Kentucky Girls WLS National Barn Dance WLW Boone County Jamboree WLS Chicago, IL WLW Cincinnati, OH

About The Group They were Alma and Winona (Jo) Taylor from Summershade, Kentucky. They were the sisters of Jack Taylor, a member of the famed WLS group, Prairie Ramblers. The duo worked with another WLS act, the Arkansas Woodchopper, prior to coming to WLS in 1937. For a time, Arkie and the Kentucky Girls were at a station in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1930 their brother Jack was part of a group known as the Kentucky Briar Hoppers and were being heard on radio station WHB in Kansas City. It was not too long before Alma joined the WHB staff and was known as "Pretty Little Pink". Alma mentioned in a 1937 article that Doc Hopkins was also working at the station at the time. Alma worked on WHB for only two months and went back home to finish high school. She graduated in 1933 and joined the WLS road shows, working as a square dancer for about a year. Her younger sister Winona, known as "Jo" spent her time at home going to school and working on the farm up until about 1936 or 1937. She also worked for about three months on a WLS road show as a square dancer. When she graduated from high school in June of 1936, she and Alma joined a group called the "Kentucky Ridge Runners" that were based in Lexington, Kentucky. They toured for about five months but left to go back home to help on the farm. The family farm included raising tobacco and corn, tending to six cows that needed to be milked each morning. Alma played the guitar. A 1937 article mentions she started playing about the age of five when she picked up her brother Jack's new guitar and gegan playing. During 1938, the girls were regulars on the Saturday night WLS show, Keystone Barn Dance along with Arkie, The DeZurik Sisters, Hoosier Sodbusters, Prairie Ramblers, Lulu Belle and Chuck, Ray and Christine. They were also a part of a show hosted by Henry Hornsbuckle called the Fireside Party. And of course, appeared on the National Barn Dance as well. The girls were only with WLS for about a year before they moved on to the clear channel station WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were featured on the "Top O' The Morning" show as well as the Friday night show, "Boone County Jamboree". Timeline and Trivia Notes Group Members: Alma Taylor, guitar, harmony vocals Winona (Jo) Taylor, vocals Credits & Sources WLS Stand-By; December 4, 1937; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL Song Exchange News; Spring Edition 1939; Vol. 1 No. 3; Song Exchange Club; Arlie Kinkade; Graysville, Ohio Appearance History This Month   April 3, 1938 Dodgeville Auditorium Dodgeville, WI The WLS Smile-A-While Gang Read More About The Group Printer Friendly Version Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Columbia Rec. No. Side Song Title   15364 D A Sweet Golden Daisies   15364 D B Old And Only In The Way