Dewey Ritter Born:  June 1, 1929 Died:  September 12, 2001 WRVA Old Dominion Barn Dance

About The Artist Dewey Ritter was born in Chesterfield County, near Richmond, Virginia. The family lived on a farm until he reached his teen age years; then they moved to Richmond. His musical interests started when he bought a guitar from a neighbor for all of three dollars they said. After he mastered his first tune on that guitar, music became one of his interests. He became prolific enough to the point where he'd be playing each Saturday night at a local dance or social event. His first big break came when he auditioned for an MGM recording star, Frank Porter at radio station WLEE in Richmond. Needless to say, once fans heard him on the air, letters began to pour in asking for more. The business astute Mr. Porter then gave Dewey two programs, one in the morning and one in the afternoon to satisfy his audience demands. He was then asked to appear on the Atlantic Barn Dance. The audience reception on that show was such that it helped him get a recording contract with the Coral label. Some of the tunes he recorded for Coral include: Yesterday's Love MOther, The Queen of My Heart One Golden Curl One Man's Loss Is Another Man's Gain Sold Down The River I'm Leaving Town When My Day Rolls Around This Heart of Mine Later, he became a part of the New Dominion Barn Dance show. Credits & Sources Cowboy Songs No. 22; September 1952; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Coral Rec. No. Side Song Title   64098 A Yesterday's Love   64098 B Mother, The Queen Of My Heart   64109 A One Golden Curl   64109 B One Man's Loss Is Another Man's Gain   64136 A I'm Leavin' Town   64136 B Sold Down The River   64176 A This Heart Of Mine   64176 B When My Day Rolls Around