Hillbilly-Music.com—The People. The Music. The History.
Jack Hunt
and The Rhythm Ranch Hands
KWKH Louisiana Hayride
WLOG Logan, WV
KARK Little Rock, AR (1948)
KTHS Hot Springs, AR (1949)

About The Artist

They say Jack Hunt was only seven years old when he first found himself entertaining his home town area folks near Point Cedar in Hot Springs County Arkansas by singing and 'plucking' the guitar as they wrote it back then.

He came from a rural family - his dad was not only a farmer, but a teacher. His mom was a preacher. But they both encouraged and nurtured his musical interests. And somewhere in there, he began to like entertaining the folks.

So much so, that he was only fourteen years old when he went out on his own. They said he went from the stages of Arkansas, to sharing the stage with Bess Truman (the daughter of President Harry Truman) at the Starlight Roof at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. The appearance in New York City was through his sponsor at the Pillsbury Grand National Bake-Off.

In January 1949, Jack was able to organize his own band, the Rhythm Ranch Hands. He found a sponsor in the Pillsbury Mills company and began doing broadcasts over various radio stations in Arkansas. In just two years, Jack and his group were working out of radio station KARK in Little Rock, Arkansas and also had a full time writer and producer for their show. In an 1949 article by Arlie Kinkade, he noted that Charles Chuck Secrest of the Sunset Rhythm Boys made a fall trip through Texas and Arkansas and appeared on Jack's show over KTHS in Hot Springs.

In December 1951, Jack was signed to a recording contract by the Capitol Records label. Their first release was a Pee Wee King number, "Postage Due" along with "All I Do Is Sit And Cry", which Jack wrote himself.

They mentioned he was married to Dottee and had two sons, Ray and Dale.

Credits & Sources

  • National Hillbilly News; November-December 1949; Huntington, WV
  • Country Song Roundup No. 18; June 1952; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT
  • Cowboy Songs No. 22; September 1952; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT

Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)
 
Capitol
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  1934 A Postage Due
  1934 B All I Do Is Sit And Cry
  2003 A How Can I Lie To My Heart?
  2003 B Tears In Your Eyes
  2129 A I Learned My Lesson From You
  2129 B Triflin' On Me
  2209 A Send Me The Pillow
  2209 B Standing Outside
  2533 A I Loved You Better Than You Know
  2533 B They Tell Me It's Wrong
  2676 A How Do You Stand With Your Lord?
  2676 B I'll Fly Away