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| Ray Bartlett's Groovey Boy promotional photograph (1950) |
Ray Bartlett moved to Shreveport in 1947 to work for KWKH. At the radio station, he performed a variety of jobs. This included serving as a morning announcer, disc jockey, and emcee on the newly established Louisiana Hayride. Perhaps Bartlett’s most celebrated role, though, involved his jive-talking “Groovie Boy” persona who spun rhythm and blues records on the radio show “Groovie’s Boogie.”
Groovie left his mark in a variety of places. He’s immortalized in song thanks to Bartlett’s Shreveport friend and stage partner Red Sovine – “Groovy Boy” (MGM 10642, 1950), also covered by Webb Pierce and His Southern Valley Boys as “Groovie Boogie Woogie Boy” (4 Star 1447, 1950). Early 1950s newspaper advertisements reveal Groovie had a stake in Groovie’s Record Department located within the Hull Furniture store. According to music biographers, Groovie’s influence shaped the listening habits of teenagers like Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly.
While no recordings of the “Groovie’s Boogie” radio show have surfaced, we can hear Ray Bartlett host an installment of “Stan’s Record Revue” from December 1951. Sponsored by Shreveport record store owner Stan Lewis, this radio show featured blues and gospel releases available for mail order at discount prices. Just remember: “Late folks, this is not one big hit record and four records that you never heard of before in your life. All five of the records that you get in the Howlin’ Wolf Blues Special are the biggest hits in the nation right today, and only Stan’s Record Shop, Shreveport, Louisiana, makes the offer!”
Thanks for providing details: the Bartlett family, Andrew Brown, and Stan Lewis.
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Stan's Record Revue radio show (KWKH, December 1951)
Hosted by Ray Bartlett
[00:00-00:10] Bartlett talks
[00:10-03:10] Roy Milton - Christmas Time Blues (Specialty 381, 1950)
[03:10-04:25] Bartlett talks - "Stan's Christmas Blues Special"
1. Lowell Fulson - Lonesome Christmas Part 1 / Lonesome Christmas Part 2
2. Roy Milton - Christmas Time Blues / Oh Babe (Specialty 381, 1950)
3. Charles Brown - Merry Christmas Baby / Lost in the Night (Swing Time 238, 1950)
4. Roy Hawkins - I Walk Alone / Gloom and Misery All Around (Modern 842, 1951)
5. Amos Milburn - She's Gone Again / Boogie-Woogie (Aladdin 3105, 1951)
[04:25-06:50] Roberta Martin Singers - He's All I Need (Fidelity 2000, 1951)
[06:50-07:45] Bartlett talks
[07:45-10:40] Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - She Winked Her Eye (Peacock 1576, 1951)
[10:40-13:10] Bartlett talks - "Howlin' Wolf Blues Special"
1. Howlin' Wolf - How Many More Years / Moanin' At Midnight (Chess 1479, 1951)
2. John Lee Hooker - I'm in the Mood / How Can You Do It (Modern 835, 1951)
3. Larks - Little Side Car / Hey Little Girl (Apollo 429, 1951)
4. Muddy Waters - Still A Fool / My Fault (Chess 1480, 1951)
5. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - She Winked Her Eye / Sad Hour (Peacock 1576, 1951)
[13:10-15:20] Roy Milton - Best Wishes (Specialty 414, 1951)
[15:20-17:40] Bartlett talks
[17:40-20:10] Pilgrim Travelers - Who Am I (Specialty 807, 1951)
[20:10-22:20] Bartlett talks - "Stan's Spiritual Special"
1. Soul Stirrers - Joy, Joy To My Soul / Come, Let's Go Back To God (Specialty 813, 1951)
2. Original Gospel Harmonettes - I'm Sealed / Just to Behold His Face (Specialty 811, 1951)
3. The Spiritual Stars - Good Religion / I'll Search Heaven (Chess 1485, 1951)
4. Detroiters - Mother Don't Cry About Your Child / Let Jesus Lead You (Specialty 809, 1951)
5. Pilgrim Travelers - Jesus, I'm Thankful / Who Am I (Specialty 807, 1951)
[22:20-23:20] Percy Mayfield - Cry Baby (Speciality 416, 1951)
[23:20-23:45] Bartlett talks - Stan's Record Revue details
[23:45-24:09] Percy Mayfield - Cry Baby (Speciality 416, 1951)
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| KWKH program log: 4:15-5:00pm Groovie's Boogie, 10:30-11:00pm Stan's Record Revue, 7:15-7:30am Red Sovine, 8:30-8:45am Webb Pierce. Source: Shreveport Times (Shreveport, Louisiana), December 6, 1951. Full size display. |
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| Groovie's Record Department advertisement. Source: Shreveport Sun (Shreveport, Louisiana), February 4, 1950. |
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| Groovie's 10 Top Tunes advertisements. Source: Shreveport Sun (Shreveport, Louisiana), February 11, 1950 and March 4, 1950. |
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| Red Sovine and Ray Bartlett at CHS (Shreveport's Central High School?), circa 1950 |