Tibby Edwards (born Edwin M. Thibodeaux) had a musical career that landed him a regular spot
on the "KWKH Louisiana Hayride" at seventeen and a contract with Mercury Records at eighteen.
After military service, he did not pursue his career with much vigor and became a part-time performer.
By the 1980's, he was working primarily as a paper hanger, despite having some excellent country and rockabilly numbers in his prime years.
Edwards hailed from Garland, Louisiana and had a strong Cajun ethnic background. His father worked in construction and
so the Edwards family moved around Louisiana and East Texas frequently. Edwards met aspiring musician Lefty Frizzell
about 1949, and became a virtual protégé of the older man who's career took off the next year. After that Edwards sang
in the clubs around Beaumont as did other aspiring musicians as Benny Barnes and George Jones.
Then in December 1952, he landed a regular spot on the Hayride about the same time that Hank Williams left
to go on what would be his fatal last trip.
Not long afterward, J. D. Miller, a man with some connections, took both Tibby and Jimmie C. Newman to Nashville for an audition
with Mercury Records. Although Newman eventually became the bigger name, at the time they accepted Edwards and rejected
Newman. Edwards later quipped "looking back on it . . . they may have made a mistake." The eighteen year old had
his first Mercury session in August 1953.
Tibby Edwards
Record Reviews
The Cash Box and The Billboard
|
| Date |
Label |
Rec No. |
Review |
| 8/15/1953 (BB) |
Mercury |
70189 |
Why Can't You Be Mine? —
Edwards has a backwoods sound and style which could please many a buyer. The material
is above average, too.
(Rating: 70)
Come On Chere —
Ditty manages to name some of the Louisiana towns in the Cajun territory, tho the ditty doesn't have too
much Cajun feeling, despite the tile. Edwards impresses with his singing and French.
(Rating: 70) |
| 11/28/1953 (CB) |
Mercury |
70236 |
If You Love Me Let Me Know It —
Tibby Edwards etches a middle tempo romantic tune in distinctive style. Adequate
strings back the artist.
(Rating: C+)
Walkin' And Cryin' With The Blues —
The warbler puts over this moderate beat piece with telling effect. Tune and
lyrics blend in feelingful fashion.
(Rating: B)
|
| 2/6/1954 (BB) |
Mercury |
7539 |
That's How I Lost —
"My whole life as lost. 'těl the day 1 found you."
Tibby Edwards belts out the song in his individual style.
(Rating: 72)
Too Proud To Wear My Name —
Much emotion and sadness is registered by Tibby Edwards as he sings
this song of unrequited love.
(Rating: 71) |
| 2/13/1954 (CB) |
Mercury |
7539 |
Too Proud To Wear My Name —
Tibby Edwards lends his distinctive vocal talent to a touching, quick tempo item. A top drawer effort
with an easy string backing. General effect is stirring and rich.
(Rating: B)
That's How I Lost —
Flip is a moderate beat piece that Edwards warbles softly and with a
tender quality that carries across his sad feeling. Two fine sides turned in by the country chanter.
(Rating: B)
|
| 9/18/1954 (CB) |
Mercury |
70454 |
Try To Understand —
Tibby Edwards comes up with an impressive reading as he delivers a quick tempo
romantic item. Deck should attract a goodly share of the sales and spins. Soft string backing.
(Rating: B)
Uninvited —
On the reverse etching Edwards puts a great deal of expression into his delivery as he
waxes a moderate tempo weeper with emotion packed lyrics.
(Rating: C+)
|
| 6/25/1955 (BB) |
Mercury |
70640 |
Shift Gears —
Edwards sings out with verve and good humor on a catchy ditty with a bouncy beat.
(Rating: 69)
Play It Cool, Man, Play It Cool —
Same comment.
(Rating: 69) |
| 6/25/1955 (CB) |
Mercury |
70640 |
Shift Gears —
Tibby Edwards comes up with an enticing vocal effort on a delectable, quick beat novelty that rides merrily
along in happy style.
(Rating: B)
Play It Cool, Man, Play It Cool —
On the under half Edwards waxes another tasteful biscuit in easy-on-
the-ears, up tempo fashion. An appealing two-sider.
(Rating: B)
|
| 10/15/1955 (CB) |
Mercury |
70719 |
C'Est Si Tout (That's All) —
Tibby
Edwards takes hold of a flavorful, quick beat ditty and delivers it with
plenty of zip. A catchy piece of material that could be a clicker.
(Rating: B+)
It'll Be A Long, Long Time —
Edwards turns in a fine reading on this touching, middle tempo, romantic lament.
A potent coupling.
(Rating: B)
|
| 3/10/1956 (CB) |
Mercury |
70816 |
I Can't Face The Future —
Tibby Edwards dishes up a grade “A” vocal effort as he waxes a middle beat lover’s lament with
heartbreaking lyrics.
(Rating: B)
You Made A Believer Out Of Me —
The future, however, is brighter on this end as Edwards tells about
a gal who convinced him that love can be a happy thing. Dandy, quick beat coupler.
(Rating: B)
|
| 12/15/1956 (BB) |
Starday |
278 |
Fool That I Was —
Edward bemoans his stupidity in trusting a woman. He packs solid punch on the tearful
lyrics. The backing Is properly bouncy. Could grab juke box coin.
(Rating: 75)
I Don't Want To Say I Love You —
Reluctantly, Edwards admits to an absent sweetie that he hasn't been
able to forget her. Some cute moments here, but the material is not very fresh.
(Rating: 69) |
| 1/26/1957 (BB) |
Mercury |
71036 |
I Asked For More —
Driving guitar, honky took piano and fine country fiddling provide solid backing to this
strong vocal by Tibby Edwards. Latter puts his heart into the delivery.
(Rating: 72)
But I Do —
A weeper, but with elements of a novelty. The , lyric changes pace, giving
the side an unusual effect.
(Rating: 72) |
| 2/9/1957 (CB) |
Mercury |
71036 |
I Asked For More —
Attractively showcased by an engaging, steady-driving musical backdrop
Tibby Edwards forcefully decks out a standout blues piece. Could catch and stir up a heap of noise.
(Rating: B+)
But I Do —
With telling effect Edwards cries out that he can’t get her off his mind. A persuasive,
middle beat weeper that helps make this coupling a double-barreled coincatcher.
(Rating: B) |
| 8/15/1959 (CB) |
D |
1081 |
One More Night —
Edwards pleads for another chance at romance on this slightly upbeat lilter. Down home flavor.
(Rating: B)
Memory Of A Lie —
At same pace Edwards continues flood of tears.
(Rating: B) |
| 10/14/1961 (CB) |
D |
1081 |
Teen-Age Troubles —
Songster, a former country artist now going after the teen market, heads a lazy country-styled
grow-on-you item that takes a semi-humorous view of a “hard-luck” kid.
(Rating: B)
Daydreamin' —
Attractive light-beat country-inclined work here.
(Rating: B) |
With five years at the Hayride and nearly as long at Mercury, Edwards seemed to be propelled to the level of stardom that other
KWKH veterans experienced. These included Webb Pierce, Faron Young, George Jones, and eventually Elvis Presley and Johnny Horton,
but it never quite happened. His songs were good. He did Jimmie Newman's "Cry, Cry Darling" before the composer did it,
but Jimmie had the hit on Dot the next year.
When rockabilly hit, his "Flip, Flop and Fly" were as good as any. His session musicians were among the best. Tibby worked
with and was friends with all the others — but never made it out of Shreveport — Horton also remained at KWKH, but had
the big hits).
In 1958, Edwards was drafted and inducted into the army within a few days of when his friend Elvis entered the service
(but without all the fanfare). As he later recalled, "Once I got out of the army for one reason or another, I just never got
back into it. For some years, he did continue as a part-time performer and cut singles on the smaller labels.
Eventually, Tibby settled in Baton Rouge where he worked as a painter and paper hanger. In 1985, Bear Family Records
reissued sixteen of his Mercury sides on an album with quality notes by Bob Allen.
When he died fourteen years later, his brief obituary in the Baton Rouge Advocate failed to mention that he had once
been a star on the KWKH Louisiana Hayride. His tombstone uses only the name Edwin "Bill" Thibodeaux and his birth and death dates.
Credits & Sources
- Hillbilly-Music.com would like to express its thanks to Ivan M. Tribe,
author of Mountaineer Jamboree —
Country Music in West Virginia and other
books that can be found on Amazon.com
and numerous articles in other publications for providing us with information about this artist.
- KWKH's Louisiana Hayride Souvenir Album; Shreveport, LA
- Hillbilly & Western Hoedown; March 1954; Vol. 1 No. 7; Hoedown, Inc.; Cincinnati, OH
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