Johnny Tyler and the Riders of the Rio Grande KSKY Dallas, TX WGST Atlanta, GA

About The Artist Johnny Tyler was working at radio station WGST in Atlanta, Georgia back in 1953. He recorded several tunes for RCA Victor. And later, had recorded for the Specialty label. Sunny Ciesla reported in 1947 that Johnny was enjoying some success appearing at the Rancho and also in San Pedro. His recordings on RCA Victor at the time were a boost, with "Oakie Boogie", a tune he wrote. At times you would find little news bits or perhaps filler items the magazines would use to let fans know of a recent recording a star had made. But the writer of one such placement for Johnny Tyler was a bit more descriptive than most we've seen. An early 1949 article says his voice was "...tinged with the authentic flavor of Pocohontas, Arkansas..." It goes on to tell us about that new release at the time, "I Never See My Baby Alone": "...a sad complaint about a gal safely surrounded by relatives. Johnny paints a plaintive picture of his attempts to hurdle this barrier..." Talking of the flip side of the record, "Jealous Blues", the article states, "...Johnny tells with candor and frankness that the old Green-Eyed Dragon has got him in a dither." A 1953 article indicates he was working with Jimmy SMith and his Texans, who were doing nightly appearances at the Joe Cotton Rhythm Ranch in Atlanta. They were also being heard from 8:00pm to 12:00pm over WGST. Credits & Sources National Hillbilly News; July-August 1947; Mr. and Mrs. Orville W. Via; Huntington, WV National Hillbilly News; January-February 1949; Mr. and Mrs. Orville W. Via; Huntington, WV Country Song Roundup No. 27, December 1953; American Folk Publications, Inc., Derby, CT

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   RCA Victor Rec. No. Side Song Title   20-2171 A New Pretty Blonde   20-2171 B So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed   20-2182 A Oakie Boogie   20-2182 B Rockin' Chair Money   20-2290 A Oakie Boogie   20-2290 B Texas Red   20-2368 A Behind The Eight Ball   20-2368 B I Don't Know Where To Go But I'm Goin'   20-2503 A City Of Memphis   20-2503 B Oh How You Lied   20-2620 A Peepin' Through The Keyhole   20-2620 B Wild And Wicked Look   20-2656 A Can't Get My Foot Off The Rail   20-2656 B Tell A Woman   20-2774 A Old Macdonald's Boogie   20-2774 B Swamp Woman   20-2928 A Fiddlin' Lace   20-2928 B Find'em, Fool'em And Forget'em   20-3139 A Cornbread And Butterbeans   20-3139 B Little Rock Arkansas   20-3280 A I Never See My Baby Alone   20-3280 B Jealous Blues   Rural Rhythm Rec. No. Side Song Title   510 A Devil On My Shoulder   510 B If I'm To Bear The Name   Starday Rec. No. Side Song Title   263 A Lie To Me Baby   263 B Country Fair