The emergence of Recording Studios in West Texas
Back when I was playing in rock bands around Amarillo in the sixties the favorite place to record was in Clovis, NM. (125 miles SW of Amarillo.) This pattern of West Texans going there to record had first begun when Roy Orbison and Buddy Knox recorded there in 1955 and 1956 respectively. Roy and the Teen Kings had cut the first version of 'Ooby Dooby' at Petty's and Knox had cut the chart-stopper 'Party Doll' at Norman Petty's studio there the next year. When Knox's record went to #2 and Orbison's record garnered him a contract with Sun Records in Memphis,Tn other aspiring West Texas rockers wanted to record at Pettys! This was the Lubbock-Amarillo crowd which included Buddy Holly, Larry Trider and Terry Nolan among others. This tradition continued well into the sixties as 'hit records' continued to flow from the magical little studio on West Seventh street in Clovis. However, as word of Petty's Hits grew, small studios in West Texas begin to pop-up along the border with New Mexico. Here is an essay on some of them.
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High Fidelity House Studio, Big Spring, Tx
The famous folk singer Carolyn Hester once said, "Norman Petty's studio in Clovis was probably the best studio for hundreds of miles. I made my first album there...." Although this was true there were a few more, adequately equipped studios that West Texas musicians could record in, during the late fifties & sixties. In 1958 one such studio opened in Big Spring,Tx. and was called 'High Fidelity House'. The owner was Ben Hall who was an employee of a local television station there. Since Big Spring was relatively close to the Odessa-Midland area this studio attracted musicians of that area along with Abilene and San Angelo. Within a year, Hall's recordings were being released on national labels and also his own label 'Gaylo'. After many 'almost hits' finally in 1964 the studio produced the smash 'Bread and Butter' by the Newbeats which rose to #2 on the pop charts! But prior to this record Sammy Lara had also received national attention on the Dick Clark Show. He did not appear on the show but one of his records was played on American Bandstand. The Newbeats hit undoubtedly brought a flow of more West Texans to this studio to record! Hall's wife also worked in the studio as a bass player, I should add.
The studio's owners (Ben Hall & Dena) had lived in Lubbock prior to coming to Big Spring, which is on the southern extremity of the Llano Estacado. It was in Lubbock that he first became acquanted with Buddy Holly and when Holly had cut his first record for Decca (That'll be the Day) one of Hall's songs was included, 'Blue Days Black Nights'. His song was probably the B side and this first version of 'That'll be the Day' did not sell well either (recorded at Bradley's Barn in Nashville). Nevertheless, Hall has the distinction of being a writer on Holly's first record. In 1968 after operating his studio in Big Spring,Tx for a decade Ben Hall and his wife moved to Nashville and setup a brand new studio where more successes seemed to have followed. (Consult the booklett: 'West Texas Rock'n Roll Music' by Bill Griggs.)
Jimmy Blakley's Studio in Roswell & Lubbock
Sometime in perhaps the later fifties a musician from Roswell, NM became interested in opening his own recording studio. Jimmy Blakley had already done quite a bit of recording at Petty's Studio prior to this time (including 'Sugartime' by Charlie Phillips) and it appears that he wanted to expand and try engineering. This steel-guitar player seems to have approached Norman about purchasing some of his outdated equipment. At about this same time Petty must have retired his main Berlant recorder and it was available. So, he sold it to Blakley who first set up a studio in Roswell before he purchased the Palm Room (night club) and moved to Lubbock, perhaps around 1965.
It has been written that Petty had used Ampex recorders exclusively in the early days of his studio. However, according to Jimmy Self (a close associate of Petty's) in 1954 Self cut his first record on a Berlant Concertone machine in Clovis, the same one that Blakley later purchased! Nevertheless, when Blakley made his move to Lubbock he brought the Berlant recorder and setup another studio in a private part of his night club, the Palm Room. Blakley was mainly into country music so it is unclear if any other type Lubbock bands ever recorded at the Palm Room. Yet Blakley himself produced a top-forty country hit for United Artist (Honky-Tonk Princess) on Petty's old Berlant recorder during this era, according to his son. So, it would be difficult to argue that Blakley's studio didn't qualify as a 'professional studio'.
Checkmate Studio & Cox Studio, Amarillo, Tx
Checkmate & Cox Studio--Amarillo,TX
In the mid-sixties Amarillo singer Ray Ruff (aka Ray Ruffin) got hold of some good Ampex equipment and opened a studio in Amarillo on NE 24th street, I think it was. As I have mentioned in another article, I recorded there on two occasions during this time frame. The studio was located in Trades Fair Shopping center and once when the engineer was late we played pool in a nearby billard hall as we waited. My recollection of the studio is that it was wide-tape format (1/2 or 1 inch tape) and we laid down at least 2 overdubs after the basic tracks were recorded. So, the studio either had a 4-track Ampex or Ruff was tracking between two, stereo Ampex machines. Nevertheless, the studio was professionally equipped and no garage setup. (note: Later research indicates that it was a 3-track system when Larry Cox took over the studio in c.1966).
The cuts we made were clean and reminiscent of what Petty had produced, when I recorded in Clovis in 1964. In the mid-sixties Ruff's studio very probably could have produced a hit, but I never heard of one coming from it. One song by Patti Seymour was played up as a hit, anyway. I know a number of Amarillo-Canyon groups did record there as did the Checkmates and possibly Buddy Knox. Buddy Knox signed to release one single on the Ruff Label during this same time. Also, Glen Frye of the Eagles stated that he had once recorded at Checkmate Studio in Amarillo as did J. Frank Wilson. I've read that Amarilloan J.D. Souther and Frye were roomates out in California during the later sixties. I wonder if perhaps Souther hadn't brought Frye to Ruff's studio back in 1965-66 when Frye may have been visiting in Amarillo. Perhaps their friendship dates back even before they got together in California. Incidently, J. D. Souther co-wrote several of the Eagle's biggest hits including 'New Kid in Town'! A Hayes, Kansas group 'The Blue Things' also signed with Ruff and had some singles on Ruff & Sully labels, before signing with RCA. Amarillo groups that recorded with Ruff include the Tiaras and the Illusions, two of Amarillo's finest bands of the mid-sixties. The Tiaras released several records on what seems to have been their own label, Alliance.
A local DJ named Larry Cox took over Checkmate Studio sometime in 1966 (it appears) and had some success in getting some songs on major labels, according to an advertisement the author has seen. Cox may have eventually re-named the facility 'STUDIO 7' as he established a label of this same name. One of Amarillo's leading rock bands 'Deuces Wild' recorded with Cox and their songs were released on what appears to be their own label in 1966......Deuce Label. This record is now a West Texas collectible! Other singers and musicians that recorded with Cox also include Max Barton, Robin Brown and Robert Ashcraft.
Tommy Allsup & AOK Studio, Odessa, Tx
One other good studio in the Permian Basin area was operating in Odessa in 1963 and later. The owner/operator was another of Petty's associates, Tommy Allsup. This fine Oklahoma guitarist had played and toured with Buddy Holly on the last tour and then opened a studio on the outskirts of Odessa a few years later. (The only professional studio in Odessa to predate Allsup's studio was run by one Charles 'Hoot' Gibson but the author has little info on this one). Nevertheless, Allsup's partner was Gorman Maxwell (his brother-in-law) and they seemed to have been operating an adequately equipped studio at this time until the later sixties. They also established a BMI publishing company and label. I learned of their studio through a friend of mine Robert Ashcraft, a bass player from Midland who had played in my first college rock group. Ashcraft had recorded at Allsup's studio with Al Perkins (I think it was) just before I met him. Our meeting was in late 1964 in Canyon. He reported that some good recordings were being made there and I didn't doubt that this was true because Robert was a very good musician himself. I later confimrmed this when I began collecting records that came from Westex studio. Anyway by the later sixties Tommy Allsup had produced a legitimate hit titled "In the Year 2525" and seems to have decided to move to Nashville as a result. (Further research indicates that Allsup was given no credit on the 45 record, as a producer or engineer). Nevertheless, during the mid-sixties a number of singers and bands from the Midland-Odessa, Big Spring and Abilene-San Angelo area did record at this studio which is often called the 'Tommy Allsup Studio'. One of the most famous rock bands of West Texas "The Sparkles" also had recorded here. I read that one of their more noted songs 'The Hip' came from this studio and it was released on the Hickory label of Nashville, as were other Allsup recordings.
An example of lesser known groups that recorded at this studio is Buzzy Barnhill and his rockabilly band from Turkey,Tx . They had heard about this distant studio and drove 200 miles (one-way) to record here in 1966. The two original songs they recorded were 'Something Different' and 'I Love' and featured Frank 'Buzzy' Barnhill singing and picking guitar with drummer Gary Johnson on drums. Other members were B.J. Mullin (bass) & Sonny Mullin (guitar).This band had first recorded in Plainview in Harry Bray's cellar-studio but Tommy Allsup produced their 2nd release (Twixt-Tween) which is a much cleaner and more commercial sound! The Artist credit on the record 'Buzz Barnhill and the Four Counts' seems to indicate that the group had 5 members but there were only four!
Allsup and Maxwell also established several labels including the AOK label of Odessa. Some of the artists that had 45's on this label include: New Roadrunners, The Shades, The Continentals, The Wry Catchers, Fred Crawford, Freddy Frank, Jim McCrary & Scotty Graham.
Don Caldwell Studio, Lubbock, Tx
In the later sixties or early seventies Don Caldwell (of Slaton,Tx) put-in a Scully 4-track studio in Lubbock. Caldwell had played in a band with Gary Nunn (The Nightbeats) before 1966 and his studio soon became a center for Lubbock area musicians who wanted to record. Caldwell also established Phone Publishing & Texas Soul records in conjunction with his studio about the same time. A number of 45 rpm records (and albums) were released during possibly the late sixties and seventies under the guidance of Don Caldwell and his main engineer/producer Lloyd Maines. By the mid-seventies he had 16-track equipment.
Many noted Lubbock musicians appear to have recorded with Don Caldwell during this time. Musicians such as Joe Ely, Jesse Taylor, Butch Hancock, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Terry Allen, Lloyd & Kenny Maines were associated with Caldwell during this era. Since it was a public studio all types of music including rock, country and gospel were recorded here. Ironically not much soul music seems to have been recorded here. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that when Caldwell made Scully equipment available to the Lubbock musicians, they had a facility that was capable of producing a hit. By c.1976 they had updated to a 16 track studio and they did produce at least one top-forty country hit, during the later seventies (Unfortunately the artist/title escapes me). They also produced at least one MCA album for Joe Ely in the seventies. Some of Joe Ely's early singles were also produced here including his regional hit 'My fingers click when I play the piano'.
In the seventies the Maines Brothers band also made several albums (Texas Soul label) here which led to a contract with Mercury Records! The Caldwell recording studio eventually led owner Don Caldwell into becoming the director/manager of the important Cactus Theatre in Lubbock. Many fine stage-shows are held here annualy under his guidance and supervision and some have been televised.
Unlimited Sound Studio, Lubbock, Tx
In the latter sixties it appears that a DJ from KSEL radio 'Chuck Baker' and an educator 'Virgil Johnson' operated a studio together in north Lubbock for awhile. Johnson had previously sang with the Velvets and was interested in R & B music and seems to have been producing/managing some such bands. The other owner's identity is something of a mystery but at the time he was going by 'Chuck Baker' which may have been his on-air moniker. Nevertheless, a young musician 'Barry Bynum' recalls that one band (The Boys) did record here and the group was made of students from Texas Tech and were very popular around Lubbock. They recorded one of Bynum's original songs titled "Queen Leonardo" which today he describes as being rather spacey and featuring non-sensical lyrics. A guess is that the song was not slow and probably had a syncopated beat! Since Bynum moved not long after it was recorded, he is unsure if it ever was released or not.
During the time this studio was in operation there were four young Lubbock girls that were also playing rock pretty well. They were called the 'Heartbeats' and they had won a Dick Clark contest in 1968. They also had a couple of records out. The Heartbeats are said to have recorded "Time Won't Let Me" at the Unlimited Sound studio in Lubbock.
Bynum says this about the studio, "The equipment was pretty basic, I think they were still using one of those mixers with the big round knobs, probably radio spec...1/4 inch tape machines, probably Ampex . Overdubs were done by bouncing between two machines probably. I think they were listening to playback on Voice of Theater Altecs. At some point a visitor brought in a Leslie Tone Guitar Cabinet, to show it to us. I was amazed, as I had never seen one!"
Nesman Studio, Wichita Falls, Tx
Another studio that that is worth mentioning is Lewis Nesman's Studio in Wichita Falls,TX. John Ingram states "Buddy Holly used this studio to cut demos in 1955 and the studio was also used for West Texas artists signed to the King label of Cincinnati. Nesman's studio was active from early 1950's into the 1980's (and perhaps later)." Since the big King label released some recordings from this studio we must assume some quality recording was going on here!
Venture Studio & Mitchell Studio, Lubbock, Tx
In 1956 a young man named Bobby Peebles opened a small recording studio on 19th Street, near Lubbock High School called 'Venture Studio'. The only known recording from it appears to be a demo tape of Buddy Holly, J.I. Allison and some other local musicians. It was in late 1956 that young Holly and the group recorded 12 cover songs here. From the original demo tape (on 3 3/4 ips speed) some of the songs were transferred to digital recordings & released as a CD in 2004. (Vigotone Box Set). It is unclear if Peebles studio was equipped with a high speed recorder or if it had any professional equipment but nevertheless his 'studio' did produce a tape that is now a collector's item!
Another studio that appears to have been active in Lubbock in c.1960 was at this address: Mitchell Recording Studio, 2615 38th St, Lubbock. An acetate recording by the Emeralds of (Brownfield,TX) titled "Spring Fever" / Dreams & Wishes" still exists. It is also stated that David Box did some recordings at 'Mitchell's Studio' in Lubbock in this same time frame. (source: John Ingram )
14 Carrot Studio of Amarillo,TX
Billy Stull--Amarillo,TX
Billy Stull a noted guitarist opened a music store on the north side of Amarillo in c.1973 and called it 'Billy's Band Aid' . Not long after
he bought a 4-track Tascam or Teac recorder and setup a demo studio in the back of the store. Eventually he would name his studio '14 Carrot Studio'. One of the first released recordings he made on this equipment was a country song titled 'A Sleepless Nite with You' and was sung by Cherrill (Carley) Dyson. It now appears that Stull used a local nightclub band 'Bobby Hughes and the Western Heartbeats' to back Dyson on this session. The song was soon released by Robin Brown on his local label 'Smashville Sound' and the record was distributed to local country stations where it did receive moderate air-play. Brown carried the song to Nashville and Sawgrass publishing in 1975 showed an interest, but no contracts were ever signed with Mel Tillis's company.
Stull himself was a blues-rock guitarist and had previously recorded with 'The Cords' out in Clovis, NM. This was a popular rock band that was from Amarillo who were active in the mid to later sixties. Through Norman Petty the band garnered at least one release on the big ATCO label on which Stull was featured. By the time Stull opened his business in Amarillo, he seems to have been playing with other musicians and was into B.B. King guitar blues. As his music store grew he obviously also expanded and updated his studio equipment to the point where it attracted the attention of Norman Petty and other competitors. He seems to have recorded all types of music including Country, Western Swing, Rock, Soul and Blues at this facility. During this period, Stull's skills as an engineer and guitarist were also growing, it appears. Therefore, not long after Norman Petty died in 1984 his estate hired Billy Stull to move to Clovis and manage Petty's big, downtown studio which ended his engineering efforts in Amarillo. After a successful run in Clovis Stull seems to have become intrigued with South Texas. For awhile he ran a Texas label and studio there and then migrated further south and opened a 'mastering studio' on Padre Island.
Harry Bray's Studio, Plainview, Tx
In 1964 an amateur songwriter/musician moved to Plainview,Tx and put in a garage-type studio, at the back of his Used Car Lot. Harry Bray was the man and his studio was actually a cellar that he had built just for this purpose. Although Bray's little facility was not professionaly equipped (sound-on-sound, mono recordings mainly) Bray did produce a lot of 45's on his Twixt Tween and Satin labels. Although it was basically a 'private studio' where Bray tinkered with his original songs at least on one occasion a rock band from Turkey, Tx rented the studio. Bray recorded two original songs for them. Since the recordings were done in such a limited facility they had a garage-band feel that radio stations weren't catering to at the time.
One of the songs 'Summers Gone Away' finally received good reviews when musician-critic Dac Crowell stated that he had purchased this record in a discount record shop in Nashville in his youth and he considered it to be the proto-type of all garage-band recordings! He also said that a college radio station somewhere had spun the record and the kids on campus went wild! They requested it over and over!! I'm proud to say that I know/knew all the musicians in this country-rock band which included Buzzy Barnhill, Sonny Mullin, Billy Joe Mullin and Gary Johnson Congratulations to you early rockers from Turkey, Tx. for your first Twixt-Tween release! Although it didn't make the 'hit parade' in 1965, it's never too late to receive some credit!!
Radio & TV Station Recordings
Aside from actual recording studios, good recording equipment was also available at many radio and television stations in the fifties & sixties. One of the first records made by the String-a-longs of Plainview had been cut in a radio station in Amarillo. It was released as the Rock'n Rollers on the Ven label out of Hereford, TX and is a collectible record today.(source: Aubrey Cordova) When my first band appeared on Walsh Food Talent Show at KDUB television in 1958 the show's audio was recorded. The Sunset Ramblers, a local Western Swing band of Lubbock backed most of the acts on this occasion, except our instrumental trio. I recall that we sat around and listened to the recordings after the show and snickered. My sister's trio 'The Sparklettes' had also performed that day and my little trio was either billed as the Swing Kings or Three Notes (of Matador, Tx). The girls were fifteen and my trio was composed of thirteen year old boys so one can imagine how advanced we were! It brings a tear to my eye to discover and say, "Yes, we made our television debut playing a half century ago....!!
Anyway, I recall this event just to illustrate how some recordings came about, outside of recording studios. I suppose it is possible that some of those old Walsh-KDUB recordings are sitting on a shelf somewhere (South Plains College), just waiting to be discovered and played again. I'd love to hear Don Allen and the Sunset Ramblers one more time but I don't think the songs my trio recorded would even be 'interesting'. Other musicians that also made the same type recordings in Lubbock include important artists such as Wayland Jennings & Buddy Holly. They did some of their earliest recordings at KLLL and KDAV radio stations respectively.
Record Labels of West Texas
While I'm reviewing West Texas music I think that I should at least write about some of the rare record labels that originated in this region. Since few of these labels ever produced more than a regional hit, in the trade they were generally known as trash-can labels. However today many of these labels & records are collected by collectors who specialize in Texas Music. If you want further information you can refer also to my Index of Texas Labels on another page of this website.
Banner Records, Lubbock, Tx
Banner Records seems to have originated in either San Antonio or Lubbock and this label released a number of recordings by various Lubbock and area artists during the mid-sixties, before moving on to Nashville. My intuition says that Banner was probably associated with one of the local radio stations or record shops in Lubbock and was owned by one Bill Crawford. I do know that Sky Corbin a disc jockey had one of the first releases on Banner records (c.1963) and his family had owned KLLL radio in Lubbock at the time. Another disc jockey working in Lubbock also had a release on Banner in about 1965. His name was Jack Reno and he was a country singer also. Later he became a regular on the Ozark Jubilee. This labels seems to have catered to Country Acts but there were some rock oriented songs also including "Afraid of the Dark" by Sylvia Marie. Two other artists that had releases on Banner were Jim Peters and Lee Harmon. Harmon's singles are collected by some traditional country buffs today. This label may have still been in business in 1975 and perhaps later in Nashville after their final move.
TIME records, Dalhart, Tx
Perhaps the oldest label from our region may be the TIME label. Somewhere between 1946 and 1951 this company released a number of 78 rpm records which were by 'Billy Briggs and the XIT Boys' among others. On at least one of these records it states: Allender's Midwest Records, Dalhart, Texas. According to this notation I feel that the owner of the Time label, was also possibly the owner of a record outlet in Dalhart and his/her name was probably Allender. Anyway, Billy Briggs wrote 'Chew Tobacco Rag', which became a national hit during this same time frame and if his first version was on TIME records the Dalhart label cannot be dismissed as being totally irrelevent! But I'm not sure on this point. Nevertheless, another artist & band called Tommy Elliott and the Line Riders also appeared on the TIME label, during this same time period as did several other artists including Keith Lloyd & Sons of the Golden West, Gene Armstrong & the West Texas Nitehawks. Some of these same recordings (by both Elliott & Briggs) have recently been re-issued on a modern CD called: Texas Dance Hall Music, which adds validity to the old Time label!
Caprock records, Big Spring,Tx
Caprock is an early West Texas label that deserves some mention. A disc jockey named Hank Harral established the Caprock label down in Big Spring, Tx. where he was employed at a local radio station. In 1958-59 he released a number of CAPROCK 45's by Texas musicians from that area including Hoyle Nix, Jimmy Haggett and Durwood Haddock (also known as Durwood Daly). Hank Harral also appears to have been a singer/musician as he is listed on several of the releases himself. According to a discography of CAPROCK records, there were at least 11 different artists who had releases on the CAPROCK label in 1958-59. This sure sounds as though Mr. Harral was trying to make a business out of his label. And at least one song titled 'Big Balls in Cowtown' played by Hoyle Nix and his West Texas Cowboys' became a hit and something of a cowboy anthem, but did this occurr after another label had picked it up? Nevertheless, CAPROCK was one of the most active and successful of the West Texas labels during the late fifties, because of Nix's country standard.
Je-Wel of Odessa,TX
When Roy Oribson and his band from Wink, Texas (The Teen Kings) first recorded in Clovis, NM in 1955 they couldn’t find a national label to release their songs. So, businessman Chester Oliver and DJ Weldon Rogers of Odessa decided to give the boys a hand and had the two songs (Ooby Dooby / Trying To Get To You) released on a private label which they named Je-Wel. The songs received some air play locally and this produced sales across West Texas. This prompted someone to mail a record to Sam Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. According to history, Phillips seems to have liked Orbison’s voice but not the recording quality. He therefore offered a contract to Orbison if he would come to Memphis and re-cut his favorite of the two songs, Ooby Dooby. The short of the story is that the Sun Recording became a minor hit for Roy Orbison and it launched his great career. Sometime after this, Chester Oliver left the Je-Wel record label and Weldon Rogers continued to release a few more singles on the modified Jewel label mainly promoting himself and his relatives (the Western Melodiers). Thanks to the businessman and disc jockey that created the original label, the unknown rock’n roller from Wink, Texas became an international star! The original Je-Wel label seems to have produced only one group (The Teen Kings / with Roy Orbison) and the two songs (Ooby Dooby / Trying To Get To You) during their time. So this record is now the rarest and most valuable Orbison record. Wish I still had my copy!
Triple-D Records Of Seminole, Texas
Another similar story is the Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen release on the Triple-D Record label. These two songs (Party Dolls / I’m stickin’ With You) were recorded in 1956 in Clovis New Mexico also with Norman Petty, but he opted not to accept them for promotion. He was stated to have been offended by the Party Doll lyrics (and I’ll make love to you). Since the Rhythm Orchards had no way to get a national release, a man in Seminole, Texas (Chester Oliver) wanted to release a single for them on his “Blue Moon” label. He also may have wanted them to pay a portion of the pressing fee. And since two of the band members were from Dumas, Texas where the local radio station was KDDD this may have encouraged Oliver to use the Triple-D label instead. It seems Jimmy Bowen (or Donnie Lanier) was also employed at KDDD as a disc jockey and had often used the call letters as K-triple D on the air! Whatever the reason, that’s the way the record was labeled and after it received some good, local response, Lanier decided to send a copy to his sister in New York City. She may have worked for the newly founded company “Roulette Records” or nearby. Anyway Roulette liked the songs and decided both had potential so they split the 2 songs apart and released them as their first two singles! “Party Doll” went to #2 and Bowen’s song “Stickin’ with You” peaked at #14. Chester Oliver was obviously quite sorry that he had sold-out to the New York label. But, instead of abdoning the Triple-D label he went on to release at least two singles by a good female singer of Lubbock 'Hope Griffith'. She previously had a release on Oliver’s “Blue Moon” records also.
Ruff Records of Amarillo, Tx
In circa 1964 rockabilly singer Ray Ruff (aka Ray Ruffin) opened Checkmate recording studio in Amarillo, Tx. It was here that he began making 'master tapes' of his band and other local & regional rock bands. Groups as faraway as Colorado and Kansas traveled here to make recordings. One such band was the Trolls of Pueblo, Colorado who recorded here in c.1965. At about this same time Ruffin started a new record label 'Ruff records' and became associated with Buddy Knox. It seems possible that Ruff had initially used the label in one of his previous releases before he signed Knox but since Knox's single (Jo Ann / Don't Make a Ripple) is listed as Ruff-101 this might not be the case. Nevertheless this label was used to release the several singles by 'Ray Ruff and his Checkmates'.
The Trolls who recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis (1966) may not have had a release on the Ruff label during this same time period but they did record at Ruff's Checkmate studio. Also a Hayes, Kansas group (The Fabulous Blue Things) signed with the Ruff label and had a single or two released during these years on the Ruff label. Later, Ruff seems to have bought the Sully label and some Blue Things releases are on this second label also.
One of Amarillo's finest rock bands 'The Illusions' (Mark Creamer-lead guitar, Johnny Stark-drums) also had recorded at Ruff's studio but their songs were not released under their own name. Don Henley of the Eagles has stated that he also recorded at Checkmate studio and possibly J.D. Souther of Amarillo did also. But it is unknown (by the author) if any of these recordings were ever released. Other local bands that recorded here also included the Poole brothers of Canyon, the Viscounts and the vocal-duo of Robin Brown and Max Barton of Matador, Tx. Their two rock songs were not released during the era they were recorded (1966). But if anyone recognises the following titles please contact this website. The 2 rock songs were: To Say No / Man of Steel.
The Illusions of Amarillo--1965
Ohn-J Records of Plainview, Tx
The Ohn-J label was the creation of Plainview businessman John Sands. He was a native of nearby Floydada, Tx and had begun writing songs as a child on his daddy's farm. By the 1960's he was a middle-aged and successful businessman with money to spend. He began hiring varous local singers/musicians to record his songs but he had trouble getting a national label interested in the recordings. Therefore he launched his own label and in 1964 he released 'Possum Hollar' as possibly the first single on Ohn-J label (which is a psuedonym for JOHN). After the the String-a-Longs broke up in the mid-sixties, a new band was formed by Keith McCormack and some of the Torres brothers. They eventually called themselve 'The Strings of Fortune' and were also from Plainview,Tx. Sands approached this new band about recording on his label in c.1966. The 'New String-a-Longs' then appeared on the Ohn-J label with two original rock songs Sands had a hand in writing. At least one of these songs 'I think it's gonna Rain' is a vocal written by Sands and has an english influence.
In about 1968 one of Sands original songs finally appeared on the RCA label but it wasn't a hit so he released an album (of his songs) on a new label 'NORM'. It was by a female singer of the name Wanda Conklin, I beleive and it sold 3,000 copies Sands has stated. Finally in the seventies this die-hard writer sent a Trio from Plainview to Nashville to record a single for one of his labels. This was Travis and Amy Thornton (with Keith Longbotham) but their record was erroneously issued as being by 'The Thortons' on the Norm label. The main song was titled 'Do I love You' and had some hit potential (I beleived). Whether any further releases came from Sand's labels is unknown (by this writer) but in 1996 Sands was featured in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal and still hadn't given up his song-writing ambitions, at age 77! Unfortunately he died just two years later.
BO-KAY records of Lamesa & Odessa,TX
An ambitious man named Jesse Smith was the founder/owner of BO-KAY records. This label was active from 1957-67 according to my notes. It may have begun in Lamesa, TX and moved later to Odessa which is just down the road. Anyway, Smith seems to have had an interest mostly in country music but did release some significant songs for Elroy Dietzel, a rockabilly artist. His version of 'Rock-N-Bones' is now a rockabilly classic! Elroy Dietzel and the Rhythm Bandits had at least 2 singles on BO-KAY during the early days of the label. Neither of the records by him were national hits but these recordings are quite collectible today and have some value!
Smith also had at least two musicians on his label that played in famous bands and were quite talented. They were the noted fiddler-songwriter Red Hayes and the singer-guitarist Billy Thompson. Both could sing well and their country records were very well done, in a country-pop vein. I especially like the songs 'Next to Jimmy' by Red Hayes and 'Walzing with Sin' as sung by Billy Thompson. Although they played in clubs around Odessa and Midland they eventually played the 'Golden Nugget' in Las Vegas with Billy Thompson fronting the band. BO-KAY also released an album titled "Billy Thompson" in 1965. Aside from the song mentioned above by him, it also contained another fine song "Love Gone Blind" from the related single.
Other artists on BO-KAY include a local night club act, 'Red and Betty Stewart' and one artist that had recorded for Capitol in 1954, Patsy Elshire Blane. Some other artists that also appeared on BO-KAY with singles include: Terry White, Cecil McCullough, Ronnie Blackwell and Johnny Goff. (reference: A.O.K.: Record Labels of West Texas & New Mexico/ 2nd reference: The author's personal record collection /
Even though BO-KAY does not appear to have been afilliated with a particular studio (like Ruff, AOK and Gaylo labels were) some of their songs were recorded in Clovis and Jesse Smith had a hand in producing a lot of it's singles. This label was one of the most consistent producers of records in West Texas during their decade of existence it appears.
Token label of Midland
Token label deserves mentioning not for it's longevity or fame but for its musical taste. Founded in 1963 by Steve Drummond it seems to have been in existence for only about three years. Drummond seems to have been intent on producing a hit as he had also released one single on the local COIN label. However during this time Token's first release was a song by teenager Tommy Crider titled 'Sandy'. This was a song that could have been featured in any Surf and Beach movie of the day! It is one of my favorite recordings of original West Texas music. And another singer & group 'Mike Malone and the Misters' also did release a very good song on the Token label titled 'It must be Raining'. Malone would go on to have a record on the SIMS label of Nashville by 1966 which was a national release. The Token label was probably defunct by then but it is stated to have released at least six singles before it faded into the past. Token's last release by country singer Fred Cowen would garner Nashville distribution, but I suppose it was too little, too late.
Unijohn & Hare labels, Andrews,TX
Aside from Fred Drummond, Harry Bray and others there were several local labels that were operated by people that virtually had just a 'dream' of being associated with a 'hit record'. People who seem to have had no connection with either a professional studio. I guess they could best be described as 'promoters' of local music and musicians.
One such man seems to have been John Rowe of Andrews, Texas. He seems to have been interested in both Country and Rock music. He first established the Unijohn label in the mid-sixties and had a release by 'Bobby Price and the Country Ramblers'. One of the songs titled 'Rush on for the Moon' was something of a clever song that might have been considered 'revolting' by hard-core country fans if it had made it to Nashville. Then in the late sixties John Rowe became interested in some rockers called 'The Lynx' and released at least two singles for them on the HARE label. Their songs included 'Just a Friend, Woman of my Dreams, Look at Me, Follow the Rain' . In his promotions of this group's records Rowe went so far as to even run advertisements in Billboard magazine like the big-boys!
AOK and E.M.C.O. labels of Odessa
After Gorman Maxwell and Tommy Allsup began making 'master tapes' in their new studio in the suburbs of Odessa, TX they soon released 45's on several record labels. There was the E.M.C.O. label and finally the AOK label which seems to date to c.1966--69. And in between perhaps a Westex label, all of which occurred in c.1963--1968. Tommy Allsup was an excellent guitarist who had previously played with Bob Will's Playboys and also with Buddy Holly and the Crickets. He had also appeared on some of Holly's original recordings of 1958 and had been on the last tour with Holly as a Cricket. His autobiography 'Flip of a Coin' alludes to this tour and Holly's fateful plane crash in Iowa. Anyway, after his experiences of recording with Norman Petty and watching him work he must have decided he wanted a shot at engineering also! The chance came when his weathly brother-in-law Gorman Maxwell became his partner in the new Odessa studio. Then about the time their last label AOK got rolling (c.1966) they managed to sign a national distribution deal for the label! Some of the better known rock groups on the label include the Continentals of Abilene, the New Roadrunners, the Wry Catchers and the Shades (Midland). None of the groups scored a national hit but they were big in their own City and surrounding area.
Some lesser known regional bands on the AOK label include 'Bob and his Agents' (Alpine,TX), 'Kenneth Cloud and the Stargazers' and a number of country singers. I suppose the best know male country singer on this label might have been Fred Crawford (By the Mission Walls) while the most noted female singer would be 'Edna Lee' (The pleasures all mine). There is a possibility that the demise of the AOK label and it's related studio was due to a divorce, which 'may' have broken up a good partnership. Anyway, the studio was the most prolific producers of West Texas records for about 5-6 years,during the sixties. I'll finish this article on the AOK label with a list of others who had singles on the label which includes: Lord August & Visions of Life, Richard Lynn, Carroll's Mood, Ed Dunlap, Terry :& Tommy, Topper Rawlings, Tom Kizziah, Dennis Ray, Ed Proctor and Joe Foster. (reference: A.O.K.: Record Labels of West Texas & New Mexico/ 2nd reference: The author's personal record collection ).
Gaylo records of Big Spring,TX
When Ben Hall opened his new studio in Big Spring in 1958 one of his first customers appears to have been a singer named Sammy Lara of San Angelo. After they had cut a couple of rockabilly songs ( titled 'Silly Sally' & 'Mister Moon') Hall and Lara decided to release them on a 45 on Hall's new label 'Gaylo'. Lara's efforts became the first release on this label which would have numerous releases over the next ten years, by various Rock & Country artists who recorded in Big Spring. Hall's studio band included his wife Dena on bass and Weldon Myrick on steel guitar and himself initially. Of course, steel guitar was seldom used on the Rock'n Roll cuts but Myrick became so skilled at his craft that in the mid-sixties he joined the house-band at the Grand'ol Opry in Nashville and went on to record with the biggest artists of his era. West Texas bands and singers that appeared on the Gaylo label include among others: The Continentals, The Elgins, Sammy Lara, Rusty Griffin and Ben Hall. Hall had written one of Buddy Holly's first released songs (on Decca) and Hall's version was also released on Gaylo. It is titled 'Blue Days and Black Nights'. In recent years a CD has been released entitled "Hep Cats from Big Spring" and it contains songs from the Gaylo label.
Joed label of Big Spring
A man named Ted Groebel established the Joed label in c.1960 and it was definitely active in 1962. It was located in Big Spring, TX and perhaps later in Midland. Anyway, this West Texas label seems to have released a single by the Lubbock singer David Box at about this time. Box had first traveled to Big Spring to record at Ben Hall's High Fidelity House studio and then he also recorded in Nashville. Perhaps he met Groebel while recording here. The unusual part was that Box had a voice that was about as good as Roy Orbisons and he did sound a lot like him. One song titled 'I'll Do the Best I can' (Joed) hit the charts big in Houston and it looked as though Box was on his way to a great career in music. Unfortunately he was killed in a plane crash while on a tour, not long afterwards. Aside from David Box other noted singers that had releases on Joed include Dean Beard (songs: Coffee Break/Tropical Night), B.J. Thomas and the Triumps (songs: Keep it Up/Vietnam).
Veeda label of Amarillo
In 1958-60 an Amarillo musician & singer Bob Baker released three singles on a new label Veeda. He well may have been the owner of the label and by sixty another artist or band 'Royce Clark & the Corvairs' also had their first release on this label. Clark's songs may have followed the New York Brill Building sound as background singers were used, a group called the Starletts. AT least one of these songs by Clark have been re-issued on a CD compilation 'Buffalo Bop' in recent years. One of Amarillo's earliest rockers also had a release in this year 'Rick Tucker and the Turks'. Tucker had been playing rockabilly since Elvis arrived in 1956 and one of his songs has also been re-issued. He played standup bass and had sit-in with Holly on at least one Amarillo performance before Buddy became famous. Finally 'Kenneth Trent and the Continentals' also had a couple of singles on Veeda in 1960-62. Two of Trent's songs are now common on collector CD's of early West Texas Music. They are titled 'The Way I feel about You ' and 'I'm in Love'. In conclusion I must say that some early Amarillo Rock'n Roll would have been lost forever if not for the Veeda label.
more West Texas Music:
Back when I was playing in rock bands around Amarillo in the sixties the favorite place to record was in Clovis, NM. (125 miles SW of Amarillo.) This pattern of West Texans going there to record had first begun when Roy Orbison and Buddy Knox recorded there in 1955 and 1956 respectively. Roy and the Teen Kings had cut the first version of 'Ooby Dooby' at Petty's and Knox had cut the chart-stopper 'Party Doll' at Norman Petty's studio there the next year. When Knox's record went to #2 and Orbison's record garnered him a contract with Sun Records in Memphis,Tn other aspiring West Texas rockers wanted to record at Pettys! This was the Lubbock-Amarillo crowd which included Buddy Holly, Larry Trider and Terry Nolan among others. This tradition continued well into the sixties as 'hit records' continued to flow from the magical little studio on West Seventh street in Clovis. However, as word of Petty's Hits grew, small studios in West Texas begin to pop-up along the border with New Mexico. Here is an essay on some of them.
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High Fidelity House Studio, Big Spring, Tx
The famous folk singer Carolyn Hester once said, "Norman Petty's studio in Clovis was probably the best studio for hundreds of miles. I made my first album there...." Although this was true there were a few more, adequately equipped studios that West Texas musicians could record in, during the late fifties & sixties. In 1958 one such studio opened in Big Spring,Tx. and was called 'High Fidelity House'. The owner was Ben Hall who was an employee of a local television station there. Since Big Spring was relatively close to the Odessa-Midland area this studio attracted musicians of that area along with Abilene and San Angelo. Within a year, Hall's recordings were being released on national labels and also his own label 'Gaylo'. After many 'almost hits' finally in 1964 the studio produced the smash 'Bread and Butter' by the Newbeats which rose to #2 on the pop charts! But prior to this record Sammy Lara had also received national attention on the Dick Clark Show. He did not appear on the show but one of his records was played on American Bandstand. The Newbeats hit undoubtedly brought a flow of more West Texans to this studio to record! Hall's wife also worked in the studio as a bass player, I should add.
The studio's owners (Ben Hall & Dena) had lived in Lubbock prior to coming to Big Spring, which is on the southern extremity of the Llano Estacado. It was in Lubbock that he first became acquanted with Buddy Holly and when Holly had cut his first record for Decca (That'll be the Day) one of Hall's songs was included, 'Blue Days Black Nights'. His song was probably the B side and this first version of 'That'll be the Day' did not sell well either (recorded at Bradley's Barn in Nashville). Nevertheless, Hall has the distinction of being a writer on Holly's first record. In 1968 after operating his studio in Big Spring,Tx for a decade Ben Hall and his wife moved to Nashville and setup a brand new studio where more successes seemed to have followed. (Consult the booklett: 'West Texas Rock'n Roll Music' by Bill Griggs.)
Jimmy Blakley's Studio in Roswell & Lubbock
Sometime in perhaps the later fifties a musician from Roswell, NM became interested in opening his own recording studio. Jimmy Blakley had already done quite a bit of recording at Petty's Studio prior to this time (including 'Sugartime' by Charlie Phillips) and it appears that he wanted to expand and try engineering. This steel-guitar player seems to have approached Norman about purchasing some of his outdated equipment. At about this same time Petty must have retired his main Berlant recorder and it was available. So, he sold it to Blakley who first set up a studio in Roswell before he purchased the Palm Room (night club) and moved to Lubbock, perhaps around 1965.
It has been written that Petty had used Ampex recorders exclusively in the early days of his studio. However, according to Jimmy Self (a close associate of Petty's) in 1954 Self cut his first record on a Berlant Concertone machine in Clovis, the same one that Blakley later purchased! Nevertheless, when Blakley made his move to Lubbock he brought the Berlant recorder and setup another studio in a private part of his night club, the Palm Room. Blakley was mainly into country music so it is unclear if any other type Lubbock bands ever recorded at the Palm Room. Yet Blakley himself produced a top-forty country hit for United Artist (Honky-Tonk Princess) on Petty's old Berlant recorder during this era, according to his son. So, it would be difficult to argue that Blakley's studio didn't qualify as a 'professional studio'.
Checkmate Studio & Cox Studio, Amarillo, Tx
Checkmate Studio & Cox Studio, Amarillo, Tx
Checkmate & Cox Studio--Amarillo,TX
In the mid-sixties Amarillo singer Ray Ruff (aka Ray Ruffin) got hold of some good Ampex equipment and opened a studio in Amarillo on NE 24th street, I think it was. As I have mentioned in another article, I recorded there on two occasions during this time frame. The studio was located in Trades Fair Shopping center and once when the engineer was late we played pool in a nearby billard hall as we waited. My recollection of the studio is that it was wide-tape format (1/2 or 1 inch tape) and we laid down at least 2 overdubs after the basic tracks were recorded. So, the studio either had a 4-track Ampex or Ruff was tracking between two, stereo Ampex machines. Nevertheless, the studio was professionally equipped and no garage setup. (note: Later research indicates that it was a 3-track system when Larry Cox took over the studio in c.1966).
The cuts we made were clean and reminiscent of what Petty had produced, when I recorded in Clovis in 1964. In the mid-sixties Ruff's studio very probably could have produced a hit, but I never heard of one coming from it. One song by Patti Seymour was played up as a hit, anyway. I know a number of Amarillo-Canyon groups did record there as did the Checkmates and possibly Buddy Knox. Buddy Knox signed to release one single on the Ruff Label during this same time. Also, Glen Frye of the Eagles stated that he had once recorded at Checkmate Studio in Amarillo as did J. Frank Wilson. I've read that Amarilloan J.D. Souther and Frye were roomates out in California during the later sixties. I wonder if perhaps Souther hadn't brought Frye to Ruff's studio back in 1965-66 when Frye may have been visiting in Amarillo. Perhaps their friendship dates back even before they got together in California. Incidently, J. D. Souther co-wrote several of the Eagle's biggest hits including 'New Kid in Town'! A Hayes, Kansas group 'The Blue Things' also signed with Ruff and had some singles on Ruff & Sully labels, before signing with RCA. Amarillo groups that recorded with Ruff include the Tiaras and the Illusions, two of Amarillo's finest bands of the mid-sixties. The Tiaras released several records on what seems to have been their own label, Alliance.
A local DJ named Larry Cox took over Checkmate Studio sometime in 1966 (it appears) and had some success in getting some songs on major labels, according to an advertisement the author has seen. Cox may have eventually re-named the facility 'STUDIO 7' as he established a label of this same name. One of Amarillo's leading rock bands 'Deuces Wild' recorded with Cox and their songs were released on what appears to be their own label in 1966......Deuce Label. This record is now a West Texas collectible! Other singers and musicians that recorded with Cox also include Max Barton, Robin Brown and Robert Ashcraft.
Tommy Allsup & AOK Studio, Odessa, Tx
One other good studio in the Permian Basin area was operating in Odessa in 1963 and later. The owner/operator was another of Petty's associates, Tommy Allsup. This fine Oklahoma guitarist had played and toured with Buddy Holly on the last tour and then opened a studio on the outskirts of Odessa a few years later. (The only professional studio in Odessa to predate Allsup's studio was run by one Charles 'Hoot' Gibson but the author has little info on this one). Nevertheless, Allsup's partner was Gorman Maxwell (his brother-in-law) and they seemed to have been operating an adequately equipped studio at this time until the later sixties. They also established a BMI publishing company and label. I learned of their studio through a friend of mine Robert Ashcraft, a bass player from Midland who had played in my first college rock group. Ashcraft had recorded at Allsup's studio with Al Perkins (I think it was) just before I met him. Our meeting was in late 1964 in Canyon. He reported that some good recordings were being made there and I didn't doubt that this was true because Robert was a very good musician himself. I later confimrmed this when I began collecting records that came from Westex studio. Anyway by the later sixties Tommy Allsup had produced a legitimate hit titled "In the Year 2525" and seems to have decided to move to Nashville as a result. (Further research indicates that Allsup was given no credit on the 45 record, as a producer or engineer). Nevertheless, during the mid-sixties a number of singers and bands from the Midland-Odessa, Big Spring and Abilene-San Angelo area did record at this studio which is often called the 'Tommy Allsup Studio'. One of the most famous rock bands of West Texas "The Sparkles" also had recorded here. I read that one of their more noted songs 'The Hip' came from this studio and it was released on the Hickory label of Nashville, as were other Allsup recordings.
An example of lesser known groups that recorded at this studio is Buzzy Barnhill and his rockabilly band from Turkey,Tx . They had heard about this distant studio and drove 200 miles (one-way) to record here in 1966. The two original songs they recorded were 'Something Different' and 'I Love' and featured Frank 'Buzzy' Barnhill singing and picking guitar with drummer Gary Johnson on drums. Other members were B.J. Mullin (bass) & Sonny Mullin (guitar).This band had first recorded in Plainview in Harry Bray's cellar-studio but Tommy Allsup produced their 2nd release (Twixt-Tween) which is a much cleaner and more commercial sound! The Artist credit on the record 'Buzz Barnhill and the Four Counts' seems to indicate that the group had 5 members but there were only four!
Allsup and Maxwell also established several labels including the AOK label of Odessa. Some of the artists that had 45's on this label include: New Roadrunners, The Shades, The Continentals, The Wry Catchers, Fred Crawford, Freddy Frank, Jim McCrary & Scotty Graham.
Don Caldwell Studio, Lubbock, Tx
In the later sixties or early seventies Don Caldwell (of Slaton,Tx) put-in a Scully 4-track studio in Lubbock. Caldwell had played in a band with Gary Nunn (The Nightbeats) before 1966 and his studio soon became a center for Lubbock area musicians who wanted to record. Caldwell also established Phone Publishing & Texas Soul records in conjunction with his studio about the same time. A number of 45 rpm records (and albums) were released during possibly the late sixties and seventies under the guidance of Don Caldwell and his main engineer/producer Lloyd Maines. By the mid-seventies he had 16-track equipment.
Many noted Lubbock musicians appear to have recorded with Don Caldwell during this time. Musicians such as Joe Ely, Jesse Taylor, Butch Hancock, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Terry Allen, Lloyd & Kenny Maines were associated with Caldwell during this era. Since it was a public studio all types of music including rock, country and gospel were recorded here. Ironically not much soul music seems to have been recorded here. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that when Caldwell made Scully equipment available to the Lubbock musicians, they had a facility that was capable of producing a hit. By c.1976 they had updated to a 16 track studio and they did produce at least one top-forty country hit, during the later seventies (Unfortunately the artist/title escapes me). They also produced at least one MCA album for Joe Ely in the seventies. Some of Joe Ely's early singles were also produced here including his regional hit 'My fingers click when I play the piano'.
In the seventies the Maines Brothers band also made several albums (Texas Soul label) here which led to a contract with Mercury Records! The Caldwell recording studio eventually led owner Don Caldwell into becoming the director/manager of the important Cactus Theatre in Lubbock. Many fine stage-shows are held here annualy under his guidance and supervision and some have been televised.
Checkmate & Cox Studio--Amarillo,TX
In the mid-sixties Amarillo singer Ray Ruff (aka Ray Ruffin) got hold of some good Ampex equipment and opened a studio in Amarillo on NE 24th street, I think it was. As I have mentioned in another article, I recorded there on two occasions during this time frame. The studio was located in Trades Fair Shopping center and once when the engineer was late we played pool in a nearby billard hall as we waited. My recollection of the studio is that it was wide-tape format (1/2 or 1 inch tape) and we laid down at least 2 overdubs after the basic tracks were recorded. So, the studio either had a 4-track Ampex or Ruff was tracking between two, stereo Ampex machines. Nevertheless, the studio was professionally equipped and no garage setup. (note: Later research indicates that it was a 3-track system when Larry Cox took over the studio in c.1966).
The cuts we made were clean and reminiscent of what Petty had produced, when I recorded in Clovis in 1964. In the mid-sixties Ruff's studio very probably could have produced a hit, but I never heard of one coming from it. One song by Patti Seymour was played up as a hit, anyway. I know a number of Amarillo-Canyon groups did record there as did the Checkmates and possibly Buddy Knox. Buddy Knox signed to release one single on the Ruff Label during this same time. Also, Glen Frye of the Eagles stated that he had once recorded at Checkmate Studio in Amarillo as did J. Frank Wilson. I've read that Amarilloan J.D. Souther and Frye were roomates out in California during the later sixties. I wonder if perhaps Souther hadn't brought Frye to Ruff's studio back in 1965-66 when Frye may have been visiting in Amarillo. Perhaps their friendship dates back even before they got together in California. Incidently, J. D. Souther co-wrote several of the Eagle's biggest hits including 'New Kid in Town'! A Hayes, Kansas group 'The Blue Things' also signed with Ruff and had some singles on Ruff & Sully labels, before signing with RCA. Amarillo groups that recorded with Ruff include the Tiaras and the Illusions, two of Amarillo's finest bands of the mid-sixties. The Tiaras released several records on what seems to have been their own label, Alliance.
A local DJ named Larry Cox took over Checkmate Studio sometime in 1966 (it appears) and had some success in getting some songs on major labels, according to an advertisement the author has seen. Cox may have eventually re-named the facility 'STUDIO 7' as he established a label of this same name. One of Amarillo's leading rock bands 'Deuces Wild' recorded with Cox and their songs were released on what appears to be their own label in 1966......Deuce Label. This record is now a West Texas collectible! Other singers and musicians that recorded with Cox also include Max Barton, Robin Brown and Robert Ashcraft.
Tommy Allsup & AOK Studio, Odessa, Tx
One other good studio in the Permian Basin area was operating in Odessa in 1963 and later. The owner/operator was another of Petty's associates, Tommy Allsup. This fine Oklahoma guitarist had played and toured with Buddy Holly on the last tour and then opened a studio on the outskirts of Odessa a few years later. (The only professional studio in Odessa to predate Allsup's studio was run by one Charles 'Hoot' Gibson but the author has little info on this one). Nevertheless, Allsup's partner was Gorman Maxwell (his brother-in-law) and they seemed to have been operating an adequately equipped studio at this time until the later sixties. They also established a BMI publishing company and label. I learned of their studio through a friend of mine Robert Ashcraft, a bass player from Midland who had played in my first college rock group. Ashcraft had recorded at Allsup's studio with Al Perkins (I think it was) just before I met him. Our meeting was in late 1964 in Canyon. He reported that some good recordings were being made there and I didn't doubt that this was true because Robert was a very good musician himself. I later confimrmed this when I began collecting records that came from Westex studio. Anyway by the later sixties Tommy Allsup had produced a legitimate hit titled "In the Year 2525" and seems to have decided to move to Nashville as a result. (Further research indicates that Allsup was given no credit on the 45 record, as a producer or engineer). Nevertheless, during the mid-sixties a number of singers and bands from the Midland-Odessa, Big Spring and Abilene-San Angelo area did record at this studio which is often called the 'Tommy Allsup Studio'. One of the most famous rock bands of West Texas "The Sparkles" also had recorded here. I read that one of their more noted songs 'The Hip' came from this studio and it was released on the Hickory label of Nashville, as were other Allsup recordings.
An example of lesser known groups that recorded at this studio is Buzzy Barnhill and his rockabilly band from Turkey,Tx . They had heard about this distant studio and drove 200 miles (one-way) to record here in 1966. The two original songs they recorded were 'Something Different' and 'I Love' and featured Frank 'Buzzy' Barnhill singing and picking guitar with drummer Gary Johnson on drums. Other members were B.J. Mullin (bass) & Sonny Mullin (guitar).This band had first recorded in Plainview in Harry Bray's cellar-studio but Tommy Allsup produced their 2nd release (Twixt-Tween) which is a much cleaner and more commercial sound! The Artist credit on the record 'Buzz Barnhill and the Four Counts' seems to indicate that the group had 5 members but there were only four!
Allsup and Maxwell also established several labels including the AOK label of Odessa. Some of the artists that had 45's on this label include: New Roadrunners, The Shades, The Continentals, The Wry Catchers, Fred Crawford, Freddy Frank, Jim McCrary & Scotty Graham.
Don Caldwell Studio, Lubbock, Tx
In the later sixties or early seventies Don Caldwell (of Slaton,Tx) put-in a Scully 4-track studio in Lubbock. Caldwell had played in a band with Gary Nunn (The Nightbeats) before 1966 and his studio soon became a center for Lubbock area musicians who wanted to record. Caldwell also established Phone Publishing & Texas Soul records in conjunction with his studio about the same time. A number of 45 rpm records (and albums) were released during possibly the late sixties and seventies under the guidance of Don Caldwell and his main engineer/producer Lloyd Maines. By the mid-seventies he had 16-track equipment.
Many noted Lubbock musicians appear to have recorded with Don Caldwell during this time. Musicians such as Joe Ely, Jesse Taylor, Butch Hancock, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Terry Allen, Lloyd & Kenny Maines were associated with Caldwell during this era. Since it was a public studio all types of music including rock, country and gospel were recorded here. Ironically not much soul music seems to have been recorded here. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that when Caldwell made Scully equipment available to the Lubbock musicians, they had a facility that was capable of producing a hit. By c.1976 they had updated to a 16 track studio and they did produce at least one top-forty country hit, during the later seventies (Unfortunately the artist/title escapes me). They also produced at least one MCA album for Joe Ely in the seventies. Some of Joe Ely's early singles were also produced here including his regional hit 'My fingers click when I play the piano'.
In the seventies the Maines Brothers band also made several albums (Texas Soul label) here which led to a contract with Mercury Records! The Caldwell recording studio eventually led owner Don Caldwell into becoming the director/manager of the important Cactus Theatre in Lubbock. Many fine stage-shows are held here annualy under his guidance and supervision and some have been televised.
Unlimited Sound Studio, Lubbock, Tx
In the latter sixties it appears that a DJ from KSEL radio 'Chuck Baker' and an educator 'Virgil Johnson' operated a studio together in north Lubbock for awhile. Johnson had previously sang with the Velvets and was interested in R & B music and seems to have been producing/managing some such bands. The other owner's identity is something of a mystery but at the time he was going by 'Chuck Baker' which may have been his on-air moniker. Nevertheless, a young musician 'Barry Bynum' recalls that one band (The Boys) did record here and the group was made of students from Texas Tech and were very popular around Lubbock. They recorded one of Bynum's original songs titled "Queen Leonardo" which today he describes as being rather spacey and featuring non-sensical lyrics. A guess is that the song was not slow and probably had a syncopated beat! Since Bynum moved not long after it was recorded, he is unsure if it ever was released or not.
During the time this studio was in operation there were four young Lubbock girls that were also playing rock pretty well. They were called the 'Heartbeats' and they had won a Dick Clark contest in 1968. They also had a couple of records out. The Heartbeats are said to have recorded "Time Won't Let Me" at the Unlimited Sound studio in Lubbock.
Bynum says this about the studio, "The equipment was pretty basic, I think they were still using one of those mixers with the big round knobs, probably radio spec...1/4 inch tape machines, probably Ampex . Overdubs were done by bouncing between two machines probably. I think they were listening to playback on Voice of Theater Altecs. At some point a visitor brought in a Leslie Tone Guitar Cabinet, to show it to us. I was amazed, as I had never seen one!"
Nesman Studio, Wichita Falls, Tx
Another studio that that is worth mentioning is Lewis Nesman's Studio in Wichita Falls,TX. John Ingram states "Buddy Holly used this studio to cut demos in 1955 and the studio was also used for West Texas artists signed to the King label of Cincinnati. Nesman's studio was active from early 1950's into the 1980's (and perhaps later)." Since the big King label released some recordings from this studio we must assume some quality recording was going on here!
Venture Studio & Mitchell Studio, Lubbock, Tx
Venture Studio & Mitchell Studio, Lubbock, Tx
In 1956 a young man named Bobby Peebles opened a small recording studio on 19th Street, near Lubbock High School called 'Venture Studio'. The only known recording from it appears to be a demo tape of Buddy Holly, J.I. Allison and some other local musicians. It was in late 1956 that young Holly and the group recorded 12 cover songs here. From the original demo tape (on 3 3/4 ips speed) some of the songs were transferred to digital recordings & released as a CD in 2004. (Vigotone Box Set). It is unclear if Peebles studio was equipped with a high speed recorder or if it had any professional equipment but nevertheless his 'studio' did produce a tape that is now a collector's item!
Another studio that appears to have been active in Lubbock in c.1960 was at this address: Mitchell Recording Studio, 2615 38th St, Lubbock. An acetate recording by the Emeralds of (Brownfield,TX) titled "Spring Fever" / Dreams & Wishes" still exists. It is also stated that David Box did some recordings at 'Mitchell's Studio' in Lubbock in this same time frame. (source: John Ingram )
14 Carrot Studio of Amarillo,TX
Billy Stull--Amarillo,TX
Billy Stull a noted guitarist opened a music store on the north side of Amarillo in c.1973 and called it 'Billy's Band Aid' . Not long after he bought a 4-track Tascam or Teac recorder and setup a demo studio in the back of the store. Eventually he would name his studio '14 Carrot Studio'. One of the first released recordings he made on this equipment was a country song titled 'A Sleepless Nite with You' and was sung by Cherrill (Carley) Dyson. It now appears that Stull used a local nightclub band 'Bobby Hughes and the Western Heartbeats' to back Dyson on this session. The song was soon released by Robin Brown on his local label 'Smashville Sound' and the record was distributed to local country stations where it did receive moderate air-play. Brown carried the song to Nashville and Sawgrass publishing in 1975 showed an interest, but no contracts were ever signed with Mel Tillis's company.
Stull himself was a blues-rock guitarist and had previously recorded with 'The Cords' out in Clovis, NM. This was a popular rock band that was from Amarillo who were active in the mid to later sixties. Through Norman Petty the band garnered at least one release on the big ATCO label on which Stull was featured. By the time Stull opened his business in Amarillo, he seems to have been playing with other musicians and was into B.B. King guitar blues. As his music store grew he obviously also expanded and updated his studio equipment to the point where it attracted the attention of Norman Petty and other competitors. He seems to have recorded all types of music including Country, Western Swing, Rock, Soul and Blues at this facility. During this period, Stull's skills as an engineer and guitarist were also growing, it appears. Therefore, not long after Norman Petty died in 1984 his estate hired Billy Stull to move to Clovis and manage Petty's big, downtown studio which ended his engineering efforts in Amarillo. After a successful run in Clovis Stull seems to have become intrigued with South Texas. For awhile he ran a Texas label and studio there and then migrated further south and opened a 'mastering studio' on Padre Island.
Harry Bray's Studio, Plainview, Tx
In 1964 an amateur songwriter/musician moved to Plainview,Tx and put in a garage-type studio, at the back of his Used Car Lot. Harry Bray was the man and his studio was actually a cellar that he had built just for this purpose. Although Bray's little facility was not professionaly equipped (sound-on-sound, mono recordings mainly) Bray did produce a lot of 45's on his Twixt Tween and Satin labels. Although it was basically a 'private studio' where Bray tinkered with his original songs at least on one occasion a rock band from Turkey, Tx rented the studio. Bray recorded two original songs for them. Since the recordings were done in such a limited facility they had a garage-band feel that radio stations weren't catering to at the time.
One of the songs 'Summers Gone Away' finally received good reviews when musician-critic Dac Crowell stated that he had purchased this record in a discount record shop in Nashville in his youth and he considered it to be the proto-type of all garage-band recordings! He also said that a college radio station somewhere had spun the record and the kids on campus went wild! They requested it over and over!! I'm proud to say that I know/knew all the musicians in this country-rock band which included Buzzy Barnhill, Sonny Mullin, Billy Joe Mullin and Gary Johnson Congratulations to you early rockers from Turkey, Tx. for your first Twixt-Tween release! Although it didn't make the 'hit parade' in 1965, it's never too late to receive some credit!!
Radio & TV Station Recordings
Aside from actual recording studios, good recording equipment was also available at many radio and television stations in the fifties & sixties. One of the first records made by the String-a-longs of Plainview had been cut in a radio station in Amarillo. It was released as the Rock'n Rollers on the Ven label out of Hereford, TX and is a collectible record today.(source: Aubrey Cordova) When my first band appeared on Walsh Food Talent Show at KDUB television in 1958 the show's audio was recorded. The Sunset Ramblers, a local Western Swing band of Lubbock backed most of the acts on this occasion, except our instrumental trio. I recall that we sat around and listened to the recordings after the show and snickered. My sister's trio 'The Sparklettes' had also performed that day and my little trio was either billed as the Swing Kings or Three Notes (of Matador, Tx). The girls were fifteen and my trio was composed of thirteen year old boys so one can imagine how advanced we were! It brings a tear to my eye to discover and say, "Yes, we made our television debut playing a half century ago....!!
Anyway, I recall this event just to illustrate how some recordings came about, outside of recording studios. I suppose it is possible that some of those old Walsh-KDUB recordings are sitting on a shelf somewhere (South Plains College), just waiting to be discovered and played again. I'd love to hear Don Allen and the Sunset Ramblers one more time but I don't think the songs my trio recorded would even be 'interesting'. Other musicians that also made the same type recordings in Lubbock include important artists such as Wayland Jennings & Buddy Holly. They did some of their earliest recordings at KLLL and KDAV radio stations respectively.
Record Labels of West Texas
While I'm reviewing West Texas music I think that I should at least write about some of the rare record labels that originated in this region. Since few of these labels ever produced more than a regional hit, in the trade they were generally known as trash-can labels. However today many of these labels & records are collected by collectors who specialize in Texas Music. If you want further information you can refer also to my Index of Texas Labels on another page of this website.
Banner Records, Lubbock, Tx
Banner Records seems to have originated in either San Antonio or Lubbock and this label released a number of recordings by various Lubbock and area artists during the mid-sixties, before moving on to Nashville. My intuition says that Banner was probably associated with one of the local radio stations or record shops in Lubbock and was owned by one Bill Crawford. I do know that Sky Corbin a disc jockey had one of the first releases on Banner records (c.1963) and his family had owned KLLL radio in Lubbock at the time. Another disc jockey working in Lubbock also had a release on Banner in about 1965. His name was Jack Reno and he was a country singer also. Later he became a regular on the Ozark Jubilee. This labels seems to have catered to Country Acts but there were some rock oriented songs also including "Afraid of the Dark" by Sylvia Marie. Two other artists that had releases on Banner were Jim Peters and Lee Harmon. Harmon's singles are collected by some traditional country buffs today. This label may have still been in business in 1975 and perhaps later in Nashville after their final move.
TIME records, Dalhart, Tx
Perhaps the oldest label from our region may be the TIME label. Somewhere between 1946 and 1951 this company released a number of 78 rpm records which were by 'Billy Briggs and the XIT Boys' among others. On at least one of these records it states: Allender's Midwest Records, Dalhart, Texas. According to this notation I feel that the owner of the Time label, was also possibly the owner of a record outlet in Dalhart and his/her name was probably Allender. Anyway, Billy Briggs wrote 'Chew Tobacco Rag', which became a national hit during this same time frame and if his first version was on TIME records the Dalhart label cannot be dismissed as being totally irrelevent! But I'm not sure on this point. Nevertheless, another artist & band called Tommy Elliott and the Line Riders also appeared on the TIME label, during this same time period as did several other artists including Keith Lloyd & Sons of the Golden West, Gene Armstrong & the West Texas Nitehawks. Some of these same recordings (by both Elliott & Briggs) have recently been re-issued on a modern CD called: Texas Dance Hall Music, which adds validity to the old Time label!
Caprock records, Big Spring,Tx
Caprock is an early West Texas label that deserves some mention. A disc jockey named Hank Harral established the Caprock label down in Big Spring, Tx. where he was employed at a local radio station. In 1958-59 he released a number of CAPROCK 45's by Texas musicians from that area including Hoyle Nix, Jimmy Haggett and Durwood Haddock (also known as Durwood Daly). Hank Harral also appears to have been a singer/musician as he is listed on several of the releases himself. According to a discography of CAPROCK records, there were at least 11 different artists who had releases on the CAPROCK label in 1958-59. This sure sounds as though Mr. Harral was trying to make a business out of his label. And at least one song titled 'Big Balls in Cowtown' played by Hoyle Nix and his West Texas Cowboys' became a hit and something of a cowboy anthem, but did this occurr after another label had picked it up? Nevertheless, CAPROCK was one of the most active and successful of the West Texas labels during the late fifties, because of Nix's country standard.
Je-Wel of Odessa,TX
When Roy Oribson and his band from Wink, Texas (The Teen Kings) first recorded in Clovis, NM in 1955 they couldn’t find a national label to release their songs. So, businessman Chester Oliver and DJ Weldon Rogers of Odessa decided to give the boys a hand and had the two songs (Ooby Dooby / Trying To Get To You) released on a private label which they named Je-Wel. The songs received some air play locally and this produced sales across West Texas. This prompted someone to mail a record to Sam Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. According to history, Phillips seems to have liked Orbison’s voice but not the recording quality. He therefore offered a contract to Orbison if he would come to Memphis and re-cut his favorite of the two songs, Ooby Dooby. The short of the story is that the Sun Recording became a minor hit for Roy Orbison and it launched his great career. Sometime after this, Chester Oliver left the Je-Wel record label and Weldon Rogers continued to release a few more singles on the modified Jewel label mainly promoting himself and his relatives (the Western Melodiers). Thanks to the businessman and disc jockey that created the original label, the unknown rock’n roller from Wink, Texas became an international star! The original Je-Wel label seems to have produced only one group (The Teen Kings / with Roy Orbison) and the two songs (Ooby Dooby / Trying To Get To You) during their time. So this record is now the rarest and most valuable Orbison record. Wish I still had my copy!
Triple-D Records Of Seminole, Texas
Another similar story is the Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen release on the Triple-D Record label. These two songs (Party Dolls / I’m stickin’ With You) were recorded in 1956 in Clovis New Mexico also with Norman Petty, but he opted not to accept them for promotion. He was stated to have been offended by the Party Doll lyrics (and I’ll make love to you). Since the Rhythm Orchards had no way to get a national release, a man in Seminole, Texas (Chester Oliver) wanted to release a single for them on his “Blue Moon” label. He also may have wanted them to pay a portion of the pressing fee. And since two of the band members were from Dumas, Texas where the local radio station was KDDD this may have encouraged Oliver to use the Triple-D label instead. It seems Jimmy Bowen (or Donnie Lanier) was also employed at KDDD as a disc jockey and had often used the call letters as K-triple D on the air! Whatever the reason, that’s the way the record was labeled and after it received some good, local response, Lanier decided to send a copy to his sister in New York City. She may have worked for the newly founded company “Roulette Records” or nearby. Anyway Roulette liked the songs and decided both had potential so they split the 2 songs apart and released them as their first two singles! “Party Doll” went to #2 and Bowen’s song “Stickin’ with You” peaked at #14. Chester Oliver was obviously quite sorry that he had sold-out to the New York label. But, instead of abdoning the Triple-D label he went on to release at least two singles by a good female singer of Lubbock 'Hope Griffith'. She previously had a release on Oliver’s “Blue Moon” records also.
Ruff Records of Amarillo, Tx
In circa 1964 rockabilly singer Ray Ruff (aka Ray Ruffin) opened Checkmate recording studio in Amarillo, Tx. It was here that he began making 'master tapes' of his band and other local & regional rock bands. Groups as faraway as Colorado and Kansas traveled here to make recordings. One such band was the Trolls of Pueblo, Colorado who recorded here in c.1965. At about this same time Ruffin started a new record label 'Ruff records' and became associated with Buddy Knox. It seems possible that Ruff had initially used the label in one of his previous releases before he signed Knox but since Knox's single (Jo Ann / Don't Make a Ripple) is listed as Ruff-101 this might not be the case. Nevertheless this label was used to release the several singles by 'Ray Ruff and his Checkmates'.
The Trolls who recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis (1966) may not have had a release on the Ruff label during this same time period but they did record at Ruff's Checkmate studio. Also a Hayes, Kansas group (The Fabulous Blue Things) signed with the Ruff label and had a single or two released during these years on the Ruff label. Later, Ruff seems to have bought the Sully label and some Blue Things releases are on this second label also.
One of Amarillo's finest rock bands 'The Illusions' (Mark Creamer-lead guitar, Johnny Stark-drums) also had recorded at Ruff's studio but their songs were not released under their own name. Don Henley of the Eagles has stated that he also recorded at Checkmate studio and possibly J.D. Souther of Amarillo did also. But it is unknown (by the author) if any of these recordings were ever released. Other local bands that recorded here also included the Poole brothers of Canyon, the Viscounts and the vocal-duo of Robin Brown and Max Barton of Matador, Tx. Their two rock songs were not released during the era they were recorded (1966). But if anyone recognises the following titles please contact this website. The 2 rock songs were: To Say No / Man of Steel.
The Illusions of Amarillo--1965
Ohn-J Records of Plainview, Tx
The Ohn-J label was the creation of Plainview businessman John Sands. He was a native of nearby Floydada, Tx and had begun writing songs as a child on his daddy's farm. By the 1960's he was a middle-aged and successful businessman with money to spend. He began hiring varous local singers/musicians to record his songs but he had trouble getting a national label interested in the recordings. Therefore he launched his own label and in 1964 he released 'Possum Hollar' as possibly the first single on Ohn-J label (which is a psuedonym for JOHN). After the the String-a-Longs broke up in the mid-sixties, a new band was formed by Keith McCormack and some of the Torres brothers. They eventually called themselve 'The Strings of Fortune' and were also from Plainview,Tx. Sands approached this new band about recording on his label in c.1966. The 'New String-a-Longs' then appeared on the Ohn-J label with two original rock songs Sands had a hand in writing. At least one of these songs 'I think it's gonna Rain' is a vocal written by Sands and has an english influence.
In about 1968 one of Sands original songs finally appeared on the RCA label but it wasn't a hit so he released an album (of his songs) on a new label 'NORM'. It was by a female singer of the name Wanda Conklin, I beleive and it sold 3,000 copies Sands has stated. Finally in the seventies this die-hard writer sent a Trio from Plainview to Nashville to record a single for one of his labels. This was Travis and Amy Thornton (with Keith Longbotham) but their record was erroneously issued as being by 'The Thortons' on the Norm label. The main song was titled 'Do I love You' and had some hit potential (I beleived). Whether any further releases came from Sand's labels is unknown (by this writer) but in 1996 Sands was featured in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal and still hadn't given up his song-writing ambitions, at age 77! Unfortunately he died just two years later.
BO-KAY records of Lamesa & Odessa,TX
An ambitious man named Jesse Smith was the founder/owner of BO-KAY records. This label was active from 1957-67 according to my notes. It may have begun in Lamesa, TX and moved later to Odessa which is just down the road. Anyway, Smith seems to have had an interest mostly in country music but did release some significant songs for Elroy Dietzel, a rockabilly artist. His version of 'Rock-N-Bones' is now a rockabilly classic! Elroy Dietzel and the Rhythm Bandits had at least 2 singles on BO-KAY during the early days of the label. Neither of the records by him were national hits but these recordings are quite collectible today and have some value!
Smith also had at least two musicians on his label that played in famous bands and were quite talented. They were the noted fiddler-songwriter Red Hayes and the singer-guitarist Billy Thompson. Both could sing well and their country records were very well done, in a country-pop vein. I especially like the songs 'Next to Jimmy' by Red Hayes and 'Walzing with Sin' as sung by Billy Thompson. Although they played in clubs around Odessa and Midland they eventually played the 'Golden Nugget' in Las Vegas with Billy Thompson fronting the band. BO-KAY also released an album titled "Billy Thompson" in 1965. Aside from the song mentioned above by him, it also contained another fine song "Love Gone Blind" from the related single.
Other artists on BO-KAY include a local night club act, 'Red and Betty Stewart' and one artist that had recorded for Capitol in 1954, Patsy Elshire Blane. Some other artists that also appeared on BO-KAY with singles include: Terry White, Cecil McCullough, Ronnie Blackwell and Johnny Goff. (reference: A.O.K.: Record Labels of West Texas & New Mexico/ 2nd reference: The author's personal record collection /
Even though BO-KAY does not appear to have been afilliated with a particular studio (like Ruff, AOK and Gaylo labels were) some of their songs were recorded in Clovis and Jesse Smith had a hand in producing a lot of it's singles. This label was one of the most consistent producers of records in West Texas during their decade of existence it appears.
Token label of Midland
Token label deserves mentioning not for it's longevity or fame but for its musical taste. Founded in 1963 by Steve Drummond it seems to have been in existence for only about three years. Drummond seems to have been intent on producing a hit as he had also released one single on the local COIN label. However during this time Token's first release was a song by teenager Tommy Crider titled 'Sandy'. This was a song that could have been featured in any Surf and Beach movie of the day! It is one of my favorite recordings of original West Texas music. And another singer & group 'Mike Malone and the Misters' also did release a very good song on the Token label titled 'It must be Raining'. Malone would go on to have a record on the SIMS label of Nashville by 1966 which was a national release. The Token label was probably defunct by then but it is stated to have released at least six singles before it faded into the past. Token's last release by country singer Fred Cowen would garner Nashville distribution, but I suppose it was too little, too late.
Unijohn & Hare labels, Andrews,TX
Aside from Fred Drummond, Harry Bray and others there were several local labels that were operated by people that virtually had just a 'dream' of being associated with a 'hit record'. People who seem to have had no connection with either a professional studio. I guess they could best be described as 'promoters' of local music and musicians.
One such man seems to have been John Rowe of Andrews, Texas. He seems to have been interested in both Country and Rock music. He first established the Unijohn label in the mid-sixties and had a release by 'Bobby Price and the Country Ramblers'. One of the songs titled 'Rush on for the Moon' was something of a clever song that might have been considered 'revolting' by hard-core country fans if it had made it to Nashville. Then in the late sixties John Rowe became interested in some rockers called 'The Lynx' and released at least two singles for them on the HARE label. Their songs included 'Just a Friend, Woman of my Dreams, Look at Me, Follow the Rain' . In his promotions of this group's records Rowe went so far as to even run advertisements in Billboard magazine like the big-boys!
AOK and E.M.C.O. labels of Odessa
After Gorman Maxwell and Tommy Allsup began making 'master tapes' in their new studio in the suburbs of Odessa, TX they soon released 45's on several record labels. There was the E.M.C.O. label and finally the AOK label which seems to date to c.1966--69. And in between perhaps a Westex label, all of which occurred in c.1963--1968. Tommy Allsup was an excellent guitarist who had previously played with Bob Will's Playboys and also with Buddy Holly and the Crickets. He had also appeared on some of Holly's original recordings of 1958 and had been on the last tour with Holly as a Cricket. His autobiography 'Flip of a Coin' alludes to this tour and Holly's fateful plane crash in Iowa. Anyway, after his experiences of recording with Norman Petty and watching him work he must have decided he wanted a shot at engineering also! The chance came when his weathly brother-in-law Gorman Maxwell became his partner in the new Odessa studio. Then about the time their last label AOK got rolling (c.1966) they managed to sign a national distribution deal for the label! Some of the better known rock groups on the label include the Continentals of Abilene, the New Roadrunners, the Wry Catchers and the Shades (Midland). None of the groups scored a national hit but they were big in their own City and surrounding area.
Some lesser known regional bands on the AOK label include 'Bob and his Agents' (Alpine,TX), 'Kenneth Cloud and the Stargazers' and a number of country singers. I suppose the best know male country singer on this label might have been Fred Crawford (By the Mission Walls) while the most noted female singer would be 'Edna Lee' (The pleasures all mine). There is a possibility that the demise of the AOK label and it's related studio was due to a divorce, which 'may' have broken up a good partnership. Anyway, the studio was the most prolific producers of West Texas records for about 5-6 years,during the sixties. I'll finish this article on the AOK label with a list of others who had singles on the label which includes: Lord August & Visions of Life, Richard Lynn, Carroll's Mood, Ed Dunlap, Terry :& Tommy, Topper Rawlings, Tom Kizziah, Dennis Ray, Ed Proctor and Joe Foster. (reference: A.O.K.: Record Labels of West Texas & New Mexico/ 2nd reference: The author's personal record collection ).
Gaylo records of Big Spring,TX
When Ben Hall opened his new studio in Big Spring in 1958 one of his first customers appears to have been a singer named Sammy Lara of San Angelo. After they had cut a couple of rockabilly songs ( titled 'Silly Sally' & 'Mister Moon') Hall and Lara decided to release them on a 45 on Hall's new label 'Gaylo'. Lara's efforts became the first release on this label which would have numerous releases over the next ten years, by various Rock & Country artists who recorded in Big Spring. Hall's studio band included his wife Dena on bass and Weldon Myrick on steel guitar and himself initially. Of course, steel guitar was seldom used on the Rock'n Roll cuts but Myrick became so skilled at his craft that in the mid-sixties he joined the house-band at the Grand'ol Opry in Nashville and went on to record with the biggest artists of his era. West Texas bands and singers that appeared on the Gaylo label include among others: The Continentals, The Elgins, Sammy Lara, Rusty Griffin and Ben Hall. Hall had written one of Buddy Holly's first released songs (on Decca) and Hall's version was also released on Gaylo. It is titled 'Blue Days and Black Nights'. In recent years a CD has been released entitled "Hep Cats from Big Spring" and it contains songs from the Gaylo label.
Joed label of Big Spring
A man named Ted Groebel established the Joed label in c.1960 and it was definitely active in 1962. It was located in Big Spring, TX and perhaps later in Midland. Anyway, this West Texas label seems to have released a single by the Lubbock singer David Box at about this time. Box had first traveled to Big Spring to record at Ben Hall's High Fidelity House studio and then he also recorded in Nashville. Perhaps he met Groebel while recording here. The unusual part was that Box had a voice that was about as good as Roy Orbisons and he did sound a lot like him. One song titled 'I'll Do the Best I can' (Joed) hit the charts big in Houston and it looked as though Box was on his way to a great career in music. Unfortunately he was killed in a plane crash while on a tour, not long afterwards. Aside from David Box other noted singers that had releases on Joed include Dean Beard (songs: Coffee Break/Tropical Night), B.J. Thomas and the Triumps (songs: Keep it Up/Vietnam).
Veeda label of Amarillo
In 1958-60 an Amarillo musician & singer Bob Baker released three singles on a new label Veeda. He well may have been the owner of the label and by sixty another artist or band 'Royce Clark & the Corvairs' also had their first release on this label. Clark's songs may have followed the New York Brill Building sound as background singers were used, a group called the Starletts. AT least one of these songs by Clark have been re-issued on a CD compilation 'Buffalo Bop' in recent years. One of Amarillo's earliest rockers also had a release in this year 'Rick Tucker and the Turks'. Tucker had been playing rockabilly since Elvis arrived in 1956 and one of his songs has also been re-issued. He played standup bass and had sit-in with Holly on at least one Amarillo performance before Buddy became famous. Finally 'Kenneth Trent and the Continentals' also had a couple of singles on Veeda in 1960-62. Two of Trent's songs are now common on collector CD's of early West Texas Music. They are titled 'The Way I feel about You ' and 'I'm in Love'. In conclusion I must say that some early Amarillo Rock'n Roll would have been lost forever if not for the Veeda label.
more West Texas Music:
While I'm reviewing West Texas music I think that I should at least write about some of the rare record labels that originated in this region. Since few of these labels ever produced more than a regional hit, in the trade they were generally known as trash-can labels. However today many of these labels & records are collected by collectors who specialize in Texas Music. If you want further information you can refer also to my Index of Texas Labels on another page of this website.
Banner Records, Lubbock, Tx
Banner Records seems to have originated in either San Antonio or Lubbock and this label released a number of recordings by various Lubbock and area artists during the mid-sixties, before moving on to Nashville. My intuition says that Banner was probably associated with one of the local radio stations or record shops in Lubbock and was owned by one Bill Crawford. I do know that Sky Corbin a disc jockey had one of the first releases on Banner records (c.1963) and his family had owned KLLL radio in Lubbock at the time. Another disc jockey working in Lubbock also had a release on Banner in about 1965. His name was Jack Reno and he was a country singer also. Later he became a regular on the Ozark Jubilee. This labels seems to have catered to Country Acts but there were some rock oriented songs also including "Afraid of the Dark" by Sylvia Marie. Two other artists that had releases on Banner were Jim Peters and Lee Harmon. Harmon's singles are collected by some traditional country buffs today. This label may have still been in business in 1975 and perhaps later in Nashville after their final move.
TIME records, Dalhart, Tx
TIME records, Dalhart, Tx
Perhaps the oldest label from our region may be the TIME label. Somewhere between 1946 and 1951 this company released a number of 78 rpm records which were by 'Billy Briggs and the XIT Boys' among others. On at least one of these records it states: Allender's Midwest Records, Dalhart, Texas. According to this notation I feel that the owner of the Time label, was also possibly the owner of a record outlet in Dalhart and his/her name was probably Allender. Anyway, Billy Briggs wrote 'Chew Tobacco Rag', which became a national hit during this same time frame and if his first version was on TIME records the Dalhart label cannot be dismissed as being totally irrelevent! But I'm not sure on this point. Nevertheless, another artist & band called Tommy Elliott and the Line Riders also appeared on the TIME label, during this same time period as did several other artists including Keith Lloyd & Sons of the Golden West, Gene Armstrong & the West Texas Nitehawks. Some of these same recordings (by both Elliott & Briggs) have recently been re-issued on a modern CD called: Texas Dance Hall Music, which adds validity to the old Time label!
Caprock records, Big Spring,Tx
Caprock records, Big Spring,Tx
Caprock is an early West Texas label that deserves some mention. A disc jockey named Hank Harral established the Caprock label down in Big Spring, Tx. where he was employed at a local radio station. In 1958-59 he released a number of CAPROCK 45's by Texas musicians from that area including Hoyle Nix, Jimmy Haggett and Durwood Haddock (also known as Durwood Daly). Hank Harral also appears to have been a singer/musician as he is listed on several of the releases himself. According to a discography of CAPROCK records, there were at least 11 different artists who had releases on the CAPROCK label in 1958-59. This sure sounds as though Mr. Harral was trying to make a business out of his label. And at least one song titled 'Big Balls in Cowtown' played by Hoyle Nix and his West Texas Cowboys' became a hit and something of a cowboy anthem, but did this occurr after another label had picked it up? Nevertheless, CAPROCK was one of the most active and successful of the West Texas labels during the late fifties, because of Nix's country standard.
Je-Wel of Odessa,TX
Je-Wel of Odessa,TX
When Roy Oribson and his band from Wink, Texas (The Teen Kings) first recorded in Clovis, NM in 1955 they couldn’t find a national label to release their songs. So, businessman Chester Oliver and DJ Weldon Rogers of Odessa decided to give the boys a hand and had the two songs (Ooby Dooby / Trying To Get To You) released on a private label which they named Je-Wel. The songs received some air play locally and this produced sales across West Texas. This prompted someone to mail a record to Sam Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. According to history, Phillips seems to have liked Orbison’s voice but not the recording quality. He therefore offered a contract to Orbison if he would come to Memphis and re-cut his favorite of the two songs, Ooby Dooby. The short of the story is that the Sun Recording became a minor hit for Roy Orbison and it launched his great career. Sometime after this, Chester Oliver left the Je-Wel record label and Weldon Rogers continued to release a few more singles on the modified Jewel label mainly promoting himself and his relatives (the Western Melodiers). Thanks to the businessman and disc jockey that created the original label, the unknown rock’n roller from Wink, Texas became an international star! The original Je-Wel label seems to have produced only one group (The Teen Kings / with Roy Orbison) and the two songs (Ooby Dooby / Trying To Get To You) during their time. So this record is now the rarest and most valuable Orbison record. Wish I still had my copy!
Triple-D Records Of Seminole, Texas
Another similar story is the Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen release on the Triple-D Record label. These two songs (Party Dolls / I’m stickin’ With You) were recorded in 1956 in Clovis New Mexico also with Norman Petty, but he opted not to accept them for promotion. He was stated to have been offended by the Party Doll lyrics (and I’ll make love to you). Since the Rhythm Orchards had no way to get a national release, a man in Seminole, Texas (Chester Oliver) wanted to release a single for them on his “Blue Moon” label. He also may have wanted them to pay a portion of the pressing fee. And since two of the band members were from Dumas, Texas where the local radio station was KDDD this may have encouraged Oliver to use the Triple-D label instead. It seems Jimmy Bowen (or Donnie Lanier) was also employed at KDDD as a disc jockey and had often used the call letters as K-triple D on the air! Whatever the reason, that’s the way the record was labeled and after it received some good, local response, Lanier decided to send a copy to his sister in New York City. She may have worked for the newly founded company “Roulette Records” or nearby. Anyway Roulette liked the songs and decided both had potential so they split the 2 songs apart and released them as their first two singles! “Party Doll” went to #2 and Bowen’s song “Stickin’ with You” peaked at #14. Chester Oliver was obviously quite sorry that he had sold-out to the New York label. But, instead of abdoning the Triple-D label he went on to release at least two singles by a good female singer of Lubbock 'Hope Griffith'. She previously had a release on Oliver’s “Blue Moon” records also.
Ruff Records of Amarillo, Tx
Ruff Records of Amarillo, Tx
In circa 1964 rockabilly singer Ray Ruff (aka Ray Ruffin) opened Checkmate recording studio in Amarillo, Tx. It was here that he began making 'master tapes' of his band and other local & regional rock bands. Groups as faraway as Colorado and Kansas traveled here to make recordings. One such band was the Trolls of Pueblo, Colorado who recorded here in c.1965. At about this same time Ruffin started a new record label 'Ruff records' and became associated with Buddy Knox. It seems possible that Ruff had initially used the label in one of his previous releases before he signed Knox but since Knox's single (Jo Ann / Don't Make a Ripple) is listed as Ruff-101 this might not be the case. Nevertheless this label was used to release the several singles by 'Ray Ruff and his Checkmates'.
The Trolls who recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis (1966) may not have had a release on the Ruff label during this same time period but they did record at Ruff's Checkmate studio. Also a Hayes, Kansas group (The Fabulous Blue Things) signed with the Ruff label and had a single or two released during these years on the Ruff label. Later, Ruff seems to have bought the Sully label and some Blue Things releases are on this second label also.
One of Amarillo's finest rock bands 'The Illusions' (Mark Creamer-lead guitar, Johnny Stark-drums) also had recorded at Ruff's studio but their songs were not released under their own name. Don Henley of the Eagles has stated that he also recorded at Checkmate studio and possibly J.D. Souther of Amarillo did also. But it is unknown (by the author) if any of these recordings were ever released. Other local bands that recorded here also included the Poole brothers of Canyon, the Viscounts and the vocal-duo of Robin Brown and Max Barton of Matador, Tx. Their two rock songs were not released during the era they were recorded (1966). But if anyone recognises the following titles please contact this website. The 2 rock songs were: To Say No / Man of Steel.
The Illusions of Amarillo--1965
Ohn-J Records of Plainview, Tx
The Ohn-J label was the creation of Plainview businessman John Sands. He was a native of nearby Floydada, Tx and had begun writing songs as a child on his daddy's farm. By the 1960's he was a middle-aged and successful businessman with money to spend. He began hiring varous local singers/musicians to record his songs but he had trouble getting a national label interested in the recordings. Therefore he launched his own label and in 1964 he released 'Possum Hollar' as possibly the first single on Ohn-J label (which is a psuedonym for JOHN). After the the String-a-Longs broke up in the mid-sixties, a new band was formed by Keith McCormack and some of the Torres brothers. They eventually called themselve 'The Strings of Fortune' and were also from Plainview,Tx. Sands approached this new band about recording on his label in c.1966. The 'New String-a-Longs' then appeared on the Ohn-J label with two original rock songs Sands had a hand in writing. At least one of these songs 'I think it's gonna Rain' is a vocal written by Sands and has an english influence.
In about 1968 one of Sands original songs finally appeared on the RCA label but it wasn't a hit so he released an album (of his songs) on a new label 'NORM'. It was by a female singer of the name Wanda Conklin, I beleive and it sold 3,000 copies Sands has stated. Finally in the seventies this die-hard writer sent a Trio from Plainview to Nashville to record a single for one of his labels. This was Travis and Amy Thornton (with Keith Longbotham) but their record was erroneously issued as being by 'The Thortons' on the Norm label. The main song was titled 'Do I love You' and had some hit potential (I beleived). Whether any further releases came from Sand's labels is unknown (by this writer) but in 1996 Sands was featured in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal and still hadn't given up his song-writing ambitions, at age 77! Unfortunately he died just two years later.
BO-KAY records of Lamesa & Odessa,TX
An ambitious man named Jesse Smith was the founder/owner of BO-KAY records. This label was active from 1957-67 according to my notes. It may have begun in Lamesa, TX and moved later to Odessa which is just down the road. Anyway, Smith seems to have had an interest mostly in country music but did release some significant songs for Elroy Dietzel, a rockabilly artist. His version of 'Rock-N-Bones' is now a rockabilly classic! Elroy Dietzel and the Rhythm Bandits had at least 2 singles on BO-KAY during the early days of the label. Neither of the records by him were national hits but these recordings are quite collectible today and have some value!
Smith also had at least two musicians on his label that played in famous bands and were quite talented. They were the noted fiddler-songwriter Red Hayes and the singer-guitarist Billy Thompson. Both could sing well and their country records were very well done, in a country-pop vein. I especially like the songs 'Next to Jimmy' by Red Hayes and 'Walzing with Sin' as sung by Billy Thompson. Although they played in clubs around Odessa and Midland they eventually played the 'Golden Nugget' in Las Vegas with Billy Thompson fronting the band. BO-KAY also released an album titled "Billy Thompson" in 1965. Aside from the song mentioned above by him, it also contained another fine song "Love Gone Blind" from the related single.
Other artists on BO-KAY include a local night club act, 'Red and Betty Stewart' and one artist that had recorded for Capitol in 1954, Patsy Elshire Blane. Some other artists that also appeared on BO-KAY with singles include: Terry White, Cecil McCullough, Ronnie Blackwell and Johnny Goff. (reference: A.O.K.: Record Labels of West Texas & New Mexico/ 2nd reference: The author's personal record collection /
Even though BO-KAY does not appear to have been afilliated with a particular studio (like Ruff, AOK and Gaylo labels were) some of their songs were recorded in Clovis and Jesse Smith had a hand in producing a lot of it's singles. This label was one of the most consistent producers of records in West Texas during their decade of existence it appears.
Token label of Midland
Token label deserves mentioning not for it's longevity or fame but for its musical taste. Founded in 1963 by Steve Drummond it seems to have been in existence for only about three years. Drummond seems to have been intent on producing a hit as he had also released one single on the local COIN label. However during this time Token's first release was a song by teenager Tommy Crider titled 'Sandy'. This was a song that could have been featured in any Surf and Beach movie of the day! It is one of my favorite recordings of original West Texas music. And another singer & group 'Mike Malone and the Misters' also did release a very good song on the Token label titled 'It must be Raining'. Malone would go on to have a record on the SIMS label of Nashville by 1966 which was a national release. The Token label was probably defunct by then but it is stated to have released at least six singles before it faded into the past. Token's last release by country singer Fred Cowen would garner Nashville distribution, but I suppose it was too little, too late.
Unijohn & Hare labels, Andrews,TX
Aside from Fred Drummond, Harry Bray and others there were several local labels that were operated by people that virtually had just a 'dream' of being associated with a 'hit record'. People who seem to have had no connection with either a professional studio. I guess they could best be described as 'promoters' of local music and musicians.
One such man seems to have been John Rowe of Andrews, Texas. He seems to have been interested in both Country and Rock music. He first established the Unijohn label in the mid-sixties and had a release by 'Bobby Price and the Country Ramblers'. One of the songs titled 'Rush on for the Moon' was something of a clever song that might have been considered 'revolting' by hard-core country fans if it had made it to Nashville. Then in the late sixties John Rowe became interested in some rockers called 'The Lynx' and released at least two singles for them on the HARE label. Their songs included 'Just a Friend, Woman of my Dreams, Look at Me, Follow the Rain' . In his promotions of this group's records Rowe went so far as to even run advertisements in Billboard magazine like the big-boys!
AOK and E.M.C.O. labels of Odessa
After Gorman Maxwell and Tommy Allsup began making 'master tapes' in their new studio in the suburbs of Odessa, TX they soon released 45's on several record labels. There was the E.M.C.O. label and finally the AOK label which seems to date to c.1966--69. And in between perhaps a Westex label, all of which occurred in c.1963--1968. Tommy Allsup was an excellent guitarist who had previously played with Bob Will's Playboys and also with Buddy Holly and the Crickets. He had also appeared on some of Holly's original recordings of 1958 and had been on the last tour with Holly as a Cricket. His autobiography 'Flip of a Coin' alludes to this tour and Holly's fateful plane crash in Iowa. Anyway, after his experiences of recording with Norman Petty and watching him work he must have decided he wanted a shot at engineering also! The chance came when his weathly brother-in-law Gorman Maxwell became his partner in the new Odessa studio. Then about the time their last label AOK got rolling (c.1966) they managed to sign a national distribution deal for the label! Some of the better known rock groups on the label include the Continentals of Abilene, the New Roadrunners, the Wry Catchers and the Shades (Midland). None of the groups scored a national hit but they were big in their own City and surrounding area.
Some lesser known regional bands on the AOK label include 'Bob and his Agents' (Alpine,TX), 'Kenneth Cloud and the Stargazers' and a number of country singers. I suppose the best know male country singer on this label might have been Fred Crawford (By the Mission Walls) while the most noted female singer would be 'Edna Lee' (The pleasures all mine). There is a possibility that the demise of the AOK label and it's related studio was due to a divorce, which 'may' have broken up a good partnership. Anyway, the studio was the most prolific producers of West Texas records for about 5-6 years,during the sixties. I'll finish this article on the AOK label with a list of others who had singles on the label which includes: Lord August & Visions of Life, Richard Lynn, Carroll's Mood, Ed Dunlap, Terry :& Tommy, Topper Rawlings, Tom Kizziah, Dennis Ray, Ed Proctor and Joe Foster. (reference: A.O.K.: Record Labels of West Texas & New Mexico/ 2nd reference: The author's personal record collection ).
Gaylo records of Big Spring,TX
When Ben Hall opened his new studio in Big Spring in 1958 one of his first customers appears to have been a singer named Sammy Lara of San Angelo. After they had cut a couple of rockabilly songs ( titled 'Silly Sally' & 'Mister Moon') Hall and Lara decided to release them on a 45 on Hall's new label 'Gaylo'. Lara's efforts became the first release on this label which would have numerous releases over the next ten years, by various Rock & Country artists who recorded in Big Spring. Hall's studio band included his wife Dena on bass and Weldon Myrick on steel guitar and himself initially. Of course, steel guitar was seldom used on the Rock'n Roll cuts but Myrick became so skilled at his craft that in the mid-sixties he joined the house-band at the Grand'ol Opry in Nashville and went on to record with the biggest artists of his era. West Texas bands and singers that appeared on the Gaylo label include among others: The Continentals, The Elgins, Sammy Lara, Rusty Griffin and Ben Hall. Hall had written one of Buddy Holly's first released songs (on Decca) and Hall's version was also released on Gaylo. It is titled 'Blue Days and Black Nights'. In recent years a CD has been released entitled "Hep Cats from Big Spring" and it contains songs from the Gaylo label.
Joed label of Big Spring
Joed label of Big Spring
A man named Ted Groebel established the Joed label in c.1960 and it was definitely active in 1962. It was located in Big Spring, TX and perhaps later in Midland. Anyway, this West Texas label seems to have released a single by the Lubbock singer David Box at about this time. Box had first traveled to Big Spring to record at Ben Hall's High Fidelity House studio and then he also recorded in Nashville. Perhaps he met Groebel while recording here. The unusual part was that Box had a voice that was about as good as Roy Orbisons and he did sound a lot like him. One song titled 'I'll Do the Best I can' (Joed) hit the charts big in Houston and it looked as though Box was on his way to a great career in music. Unfortunately he was killed in a plane crash while on a tour, not long afterwards. Aside from David Box other noted singers that had releases on Joed include Dean Beard (songs: Coffee Break/Tropical Night), B.J. Thomas and the Triumps (songs: Keep it Up/Vietnam).
Veeda label of Amarillo
Veeda label of Amarillo
In 1958-60 an Amarillo musician & singer Bob Baker released three singles on a new label Veeda. He well may have been the owner of the label and by sixty another artist or band 'Royce Clark & the Corvairs' also had their first release on this label. Clark's songs may have followed the New York Brill Building sound as background singers were used, a group called the Starletts. AT least one of these songs by Clark have been re-issued on a CD compilation 'Buffalo Bop' in recent years. One of Amarillo's earliest rockers also had a release in this year 'Rick Tucker and the Turks'. Tucker had been playing rockabilly since Elvis arrived in 1956 and one of his songs has also been re-issued. He played standup bass and had sit-in with Holly on at least one Amarillo performance before Buddy became famous. Finally 'Kenneth Trent and the Continentals' also had a couple of singles on Veeda in 1960-62. Two of Trent's songs are now common on collector CD's of early West Texas Music. They are titled 'The Way I feel about You ' and 'I'm in Love'. In conclusion I must say that some early Amarillo Rock'n Roll would have been lost forever if not for the Veeda label.
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