaro 45-3491), 1973

Here's an odd one from Style Wooten's Camaro label in Memphis. Being a custom pressing company, amateur singers were no rarity on Wooten's labels. Gillispie recorded this gem in 1973. For the flip side, he used all of his songwriting talent to come up with "The Son of a Farmer," which was pretty much a reworking of "Life to Go." To be sure to escape any copyright infringements, Wooten didn't put up the composers of "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke," which were of course Joe Maphis and his wife Rose Lee. Their original version became a hit in 1953 on the OKeh label.

Read more:

• Camaro Records Discography

Clyde Nelson & Ronnie on Tri-State

Clyde Nelson and Ronnie - Stairway to the Top (Tri-State 45-1923), 1968

Please excuse my reckless verdict here but the singer on this one, whether it's Clyde Nelson or Ronnie, didn't chose the right day to record. Not a good performance at all. I can't find no info on the artists but Tri-State was operated by Style Wooten. Click here for a discography of Tri-State.

Designer Records Discography (Part II)

Designer
3373 Park Avenue
3109 Park Avenue

This is part two of the extensive Designer Records discography. The last known releases are from 1977. See also Part I for earlier releases on Designer.

45-7038:
45-7039:
45-7040: Rev. Houston Potts, Jr. - Pray for Peace / Light to All the World (1973)
45-7041: Dorthey Lowery Middlebrook and Sons - Wonderful / Do You Know Him (1973)
45-7042:
45-7043: Alabama Sons of Joy - Jesus Will Fix It Alright / Four Walls of My Room (1973)
45-7044:
45-7045:
45-7046:
45-7045: Sensational Evening Stars - Guiding Light / Tell It Like It Is (1973)
45-7046: The Golden Five of Sumter S. C. - Don't Let It Be to Late / Jesus Is a Rock in the Weary Land (1973)
45-7047: Pearlie Mae Hudson - I Give Up Everything to Follow Him / There Is a Crown of Life (1973)
45-7048: Eddie Clark and the Peace Makers - That's What It's All About / I Have Spring in My Soul (1973)
45-7049: The Wandering Five - How Good God Has Been / Walk with Me / I'll Fly Away / I Thank the Lord Each Day I Live (1973)
45-7050:
PAG 7051: Reliable True Sons of Chicago Illinois - As Long As I Got Jesus / Right Time (1973)
PAG 7052:
PAG 7053: Original Sons of Joy of East St. Louis Illinois - Jesus Is My Friend / I Must Tell Jesus (1973)
PAG 7054:
PAG 7055:
PAG 7056:
PAG 7057: The Mighty Trumpets of Joy of Largo, Florida - We Need Jesus Now / This Little Light of Mine (1973)  
PAG 7058:
PAG 7059:
PAG 7060: The Sacred Hearts - Let Jesus Fix It for You / May the Work I Done Speak for Me (1973)
PAG 7061:
PAG 7062:
PAG 7063:
PAG 7064:
PAG 7065: The Spirit of West Point - Jesus Never Fails Me / I Won't Be Back (1973)
PAG 7066:
PAG 7067: Brother Jesse Jackson and the Mighty Wings Over Zion Singers - Sinner Come to Jesus / Can't Nobody Take You There (1973)
PAG 7068: Major-Airs of Springfield, Ohio - Farther Along / What a Friend We Have in Jesus (1973)
PAG 7069:
PAG 7070:
PAG 7071:
PAG 7072:
PAG 7073:
PAG 7074:
PAG 7075:
PAG 7076:
PAG 7077:
PAG 7078:
PAG 7079:
PAG 7080: Melody Kings of Greenwood Mississippi - I Don't Know What I Would Do Without the Lord / Will You Meet Me There (1973)
PAG 7081:
PAG 7082:
PAG 7083: The Original Holy Kings - Christ at the Wall / God's Love Is Higher (1973)
PAG 7084: Michael Garrett and the Original Gospel Two - I Feel Like Going On / That's What He Is to Me (1973)
PAG 7085:
PAG 7086:
PAG 7087:
PAG 7088:
PAG 7089: The Christian Wonders - I'll Fly Away / Over There (1973)
PAG 7090:
PAG 7091:
PAG 7092:
PAG 7093:
PAG 7094:
PAG 7095:
PAG 7096:
PAG 7097: Wandering Souls of Dayton Ohio - Truly Foundation / Lord, I Done What You Told Me to Do / Take a Look at Jesus / A True Story Oh, Mary (1973)
PAG 7098:
PAG 7099:
PAG 7100:
PAG 7101:
PAG 7102:
PAG 7103:
PAG 7104:
PAG 7105: Gospel Ovations from Greenwood Mississippi - Tell God About My Troubles / Hold On (1973)
PAG 7106: Spiritual Harmonizers of Rockford, Illinois - This Morning / Call Him Up (1973)
PAG 7107:
PAG 7108:
PAG 7109: The Sacred Heart - You Don't Know What the Lord Has Done for Me / Waiting for My Child to Come Home (1974)
PAG 7110:
PAG 7111:
PAG 7112:
PAG 7113: The Gospel Motivators - Down on My Knees / O'Lord We Come Now (1974)
PAG 7114:
PAG 7115: Rosie Tate - It Is No Secret / He Touched Me (1974)
PAG 7116: St. Paul Chapel Choir - Working in the Vineyard / When the Gate Swings Open (1974)
PAG 7117: James Foster - I Feel the Love of Jesus Down in My Heart / I'm Leaning on Jesus (1974)
PAG 7118:
PAG 7119:
PAG 7120:
PAG 7121: 
PAG 7122: 
PAG 7123: The Mountain Travelers - Steal Away to Jesus / Longing to Be (1974)
PAG 7124:
PAG 7125:
PAG 7126: The Morning Doves - Pray On / Lord Try Me (1974)
PAG 7127:
PAG 7128:
PAG 7129:
PAG 7130:
PAG 7131: The Mighty Golden Aires of Ridgeland S. C. - I'm Gonna Wait on the Lord / Let It Shine (1974)
45-7132:
45-7133: The Salem Harmonizers - New Home / Somebody Touched Me (1974)
45-7134:
45-7135:
45-7136:
45-7137:
45-7138:
45-7139:
45-7140:
45-7141:
45-7142:
45-7143:
PAG 7144: Gospel Soul Revivals of Davenport Iowa - I Know My God is Strong / Sweeping Thru the Pearly Gates (1974)
45-7145: The Four Stars feat. Willie Benson - Lord's Been Good to Me / O' Lord I Need Thee (1974)
PAG 7146: Foster Brothers - Plant Love / Freedom Shore (1974)
45-7147:
45-7148:
PAG 7149: Dixie Wonders of Memphis Tennessee - Praise His Name / When They Get Old (1974)
45-7150:
PAG 7151: Gospel Ensemble of Greenville, Miss. -What Will Tomorrow Bring / Your Friend (1974)
45-7152:
45-7153: Jubilee Humming Birds - A Sinner's Plea / I Won't Have to Cry No More
45-7154: Faithful Aires of Jackson Tennessee - Bye and Bye - Part #1 / Bye and Bye - Part #2 (1974)
45-7155:
45-7156:
45-7157:
45-7158:
45-7159:
45-7160:
45-7161:
45-7162:
45-7163:
45-7164: The Fatithful Aires - I'll Be Satisfied / When I Arose This Morning (1974)
PAG 7165:
PAG 7166: Fantastic Gospel Travelers - The Lord Will Make Anyway / Try the Lord (1974)
PAG 7167:
PAG 7168:
PAG 7169:
PAG 7170:
PAG 7171:
PAG 7172:
PAG 7173:
PAG 7174:
PAG 7175:
PAG 7176:
PAG 7177:
PAG 7178:                     
PAG 7179:
PAG 7180:
PAG 7181: The Walker Singers - Let Your Light Shine / Why I Have to Cry 
PAG 7182:
PAG 7183:
PAG 7184:
PAG 7185:
PAG 7186: The Spiritual Harmoneers - Time to Live Holy / Jordan River (1975)
45-7187:
PAG 7188: The Jackson Trumpeteers - Clean Up Your Life / Lord Remember Me (1975)
PAG 7189: Rev. Houston Potts, Jr. with the Angelettes - Help Somebody If You Can / When Will We Be Paid (1975)
PAG 7190:
PAG 7191:
PAG 7192:
PAG 7193:
PAG 7194:
PAG 7195:
PAG 7196:              
PAG 7197: The Magnificent Soul Survivors - Hold on to His Hand / Let It Be (1975)
PAG 7198: The Spiritual Wonders - Let There Be Peace / Keep on Following in the Footsteps of the Lord (1975) 
PAG 7201: Lovie Hill - God's Word / God's Word to Me (1975) 
PAG 7202: Madam Mildred Hollins - Sometimes I Ask / Lord Help Me Treat My Fellow Man Right (1975)
PAG 7203:
PAG 7204:
PAG 7205:  
PAG 7206: Ellison Family - Before This Time Another Year / On the Battle Field (1975)
PAG 7207:
PAG 7208: 
PAG 7209: Heavenly Bound Travelers Gospel Singers - The Lord Will Make Away / Serving the Lord Well Off (1975)
PAG 7210:
PAG 7211:
PAG 7212:
PAG 7213: Golden Travelers feat. Lee Futrell - What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire / Everybody Ought to Pray Sometime (1975)
PAG 7214:
PAG 7215:
PAG 7216:
PAG 7217:       
PAG 7218: Sensational Travelers of Richmond, Calif. - Father I Love the Lord (1975)
PAG 7219: Noah's Ark - The Lord's Prayer / You Been Good to Me (1975) 
PAG 7220:
PAG 7221:
PAG 7222:
PAG 7223:
PAG 7224:    
PAG 7125: The Rayborn Brothers Quartet - Glory, Glory / Walk with Me Lord (1974)
PAG 7126: The Morning Doves - Pray On / Lord Try Me (1974) 
PAG 7227: Christian Jubilees - Shame on You / I Got Shoes (1975)
PAG 7228: The Souls of Solomon of Buffalo, New York - Got to Get a Message to Jesus / Do Your Self a Favor (1975) 
PAG 7229:
PAG 7230:
PAG 7231:
PAG 7232:
PAG 7233:
PAG 7234:
PAG 7235:
PAG 7236:     
PAG 7237: The Stars of Faith - I'm Rich in God's Love / Just a Few More Days (1975) 
PAG 7238:
PAG 7239: The Genessee Gospel Travelers - Where Could I Go But to the Lord / Don't Blame It on the Children (1975)
PAG 7240: Lou Etta Terry Singers of Buffalo New York - Who Do You Turn to / Prayer is the Answer (1975)
PAG 7241:
PAG 7242:
PAG 7243:
PAG 7244:   
PAG 7245: Glorybound Singers of Doddsville, Mississippi - We're Dreaming of Heaven / He's Been Good to Me (1976) 
PAG 7246:
PAG 7247:
PAG 7248:
PAG 7249:
PAG 7250:
PAG 7251:
PAG 7252:
PAG 7253:
PAG 7254:        
PAG 7255: Evangelist Singers of Dayton, Ohio - Victory / I Woke Up This Morning (1976) 
PAG 7256:
PAG 7257:
PAG 7258:
PAG 7259:
PAG 7260:
PAG 7261:
PAG 7262:
PAG 7263:       
PAG 7264: Astonishing B. and S. Singers - The Shadow / Find You Way Home / The Last Prayer / In Debt (1976) 
PAG 7265:
PAG 7266:
PAG 7267:
PAG 7268:
PAG 7269:
PAG 7270:   
PAG 7271: Elige Brown - When Jesus Comes / A Helping Hand (1976)
PAG 7272:
PAG 7273:
PAG 7274:
PAG 7275:
PAG 7276:
PAG 7277: 
PAG 7278: Evening Doves of Memphis Tennessee - I Feel Good Inside / Get Right with God (1977)
PAG 7279:
PAG 7280: 
PAG 7281: Malinda Smith Wolfe - There's Gonna Be a Fire / Precious Lord 
PAG 7282: Malinda Smith Wolfe - Walk with Me / I'm In My Dressing Room 
PAG 7283:
PAG 7284: Exciting Gospel Song Writers of Des Moines, Iowa - Surething / Serving the Lord / Meet Me Jesus / My Heart Is Fixed (1977) 
PAG 7285:
PAG 7286: 
PAG 7287: Breckenridge Singers - Heaven Is My Home - Someday / Since I Found My Savior - I Heard Someone Calling Jesus Name (1977)
PAG 7288:
PAG 7289: The David Spiritual Five of Chicago, Illinois - I Have a Father / It's Going to Rain (1977)
PAG 7290: Heavenly Spiritual Gospel Singers of Chicago, Illinois - Search Me Lord / Don't Know What I Do with out the Lord (1977)
PAG 7291: Atkins All-Stars of Chicago, Illinois - Walk on the Water / Trouble Don't Last Always (1977)