Cliff Japhet and the Western Aces WENT Gloversville, NY WSNY Schenectady, NY WWSR St. Albans, VT

About The Artist Around 1945 or so, you may have heard Cliff Japhet's 5 year old son, "Yodelin' Skippy" singing "Hear My Song As I Ride Along; I'm Just A Happy Rovin' Cowboy" and then go right into a triple yodel as he introduced Cliff Japhet and his Western Aces over the air on radio station WENT out of Gloversville, NY. Cliff and his band were getting national attention back in October 1948. The Sons of the Pioneers had just recorded "Cool Water". Back in those days it wasn't uncommon to see other artists and bands try to capitalize on hit recordings that the public enjoyed. Jamboree magazine reported that Cliff Japhet and the Western Aces were among the groups that had also recorded Cool Water along with Bob Atcher, Foy Willing, Dude Martin, Denver Darling, Red River Dave, Ozie Waters, Smiley Burnette, Dick Reinhart and Tex Ritter. The Western Aces were quite a popular act in the New England area long about the late 1940s. In 1948, they were headlining over radio station WWSR out of St. Albans, Vermont. Their daily show aired on WWSR from 5:00pm to 5:30pm. The band was like many acts in those days, playing extensive personal appearances in the areas where they lived and played on the radio. The Western Aces played on Saturday nights at Cherry River in Quebec; Sundays at the folk park in Danemora, NY. As well as other dates in Vermont, too. Cliff Japhet, Jr. or "Yodelin' Skippy" as they called him was performing with his dad's group when he was just five years old. He also sang on the WENT Youth Revue in Gloversville, New York. Needless to say, he captured the audiences up there as they wrote the mail he got outpulled anything else on the station. He started singing and yodeling on the radio when he was just two years old. He'd hear a tune on the radio then try and see if he could do it on the piano. His parents noted that they were going to start him with some piano lessons as soon as he was able to read and span an octave. "Yodelin' Skippy"— The picture on the left is from a postcard that WWSR in St. Albans, Vermont used to sell to listeners. The picture on the right is from the National Hillbilly News from May of 1946. The Western Aces were one of several groups that Cliff Japhet co-founded or was associated with. Be sure to read about Cliff Japhet, The Broncho Busters, the Saddle Pards, Rodeo Kings. Cliff also performed with Polly Jenkins and her Plowboys, too. Timeline and Trivia Notes Group members included: Cliff Japhet, bass, vocals Willie Pellegrini, accordion Louie Ponzi, guitar Putch (Allen) Morley, banjo and caller The Western Aces recording unit consisted of: Cliff Japhet, bass, vocals Larry Fournier, fiddle, harmony vocals Curley (Harold) Plummer, lead guitar, harmony vocals Joe Mayo, accordion Jimmy Mayo, guitar Other members in later years: Carl Durgin, guitar Pe Wee (Alfred) Arsenault, guitar Billy Arsenault, pedal steel Corky Arsenault, bass Little Zeke (Alden) Latour, fiddle Bud (Sheldon) Truax, guitar, steel guitar and fiddle Credits & Sources National Hillbilly News (May 1946); Poster Show Print Co.; Huntington, WV. Jamboree Magazine; October 1948; Western Song Club; Ventura, CA. Portions of Discography Listing courtesy of Hillbilly Reasearcher Team; Tricker, Turner and Sax Sound Sample—(YouTube Video Format) Blue River Blues

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Down Home Rec. No. Side Song Title   CJ600 A My Little Sweetheart In Maryland   CJ600 B Slowly But Surely   Downhome Rec. No. Side Song Title   1000 A My Hearts Recording Of You   1000 B Am I Ever In Your Dreams Dear   601 A You Get Me   601 B Lonely Heart   Fidelity Rec. No. Side Song Title   2002 A Blue River Blues   2002 B Im Gonna Shoot The Works   Lamb Rec. No. Side Song Title   L10-105 A Cool Water   L10-105 B No No Never No More   L10-106 A Rainbow At Midnight   L10-106 B When Its Tumbleweed Time In Texas   L10-107 A The Butcher Boy   L10-107 B Gonna Have Myself A Time   L10-108 A Aint Cha Sorry, Aint Cha Blue   L10-108 B You Cant Break The Chains Of Love   L10-109 A Filipino Baby   L10-109 B A Mi Amigo   L10-119 A Blue River Blues   L10-119 B I'm Gonna Shoot The Works