Glen Glenn R.I.P.

Orin Glen Troutman, better known to rockabilly fans around the world as "Glen Glenn", has passed away on March 18, 2022. He was one of the best known original 1950s rockabilly artists with several of the genre's classics released in the 1950s. His death was reported today by several music enthusiasts, including researcher Volker Houghton and singer/guitarist Darrel Higham.

He was born 1934 in Missouri but his family moved to California in the 1940s. He and his friend Gary Lambert began working the west coast country music circuit in the 1950s and by 1957, they had adopted the new rockabilly sound. They recorded a slew of singles for ERA and Dore, including songs like "Everybody's Movin'", "One Cup of Coffee and a Cigarette" or "Blue Jeans and a Boy's Shirt", which gained cult status among rockabilly fans in the 1970s. Apart from his studio recordings, Glenn also left behind a wealth of demo tapes and live recordings that saw release from the 1970s onwards. He kept on touring well into the 21th century.

Here's on of my favorite recordings from Glen Glenn, his 1958 ERA song "Would Ja'".

Rose Lee Maphis R.I.P.

Country music star Rose Lee Maphis, one half of country music husband-and-wife duo Rose Lee & Joe Maphis, passed away October 26, 2021. She was 98 years old.

Maphis was born 1922 in Baltimore and started her career on Maryland radio. She soon became part of a group named the Saddle Sweethearts and while working the Old Dominion Barn Dance in Richmond, Virginia, in the mid to late 1940s, she met her future husband Joe Maphis. The couple moved to California and married there in 1952.

Her husband Joe became known as one of country music's most versatile guitarists and played on countless recording sessions for both stars and unknowns alike. In 1953, they couple wrote and recorded "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)" (inspired by the infamous Blackboard Club), which became a hit in their version and a classic in honky-tonk country music. It has also been covered a lot of times through the decades by various artists. During the 1950s, Rose Lee and Joe Maphis were stars in California's country music scene, appearing on various radio and TV shows, including the famed Town Hall Party.

Later on, Rose Lee Maphis concentrated more on raising their children but returned to recording in the 1960s. In 1968, the family relocated to Nashville where they cut more albums. Following her husband's death, she ceased performing but went on to work at Opryland and later greeted the fans at Country Music Hall of Fame tours. 

Read more

• Music Row: Country Star Rose Lee Maphis Dies at 98

Watch Rose Lee & Joe Maphis perform their hit "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke" at the Town Hall Party.

R.I.P. Don Maddox

Don Maddox, last surviving member of the famous Maddox Brothers & Rose, has died September 12, 2021, at the age of 98 years. Maddox had spent a great portion of his life, including his last years, on his ranch in Oregon. Although he was absent from the music business after the break-up of the family band in the 1950s, young fans rediscovered them and persuaded him to take the stage again in later years. He did his last performance in 2016 in Burbank, California.

The Maddox Brothers & Rose consisted of brothers and their sister Rose, gaining popularity across the USA from the mid 1940s until the mid 1950s. Their style was prototype rockabilly and influenced many of the 1950s rock'n'rollers.

Al Hendrix R.I.P.

Another original rockabilly artist has passed away. Al Hendrix, who recorded a couple of rock'n'roll and rockabilly singles during the 1950s and 1960s that founded his fame in the rockabilly scene, was active until recent years. He died peacefully on July 24, 2021, at his home in California.

Hendrix was born in 1934 in Miami, Florida, but later moved to Bakersfield, California, where he met the young and aspiring country musician Buck Owens. With another country band leader, Jolly Jody and his band, the Go-Daddies, Hendrix recorded his first single for the local Tally label, "Rhonda Lee" b/w "Go Daddy, Rock" that was picked up by ABC-Paramount for national release. The 1960s saw Hendrix recording more singles that became minor favorites among rockabilly enthusiasts, including "Young and Wild" and "Monkey Bite." Hendrix also recorded several albums in later years.

Today, we feature my favorite "Rhonda Lee" in honor of Hendrix.

Sanford Clark R.I.P.

Another legend has gone. Rockabilly and country singer Sanford Clark, best remembered for his 1956 hit "The Fool", died July 4, 2021, at the age of 85 years. He had been in hospital in Joplin, Missouri, due to cancer but died from an infection with COVID19.

Clark was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but started his musical career in Phoenix, Arizona, where he soon became part of the lively music scene. He met later famous producer, songwriter and singer Lee Hazlewood, with whom he would work together on and off for the next years. Clark's debut was "The Fool", which became his first and biggest hit. He later recorded numerous singles and albums, including a cover of the murder ballad "It's Nothing to Me," which became an underground favorite, and a remake of "The Fool" with country star Waylon Jennings on electric guitar.

Recommended reading:
• The Billboard: "Sanford Clark dead: Rockabilly Performer, Dies at 85 from COVID-19"

To remember Sanford Clark, we feature one of his later recordings today, the great "Just Bluesin'", a typical 1960s Lee Hazlewood production.

Mack Banks R.I.P.

Rockabilly pioneer Mack Banks has passed away on May 4, 2021, at the age of 86 years. Banks, who has secured his place in rockabilly history with his 1956 two-sider "Be-Boppin' Daddy" / "You're So Dumb," was active in music until recent years and was considered as a part of Mississippi's rich music scene. He was an ensemble member of the local "Sparta Opry" stage show for years. After his Fame single, Banks recorded a slew of strictly local 45s for the Vee-Eight label and other companies. 

Billy Eldridge R.I.P.

Sad news won't end. Today, I received the message that Florida rockabilly artist Billy Eldridge passed away on March 16, 2021. He recorded several discs with his band, the Fire Balls, for the Vulco label in Fort Pierce, Florida. Eventually, he made the move to Nashville, where he enjoyed some success as a songwriter. 

Recommended reading:

• Billy Eldridge on Vulco

Earl Epps R.I.P.

I was informed today by Dave Westheimer that Earl Epps, Houston country music singer, has passed away February 10, 2021, at the age of 91 years. Epps was a mainstay on Houston's country music scene, beginning in the 1950s. He has recorded numerous records during the decades and was performing right until recent years. He was a member of the Alvin Opry for many years.

Although Epps was a country singer from the heart, he is best remembered outside Houston for his 1956 rockabilly recording "Be-Bop Blues," which he cut for Danny Ross' Minor record label. Read his obituary here.

Ed Bruce R.I.P.

Country music star Ed Bruce died January 8, 2021, at the age 81 years in Clarksville, Tennessee. Bruce was originally from Keiser, Arkansas, and got his start at Sun Records in Memphis in the 1950s, where he recorded such songs as "Rock Boppin' Baby" as Edwin Bruce.

He had a first hit with "Walker's Wood" in 1966 but was more successful as a songwriter during those years, noteworthy "The Last Train to Clarksville," which became a top hit for the Monkees. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings scored a hit with Bruce's "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," which was a #15 hit for Bruce in 1975. He had a #1 with "You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had" in 1981. He was also active as an actor, for example starring the TV series "Bret Maverick" along with James Garner.

My first encounter with Bruce was when I heard a live version of his "If It Was Easy," but my favorite recording of him is his original "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys." The following video shows Bruce performing it in his later years.

Cees Klop R.I.P.

The founder of White Label/Collector Records, Dutchman Cees Klop, has passed away this weekend. Klop, who began collecting rock'n'roll records in the 1960s, released countless LPs and CDs on his labels, travelled more than once to the US to track down forgotten artists, ad unearthed recordings that would have sunk without into obscurity otherwise.

Klop was a controversial figure in the collector scene. He often edited recordings to present them as "alternate takes," gave at times wrong info on his LP back covers. Much has been said about him but without him, the world surely would miss a lot of great music.

R.I.P. Scotty Moore

In honor of legendary guitarist and main rock'n'roll influence Scotty Moore, who passed away today at age 84.

Merle Haggard R.I.P.

For those you don't know yet...

Country music star Merle Haggard died on April 6, 2016, at the age of 79 years. One of the pioneers and biggest starts of the Bakersfield Sound, Haggard will be remembered for hits like "The Fightin' Side of Me," "Oakie from Muskogee" or "Mama Tried."

Read more at hillbilly-music.com.

B.B. King R.I.P.

B.B. King died on May 14, 2015, at the age of 89 in Las Vegas. Read more.

Jimmy C. Newman and Weldon Myrick R.I.P.

Two country music legends passed away last month. Jimmy C. Newman died at the age of 86 on June 21. He suffered from cancer. Steel guitar virtuoso Weldon Myrick died June 2 at the age of 76. Both were very influential in the development of country music and have been performed at the Grand Ole Opry for many decades.

Rusty York R.I.P.

Legendary rockabilly and bluegrass musician Rusty York died January 26, 2014. York was famous for his song "Sugaree" and recorded a lot of singles for such labels as King, Starday, and others. He also played for Jimmie Skinner and owned his own Jewel recording studio in label in Mt. Healthy for decades.

Phil Everly RIP

Phil Everly, one half of the hit-making Everly Brothers, died January 3, 2014, at a hospital in Burbank, California, at the age of 74. He and his brother Don were signed to Cadence Records in the mid-1950s and are well-known for such hits as "Bird Dog," "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have to Do Is Dream" or "Cathy's Clown." They were influential for many artists to come and created an unique sound with their soft hamorny singing, influenced by the country and folk duos of their youth.

Read more here.

Clyde Stacy R.I.P.

Rockabilly singer Clyde Stacy, known for his song "Hoy Hoy," died November 6, 2013, in a car crash on US 69 in Oklahoma. Stacy was born in 1936 and recorded such classics as "Hoy Hoy," (covered by the Collins Kids), "So Young," "I Sure Do Love You Baby" and others.

Read more here.

RIP Marvin Rainwater / Alvis Wayne

Country and rockabilly music singer and songwriter Marvin Rainwater died on September 17, 2013, at the age of 88 in Aitken, Minnesota. Rainwater wrote the hit "I Gotta Go Get My Baby" and had several hits on his own, including "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" and "Whole Lotta Women," the latter being a #1 hit record in the UK. Rainwater also recorded numerous rockabilly songs and was a regular feature on European festivals. Read more here.

I just learned that Alvis Wayne died already on July 31, 2013, at his home in Bacliff, Texas. He was  75 years old. Wayne is famous for his rockabilly sides he cut for Westport in the 1950s. He later recorded for Rollin' Rock and became a legend among young fans in Europe. Read more here.

Mac Curtis R.I.P.

Rockabilly legend Mac Curtis died September 16, 2013, in Weatherford, Texas. Curtis was one of the true legends of Rockabilly, recording such classics as "Granddaddy's Rockin'", "Half Hearted Love," "You Ain't Nothin' But Right," "If I Had Me a Woman" and many others. In the 1970s, he also recorded for Ronnie Weiser's Rollin' Rock label and was rediscovered by European fans around the same time. He remained active on stage until his death following a car accident.

Read more here.

Tompall Glaser RIP

Country music singer, songwriter, producer and one of the "Outlaw" movement's pioneers Tompall Glaser died August 13, 2013, at the age of 79. Born in Nebraska, Glaser started his musical career with his two brothers as "Tompall & the Glaser Brothers." They first recorded for Marty Robbins' Robbins label and later also toured with Robbins as well as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and others. By 1970, they had opened their own studio in Nashville. Glaser was also featured on country music's first million selling album "Wanted: The Outlaws" that also included material by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Jessi Colter.

Read more at hillbilly-music.com.