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About The Artist
He was born John Ralph Grimes in London, KY (according to his World War II Draft Card found on ancestry.com), to parents John L. and Flora E. (Lee) Grimes in November 1929. He is most well known as "Billy Barton" but also used the name "Hillbilly Barton" and "Laurel London." He first recorded for the Abbott record label as "Hillbilly Barton," doing several sides with Johnny Horton in 1952. In 1953, he cut a couple of sides for the Grande Record Co. label located in Bakersfield, CA as "Billy Barton" and was backed by the Circle O Ranch Boys. In 1955, he recorded for Abbott records again, this time as Billy Barton. A couple of sides were cut with a young female singer named Wanda Wayne. Promotional appearance ads show they began working together in December 1953. Wanda was 18 years old at the time, born in Jasper, Alabama. Her family moved west. He signed with King records. The label did something unusual when they released his first recordings. The DJ or promo copy of that first release contained some biographical information, such as his date of birth, where he was born. It also noted that his first appearance was over radio station KXLA in Pasadena, CA. The flip side of that record noted he had studied auctioneering and for a time was a tobacco auctioneer. One learns he had married the young Wanda Wayne. Wanda's King release around that time noted they were married on December 17, 1954. She was 19, he was 26. It is interesting to note that the recordings were done at the King Studios on January 19, 1955 but Wanda's sides were released first on April 1, 1955 and Billy's on April 4, 1955. At some point, Wanda and John Grimes (Billy Barton) divorced. Billboard reported in its August 21, 1954 issue that Billy was working a two hour stint over radio station KGY in Olympia, WA. Perhaps taking advantage of his recording contract with King, The Cash Box reported that Billy had taken up residence in Cincinnati, OH in early 1955. By 1958, he had left Abbott and King records. He then signed to do promotional work for Fabor Robison's Radio record label.
 
 
 
    
   
  
 
 
The Songwriter
Marriages Roda Holland (Puterbaugh)(B: March 31, 1931 — D: July 3, 2015) Betty Lou (Parvin) Harvey ("Wanda Wayne") (B: — D: ) Ladonna June (Bennett) Kelly (B: April 25, 1932 &mdash: D: Aril 23, 2015) There appear to be other marriage(s); but data could not be determined.
Credits & Sources
Appearance History This Month
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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 108 | A | Somebody's Rockin' My Broken Heart (as Hillbilly Barton w/Johnny Horton) | ||
| 108 | B | Betty Lorraine (by Johnny Horton) | ||
| 109 | A | Bawlin' Baby (as Hillbilly Barton w/Johnny Horton) | ||
| 109 | B | Rhythm In My Baby's Walk (by Johnny Horton) | ||
| 110 | A | Strange Affection | ||
| 110 | B | She's A Good Ole Gal | ||
| 111 | A | No Interest (Nothing But A Girl) | ||
| 111 | B | Never Satisfied | ||
| 113 | A | My Darlin' Liza Lou | ||
| 113 | B | You Made Me Love You | ||
| 117 | A | Blues In Blue Of Night | ||
| 117 | B | You Will Always Be In My Heart | ||
| 155 | A | What's The Matter With Me | ||
| 155 | B | Other Side by Wanda Wayne | ||
| 166 | A | The World Called Love (w/Wanda Wayne) | ||
| 166 | B | You're You (w/Wanda Wayne) | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 1008 | A | Doorway To Heaven | ||
| 1008 | B | The Devil, My Conscience and I | ||
| 1011 | A | So Called Friend | ||
| 1011 | B | Wanted Man | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 1178 | A | You Will Always Be In My Heart (w/Circle O Ranch Boys) | ||
| 1178 | B | Blues In The Blue Of The Night (w/Circle O Ranch Boys) | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 1001 | A | Monkey Business (as Billy Boy Barton) | ||
| 1001 | B | Blue Lover (as Billy Boy Barton) | ||
| 1004 | A | Two Kids In Love (w/Carolyn Johnson) | ||
| 1004 | B | Why Do I Love You (by Carolyn Johnson) | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| GR-1007 | A | Don't Knock The Rock (as Laurel London) | ||
| GR-1007 | B | My Conscience And I (as Laurel London) | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 1291 | A | Who Would You Cry To (as Johnny Grimes) | ||
| 1291 | B | These Three Little Words (as Johnny Grimes w/Wanda Wayne) | ||
| 1440 | A | The Song You Just Played | ||
| 1440 | B | Why Don't They Leave Her Alone | ||
| 1457 | A | Pardon Me, Old Buddy | ||
| 1457 | B | What God Has Put Together Let No Man Tear Apart | ||
| 1478 | A | Do You Love Me, Do You Love Me | ||
| 1478 | B | I'm Turining Over A Brand New Leaf | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 1007 | A | Crazy Lover | ||
| 1007 | B | Day Late And A Dollar Short | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 1291 | A | Who Would You Cry To (as Johnny Grimes) | ||
| 1291 | B | These Three Little Words (as Johnny Grimes w/Wanda Wayne) | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 176 | A | Remembering | ||
| 176 | B | Even Steven | ||
| 209 | A | After The Boy Gets The Girl | ||
| 209 | B | Backstreet Affair | ||
| 244 | A | Letter To A Fool | ||
| 244 | A | A Letter To A Fool (w/Janet McBride) | ||
| 244 | B | Arms Of A Child | ||
| 244 | B | The Arms Of A Child (by Janet McBride) | ||
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| Rec. No. | Side | Song Title | ||
| 548 | A | No Tomorrow | ||
| 548 | B | Ten Wheels | ||
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