SHREVEPORT MY HOME TOWN: OUR CITY’S SONGS (1923-1981)
Compiled in December 2006, liner notes revised May 2018.
Songs about Shreveport, songs recorded in Shreveport, songs by Shreveporters, songs on Shreveport record labels.
Listen online: https://www.mixcloud.com/shreveportsongs/2-shreveport-my-home-town-our-citys-songs-1923-1981/
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1 VIRGINIA LISTON - Shreveport Blues (Okeh 8122, 1923)
2 EDDIE AND SUGAR LOU'S HOTEL TYLER ORCHESTRA - K. W. K. H. Blues (Vocalion 1445, 1929)
3 SHREVEPORT HOME WRECKERS - Fence Breakin' Blues (Victor 23275, 1930)
4 LEON'S LONE STAR COWBOYS - I'm A Do Right Papa (Decca 5361, 1935)
5 THREE FIFTEEN AND HIS SQUARES - Saturday Night On Texas Avenue (Vocalion 3515, 1937)
6 THE RANGE RIDERS - The Range Riders Stomp (Vocalion 3579, 1937)
7 RICE BROTHERS GANG - You Are My Sunshine (Decca 5763, 1939)
8 NETTLE BROTHERS STRING BAND - Fannin’ Street Blues (Bluebird 8720, 1941)
9 ROY BROWN WITH BOB OGDEN & ORCH. - Good Rocking Tonight (DeLuxe 1093, 1947)
10 HANK WILLIAMS - Cool Water (1949)
11 RED SOVINE - Groovy Boy (MGM 10642, 1950)
12 "STICK-HORSE" HAMMOND - Highway 51 (JOB 105, 1950)
13 CLAUDE KING - Beer And Pinballs (Gotham 411, 1951)
14 WILLIE CASTON AND THE EVER READY GOSPEL SINGERS - When The Moon Goes Down (Abbott 149, 1953)
15 REV. UTAH SMITH - Two Wings (Checker 785, 1953)
16 JAMES WILSON AND THE JIMMIE-CATS - Wilson Blues No. 1 (RAM 15551, 1956)
17 MARGARET LEWIS - Shake A Leg (RAM 1611-9, 1959)
18 CARL BELEW - Cool Gator Shoes (Decca 9-30947, 1959)
19 ELGIE BROWN - Let Me Feel It (circa 1960)
20 BILL BUSH - I'm Waiting (Ronn 17, 1965)
21 THE PEERMONTS - Makin' Out - Part 1 (Murco 1030, 1967)
22 THE CHEQUES - To Stone (Boss Rock 101, 1967)
23 DORI GRAYSON - Try Love (Murco 1038, 1968)
24 LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS - Uncle Stan, The Hip Hit Record Man (Jewel 825, 1968)
25 THE ROGUE SHOW - Make Me Over Again (Paula 339, 1971)
26 ROAD RUNNERS - Every Man For Himself (Custom Sound 1023, circa 1971)
27 REUBEN BELL - Superjock (Alarm 111, 1976)
28 THE WEDGEHEADS - Shreveport Means Business (1981)
29 TERRY LEE - Shreveport My Home Town (PAMS, 1961)
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1 VIRGINIA LISTON - Shreveport Blues (Okeh 8122, 1923)
VL on vocals accompanied by Clarence Williams' Blue Five. She came from a vaudeville background, while Williams rose from Storyville pianist to successful music businessman through writing, publishing, and producing music in New York and Chicago.
2 EDDIE AND SUGAR LOU'S HOTEL TYLER ORCHESTRA - K. W. K. H. Blues (Vocalion 1445, 1929)
From Tyler, Texas, this group regularly traveled the 100 miles to Shreveport for performances broadcast on KWKH radio station.
3 SHREVEPORT HOME WRECKERS - Fence Breakin' Blues (Victor 23275, 1930)
Two Shreveport guitarists make up the SHW -- Oscar "Buddy" Woods and Ed "Dizzy Head" Schaffer. Both played on Jimmie Davis’s blues records in the early 1930s.
4 LEON'S LONE STAR COWBOYS - I'm A Do Right Papa (Decca 5361, 1935)
Leon Chappelear led the Lone Star Cowboys once Bob & Joe Attlesey left to form the Shelton Brothers. A friend of Jimmie Davis's, LC led a turbulent life going from policeman to Angola inmate to poundmaster to gas station worker. Until his tragic suicide, he consistently pursued a career in music.
5 THREE FIFTEEN AND HIS SQUARES - Saturday Night On Texas Avenue (Vocalion 3515, 1937)
Dave Bluntson (aka 315) on piano and vocals. A celebration of Shreveport's Texas Avenue -- a vibrant multicultural thoroughfare that doubled as United States Route 80, a transcontinental highway connecting Georgia to California.
6 THE RANGE RIDERS - The Range Riders Stomp (Vocalion 3579, 1937)
This group performed over radio stations KWKH and KTBS. Recorded at the same Hot Springs, Arkansas, session that 315 cut his song about Texas Avenue.
7 RICE BROTHERS GANG - You Are My Sunshine (Decca 5763, 1939)
RBG joined KWKH's Saturday Night Roundup (a precursor to the Louisiana Hayride) and performed on KTBS as the Southern Maid Donut Boys. This song was first recorded by the Pine Ridge Boys (from Atlanta, Georgia) in August 1939, then the RGB in September 1939, then Jimmie Davis purchased the rights to the song and recorded it in February 1940.
8 NETTLE BROTHERS STRING BAND - Fannin’ Street Blues (Bluebird 8720, 1941)
Prolific songwriter Bill Nettles hailed from Natchitoches, Louisiana. He moved to Shreveport where his band the Dixie Blue Boys performed on local radio stations (KRMD, KTBS) from about 1938 to 1946.
9 ROY BROWN WITH BOB OGDEN & ORCH. - Good Rocking Tonight (DeLuxe 1093, 1947)
RB said performing at Shreveport’s Palace Park nightclub was a formative experience where he developed his blues singing style. Following the release of this successful song, he continued to appear at the nightclub about twice a year until 1951.
10 HANK WILLIAMS - Cool Water (1949)
A song by the Sons of the Pioneers, HW cut this acetate disc demo recording at KWKH. While living in Shreveport/Bossier City from August 1948 to June 1949, he performed on a morning radio show and the Louisiana Hayride.
11 RED SOVINE - Groovy Boy (MGM 10642, 1950)
From 1948 to 1955, RS could be heard on KWKH performing his morning radio show and on the Louisiana Hayride. He composed this song about Ray "Groovy Boy" Bartlett, a KWKH rhythm and blues disc jockey and Hayride emcee.
12 "STICK-HORSE" HAMMOND - Highway 51 (JOB, 1950)
A resident of the nearby Taylortown community, Nathaniel Hammond’s nickname derives from his peg-leg. Recorded at KWKH and released by JOB -- Jimmie, Owens, and (Ray) Bartlett.
13 CLAUDE KING - Beer And Pinballs (Gotham 411, 1951)
Written by CK’s long-time collaborator and manager, Tillman Franks. King hailed from the nearby community of Keithville.
14 WILLIE CASTON AND THE EVER READY GOSPEL SINGERS - When The Moon Goes Down (Abbott 149, 1953)
Originally led by disc jockey Willie Caston, the ERGS formed in 1946 and were still performing as recent as 2006. For this song, Charles Graves provides lead vocals.
15 REV. UTAH SMITH - Two Wings (Checker 785, 1953)
Locals still remember this guitar evangelist, tent revival leader, and faith healer. An explosive blend of electric guitar and gospel. Born in the Cedar Grove neighborhood, he now rests in an unmarked grave at Carver Memorial Cemetery.
16 JAMES WILSON AND THE JIMMIE-CATS - Wilson Blues No. 1 (RAM 15551, 1956)
JW, a 16-year-old student at Fair Park High School, worked with Mira Smith of RAM Records to record one of Shreveport's first rockabilly records. James Burton on lead guitar.
17 MARGARET LEWIS - Shake A Leg (RAM 1611-9, 1959)
Migrating from West Texas, ML and her sister joined Dale Hawkins's band as backing vocalists. ML then worked with Mira Smith at RAM for a lengthy and fruitful relationship. Recorded at the RAM recording studio on Lakeshore Drive, this song appeared on her second 45.
18 CARL BELEW - Cool Gator Shoes (Decca 9-30947, 1959)
CB was part of the Louisiana Hayride from 1957 to 1959. This song was written by his regular songwriting collaborator, Tommy Blake, another local.
19 ELGIE BROWN - Let Me Feel It (circa 1960)
EB first appeared on the Shreveport rhythm and blues scene in the 1950s and led a band called the Downbeats. This track was recorded at the RAM studio.
20 BILL BUSH - I'm Waiting (Ronn 17, 1968)
At the time of this recording, BB was a 24-year-old sophomore at Centenary College, and his band performed nightly at the Town and Country Motor Hotel in Bossier City.
21 THE PEERMONTS - Makin' Out - Part 1 (Murco 1030, 1967)
From the first record by this band led by guitarist/songwriter Jimmy Johnson. He later operated the Peermont Recording Studio and taught guitar lessons.
22 THE CHEQUES - To Stone (Boss Rock 101, 1967)
Recorded in Shreveport and published by Bossier Music Co., this group’s members were stationed at the England Air Force Base (Alexandria, La.).
23 DORI GRAYSON - Try Love (Murco 1038, 1968)
One of the few local women to make rhythm and blues recordings, this comes from DG’s first release.
24 LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS - Uncle Stan, The Hip Hit Record Man (Jewel 825, 1968)
Stan Lewis released many records by bluesman LH. Here's a song named after the Record Man himself.
25 THE ROGUE SHOW - Make Me Over Again (Paula 339, 1971)
RS formed around 1968 and played dances/concerts at area high schools and colleges. This song comes from their first of three 45s.
26 ROAD RUNNERS - Every Man For Himself (Custom Sound 1023, 1969)
Bethune High School students recorded this funk instrumental at Sound City on Line Avenue. The same year, they played a NAACP soul music festival at the Municipal Auditorium.
27 REUBEN BELL - Superjock (Alarm 111, 1976)
About a decade into his recording career (usually known for melancholy ballads), RB delivered this upbeat tribute to disc jockeys.
28 THE WEDGEHEADS - Shreveport Means Business (1981)
Contenders for Shreveport's first punk band, they made a demo tape, but never issued a record. This song spoofs the city's motto at the time.
29 TERRY LEE - Shreveport My Home Town (PAMS, 1961)
Dallas production company PAMS churned out "My Hometown" songs for radio stations across the country. Presumably made for local station KEEL.