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Hillbilly-Music Folio Display


Rem Wall
and the Green Valley Boys
Born:  October 2, 1918
Died:  September 4, 1994
Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame (1977)
WEBQ Harrisburg, IL
WGBF Evansville, IN
WGFG Kalamazoo, MI
WKZO Kalamazoo, MI


About The Artist

A 1954 article mentions Rem Wall and his Green Valley Boys had been playing a "...mighty fine brand of hillbilly music" in the Michigan area. At that time, Rem and his group had a radio show that aired every Saturday night from 7:00 to 7:30pm over WKZO in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They also dia television show on Friday evenings from 6:00 to 6:30pm.

A 1947 issue of Mountain Broadcast and Prairie Recorder contains a letter from Rem Wall talking about his group that reveals some details about his career up to that point and the band members. For instance, we learn that Walt ("Cay" or "Coy") Martin was a steel guitar player, who was at one time prior to joining the Green Valley Boys, with the famed Down Homers group over WOWO in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Rem mentions that Matt, his accordion player was a ham radio hobbyist at the time.

Rem mentions in his 1947 letter that the group was "...pretty busy playing somewhere about every night." But he mentions, they had their hearts set on a radio career.

His televsion show "Green Valley Jamboree" was said to have been on the air for over 34 years in the Kalamazoo area.

Timeline & Trivia Notes
Group Members:

  • Rem Wall, vocals
  • Matt Ogrin (or Aggrin), accordion ("folding piano")
  • Chink Soule
  • Sally Massey
  • Leo Bounell
  • Walt "Cay" or "Coy" Martin, steel guitar
  • Bob Gillman, circa 1947, fiddle
  • George Smith, circa 1947, guitar
  • Dan Walker, (part of band, circa 1947), bass fiddle
  • Marvin Francisca, bass fiddle

Credits & Sources

  • Mountain Broadcast and Prairie Recorder; February-March 1947; Mountain Broadcast Pub. Co., Inc. New York, NY
  • Country Song Roundup; No. 31; May 1954; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)

 
Columbia
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  43371 A Good Morning Heartache
  43371 B Missing
  43551 A The Trouble With Me Is You
  43812 A That's All She Left Me


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