SHREVEPORT SIZZLERS: OUR CITY’S SONGS (1928-1985)
Compiled in December 2008, liner notes revised September 2018.
Songs about Shreveport, songs recorded in Shreveport, songs by Shreveporters, songs on Shreveport record labels.
Listen online: https://www.mixcloud.com/shreveportsongs/4-shreveport-sizzlers-our-citys-songs-1928-1985/
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1 SHREVEPORT SIZZLERS Nervous Breakdown (Okeh 41561, circa 1932)
In the early 1930s, Okeh released two records by the Shreveport Sizzlers. These were actually re-releases of recordings previously issued in 1929 on Columbia by Clarence Williams’ Jazz Kings. Williams was a blues and jazz pioneer from New York by way of Chicago and New Orleans.
2 TAYLOR-GRIGGS LOUISIANA MELODY MAKERS Big Ball Uptown (Victor 21768, 1928)
Hailing from Arcadia, this group regularly performed around North Louisiana and broadcast over radio station KWKH. Containing two Taylors and five Griggs, it was a combined family affair.
3 JOE SHELTON Match Box Blues (Decca 5177, 1935)
After leaving the Lone Star Cowboys, Bob and Joe Attlesey began performing and recording as the Shelton Brothers. In this song popularized by Blind Lemon Jefferson, they interject a reference to Bossier City, which is located across the Red River from Shreveport.
4 OSCAR WOODS (THE LONE WOLF) Evil Hearted Woman Blues (Decca 7904, 1936)
Woods comprised half of the Shreveport Home Wreckers, played guitar on Jimmie Davis’s early recordings, and recorded with the Wampus Cats. Here’s one of his solo recordings.
5 MODERN MOUNTAINEERS Bad Blues (Bluebird 7671, 1937)
This Houston group relocated to Shreveport in 1937 to work for KWKH. It was a short-lived arrangement, but the experience lasted long enough to influence the lyrics to this song.
6 BOOTS DOUGLAS AND HIS BUDDIES ORCHESTRA East Commerce Stomp (Bluebird 10036, 1938)
Hailing from San Antonio, B&HB regularly toured to Shreveport in the late 1930s. They even snagged a musician from our city – trumpeter Sam Player – who can be heard on this song.
7 NOAH MOORE Jerry's Saloon Blues (1940)
Jerry’s Saloon on Texas Avenue and the moving picture show are places to avoid if you’re Moore’s woman. A relative of Lead Belly, Moore recorded this in Oil City for John Lomax, who was visiting town collecting songs.
8 HARMIE SMITH AND THE SOUTHERN SWINGSTERS Weary Trouble on My Mind (RCA-Victor 20-1996, 1945)
Having performed on radio stations in West Virginia, Smith migrated to Shreveport where he played on KWKH and was an original member of the Louisiana Hayride. For this recording, his band features both Webb Pierce and Owen Perry on guitar.
9 PEE WEE HUGHES AND THE DELTA DUO Shreveport Blues (1949)
Hughes recorded four songs in New Orleans, though only two were released at the time. They appeared on a 78 for DeLuxe Records. Here’s one of the unreleased songs.
10 ZEKE CLEMENTS Louisiana (MGM 10552, 1949)
Clements worked for many radio programs around the country over the years. From 1948-1950 he hosted radio shows on KWKH and performed on the Louisiana Hayride. He’s also known for providing the voice of Bashful in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
11 CAROL WILLIAMS Just For Awhile (RAM 100, circa 1955)
A number of firsts: the first release on Mira Smith’s RAM label, the first record for Carol Williams, and the first recording to feature James Burton. Williams married another Shreveporter, Billy Sanford, who went on to become a session guitarist in Nashville.
12 MAYLON HUMPHRIES Worried 'Bout You Baby (1957)
Though Humphries recorded this song over five times (including for Chess Records), it remained unissued until the mid-1970s. His pal, James Burton, plays guitar on this Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup tune. Humphries later cut 45s under the name Maylon D. Witt.
13 GEORGE JONES Nothing Can Stop My Loving You (1958)
Jones was a Louisiana Hayride member from 1955-1956, then he returned for a few shows in 1958. This live recording is from the latter period and includes an introduction by Faron Young.
14 THE FAIRLANES Johnny Rhythm (Lucky Seven 102, 1959)
Here’s a song from this vocal group’s first 45, which was released on a short-lived label operated by Dee Marais and Shelby Singleton. One member, Charles Pennywell, went on to cut a 45 for Smash Records in 1963 and is still performing these days in Las Vegas.
15 JERRY AND BRAD The People Hater (Shad 5009, 1959)
J&B regularly appeared on the Louisiana Hayride during the fall of 1959. Brad Ingles had been performing on the program since 1957 as a member of the Four B’s. The other half of this duo is likely to be Jerry Kennedy.
After leaving the Lone Star Cowboys, Bob and Joe Attlesey began performing and recording as the Shelton Brothers. In this song popularized by Blind Lemon Jefferson, they interject a reference to Bossier City, which is located across the Red River from Shreveport.
4 OSCAR WOODS (THE LONE WOLF) Evil Hearted Woman Blues (Decca 7904, 1936)
Woods comprised half of the Shreveport Home Wreckers, played guitar on Jimmie Davis’s early recordings, and recorded with the Wampus Cats. Here’s one of his solo recordings.
5 MODERN MOUNTAINEERS Bad Blues (Bluebird 7671, 1937)
This Houston group relocated to Shreveport in 1937 to work for KWKH. It was a short-lived arrangement, but the experience lasted long enough to influence the lyrics to this song.
6 BOOTS DOUGLAS AND HIS BUDDIES ORCHESTRA East Commerce Stomp (Bluebird 10036, 1938)
Hailing from San Antonio, B&HB regularly toured to Shreveport in the late 1930s. They even snagged a musician from our city – trumpeter Sam Player – who can be heard on this song.
7 NOAH MOORE Jerry's Saloon Blues (1940)
Jerry’s Saloon on Texas Avenue and the moving picture show are places to avoid if you’re Moore’s woman. A relative of Lead Belly, Moore recorded this in Oil City for John Lomax, who was visiting town collecting songs.
8 HARMIE SMITH AND THE SOUTHERN SWINGSTERS Weary Trouble on My Mind (RCA-Victor 20-1996, 1945)
Having performed on radio stations in West Virginia, Smith migrated to Shreveport where he played on KWKH and was an original member of the Louisiana Hayride. For this recording, his band features both Webb Pierce and Owen Perry on guitar.
9 PEE WEE HUGHES AND THE DELTA DUO Shreveport Blues (1949)
Hughes recorded four songs in New Orleans, though only two were released at the time. They appeared on a 78 for DeLuxe Records. Here’s one of the unreleased songs.
10 ZEKE CLEMENTS Louisiana (MGM 10552, 1949)
Clements worked for many radio programs around the country over the years. From 1948-1950 he hosted radio shows on KWKH and performed on the Louisiana Hayride. He’s also known for providing the voice of Bashful in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
11 CAROL WILLIAMS Just For Awhile (RAM 100, circa 1955)
A number of firsts: the first release on Mira Smith’s RAM label, the first record for Carol Williams, and the first recording to feature James Burton. Williams married another Shreveporter, Billy Sanford, who went on to become a session guitarist in Nashville.
12 MAYLON HUMPHRIES Worried 'Bout You Baby (1957)
Though Humphries recorded this song over five times (including for Chess Records), it remained unissued until the mid-1970s. His pal, James Burton, plays guitar on this Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup tune. Humphries later cut 45s under the name Maylon D. Witt.
13 GEORGE JONES Nothing Can Stop My Loving You (1958)
Jones was a Louisiana Hayride member from 1955-1956, then he returned for a few shows in 1958. This live recording is from the latter period and includes an introduction by Faron Young.
14 THE FAIRLANES Johnny Rhythm (Lucky Seven 102, 1959)
Here’s a song from this vocal group’s first 45, which was released on a short-lived label operated by Dee Marais and Shelby Singleton. One member, Charles Pennywell, went on to cut a 45 for Smash Records in 1963 and is still performing these days in Las Vegas.
15 JERRY AND BRAD The People Hater (Shad 5009, 1959)
J&B regularly appeared on the Louisiana Hayride during the fall of 1959. Brad Ingles had been performing on the program since 1957 as a member of the Four B’s. The other half of this duo is likely to be Jerry Kennedy.
16 THE FIVE JETS The Shake (Jewel 739, 1964)
This group hailed from Alabama and regularly performed on the Bossier Strip at the Sho-Bar in the 1960s. Dale Hawkins produced this record.
17 JERI WILSON The Tease (Part 1 and 2) (Red River 101, circa 1965)
The songwriting credit and the publishing information on this record reveal Jesse Thomas’s involvement. In fact, he even released the record on his own label. It seems likely that he’s also the one playing guitar on this song.
18 DON & JERRY WITH THE FUGITIVES In the Cover of Night (Fabor 140, 1965)
Primarily known as songwriters, Don Griffin and Jerry Strickland perform on this record. In the early 1970s, Strickland worked with Bobby Patterson to write and produce songs for the Paula label. He also co-founded two Shreveport labels: Soul Power and Alarm.
19 JERRY MCCAIN 728 Texas (Where The Action Is) (Jewel 753, 1965)
After spending over 10 years cutting records for a variety of labels, McCain hooked up with Stan Lewis for five 45s. The title of this instrumental references Lewis’s record shop address. “728...Don’t Be Late!”
20 NAT STUCKEY Paralyze My Mind (Paula 243, 1966)
East Texan Nat Stuckey joined the Louisiana Hayride during its later years. He signed with Stan Lewis’s Paula Records and became the label’s most prolific country musician. Be sure to listen for the reference to Kelly’s Truck Stop, which was located west of town on I-20.
21 ABE & MARION ESTER AND THE CASANOVAS That's Why I'm So Sad (Murco 1036, 1967)
Recording with a group as well as solo, the Esters were two of Murco’s most active musicians. This song comes from their first 45 and features Marion on vocals.
22 NOEL ODOM & THE GROUP Pardon My Complete Objection (Uptown 763, 1969)
Having performed at high school dances, teen clubs, and the Bossier Strip, this group travelled to Memphis to record their first record at the Sam C. Phillips Recording Studio. They went on to release two additional 45s.
23 REUBEN BELL What's Happening To The World (House of Orange 2403, 1971)
After recording for Murco in the late 1960s, Bell hooked up with Allen Orange’s label in Nashville. This topical soul ballad was co-written with Geater Davis.
24 BOBBY PATTERSON Right On, Jody (Paula 352, 1972)
Coming from Dallas, Patterson was hired in the early 1970s as an A&R man for Stan Lewis’s Jewel Record Inc. He also got involved with the Sound City recording studio and began recording for Lewis. This song, from his first Paula 45, contains the songwriting credits of three other locals: Jerry Strickland, Jerry Beach, and Reuben Bell.
25 HUMMINGBEES OF SHREVEPORT I'm Not Tired Yet (Memorial 1-4, 1973)
Don Logan, long-time KEEL DJ and Vice President of Sales at Stan Lewis’s Jewel Record Inc., founded a gospel record label in the 1970s. Here’s one of the few local groups to have a release on Memorial.
26 GAY POPPA Mercy Baby (Custom Sound 1007, circa 1970)
Sonrose Rutledge (aka Gay Poppa) began DJ’ing for KOKA in 1963 and later worked as the station’s manager. Here’s a song from his one and only record.
27 E. T. S'port City Rock (De-Pact 317, circa 1985)
Behind the abbreviated moniker is Earl Turner. Disco-funk recorded at Southern Star Studio. Turner still performs and is based out of Las Vegas.
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