Town Hall Party - This show is no stranger to country music fans. It did start as a radio show from the Town Hall in Compton, California. Its popularity grew and it turned into one of the longest running weekly "live" broadcasts of country music in the Los Angeles area. The stars that appeared on the show are numerous. The history of the show is a fascinating story from its start, through its hey day to its eventual decline.

Dianne Leigh - A trail blazing female country singer from Canada who at first did not seem to like country music. But the crowd's reaction one night during an appearance with the Sons of the Saddle at a night spot changed her path. She played cocktail drums behind Patsy Cline during a tour of Ontario. She won Country Female Vocalist five years in a row in Canada. She was a regular on such television shows as Carl Smith's Country Music Hall and Ronnie Prophet's show. She was voted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Her career saw changes not only in television, but also seeing Canadian artists getting more exposure in their own country.

Harry Blevins and the Steel City Playboys - One of the shows that came on the air when radio station WVOK in Birmingham, Alabama started broadcasting in 1947 was the Dixie Jamboree. Harry Blevins was the leader of the band. Readers will enjoy the account provided by one of the former band members and other info provided by his grandson.

Cotton Carrier - We reached back into our older biographies to pull one up that started author Wayne W. Daniel on his path to becoming a country music author, researcher and historian. Cotton was one of the mainstays on WSB in Atlanta, Georgia. His career encountered many of country music's stars. The reader will learn a bit out the history of the WSB Barn Dance and the stars that graced the stage.

Georgia Ramblers - While their name may suggest they were from Georgia, their musical career was mainly in the Erie and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. They played over several radio stations and would get fan mail as well, often requesting tunes. The leader appears to have been Wrangler Joe Kirkland.

Pappy Howard - He started his career in Hartford, CT, moved on to Cleveland, OH and then back to Worcester, MA. His bands had several names - New England Hillbilly Champs, Tumbleweed Gang, Kentucky Colonels, but the name most will recognize is the Connecticut Kernels. He created a successful Barn Dance Jamboree over WJW following his successful barn dance in Hartford.

Dixie Boy Jordan - A native of Mississippi, this singer over came not one but two tragedies early in his life as he became a performer. He like so many others were influenced by the Blue Yodeler Jimmie Rodgers and he was picky about the guitar he wanted to play - a Martin guitar. One critic said "a native wit, priceless Southern lore, and a humbleness that attracts his audience at once."

Rainbow Valley Gang - This group was popular in the Zanesville, Ohio area in the 1940s. The group at times would splinter off into their own acts, but the "Rainbow Valley" seemed to be the common theme. They were on a new NBC Radio Show called "New Talent USA" as well. Did they win? Well, you'll have to read to find out.

Hank Rivers - Hank LaRiviere was a native of Ontario, Canada. He was signed to the RCA Victor label in Canada in 1939 by Hugh Joseph. He was the featured vocalist on the CBC Dominion radio network show - The Western Five. He was a part of the Calgary Stampede show as well.

Hoffman Hayride - KGO-TV - Sometimes research on one of these early shows takes you on an unexpected tour of history. Such was the case here. Read of how the paths of Dude Martin and electronics and television pioneer H. Leslie Hoffman crossed paths to make not only history of broadcasting country music over television but how it spurred the growth of electronics manufacturing on the west coast after World War II.

Wanda Saylor - Wanda started off performing with her sister early in her career, and they did roam around. Later, Wanda became a solo act and enjoyed quite a bit of popularity, especially in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. She played the accordion and has the distinction of taking the place of two other female accordion players at times - Sunshine Sue on WRVA in Richmond, Virginia and later Abbie Neal in Pittsburgh after Abbie's auto accident. She led the all girl group the EZ Ranch Girls for a time and won several accolades.

Ray Schacht - He was known as the Lonesome Troubadour. But was also known as Carl Stuart. He settled in the New England area. He later formed his own troupe of performers - the Cowboy Caravan. He was one of the stars of the WCOP Hayloft Jamboree. He opened Radio Park in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania and featured country acts every Sunday afternoon starting in 1960.

Hoyt Scoggins - Another native of Georgia, who's early influence were his father and Roy Acuff. One of Hoyt's memories was the day he was invited to spend the day with Hank Williams at his home in Nashville, Tennessee with Audrey. He recorded several sides for the Starday label. He, too, played a Martin guitar.

Merv Shiner - Merv's biography has been updated on the site. The original one was written over a decade ago. Merv recently turned 99 years old and it seems appropriate to provide fans with more details of one of the nicest guys in the music business. A career that has spanned over 70 years. He is still performing today with his wife, Marilyn. Enjoy the video of him doing his Easter classic, "Peter Cottontail."

Woody Wooddell - Born in Greenbank, West Virginia, Woody would lead a group called the Ridin' Rangers. The band played at stations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. In 1946, they appeared in a movie with Jimmy Wakely. One of the band members was a fellow that was the comedic part of the band - Cabbage Head. Woody also orgnized the Pine Hollow Jamboree.

Dusty Owens - Dusty tells us about his career in his own words. He contacted us out of the blue years ago and became a good friend over the years. Work has begun on Chapter 3 of his biography, where he often said "that's when it all halppened."
—Chapter 1: Early Michigan & Iowa years
—Chapter 2: WHO Iowa Barn Dance Frolic

Country Music
The way you remember it!

Keep clicking around - there's always something new spopping up on Hillbilly-Music.com.