This recording of Hardrock Gunter‘s mesmerizing voice, with its offbeat hiccup-y rhythms bathed in slapback echo, never fails to enchant:
“Boppin’ to Grandfather’s Clock“
Hardrock (“Sidney Jo Lewis”) Gunter (1958)
Birmingham, Alabama’s Sidney Louis Gunter, Jr. would record under two other names: Buddy Durham (as noted in the previous piece about the Vandergrift Brothers — possibly in error) and Sidney Jo Lewis, which he used in 1958 to record “Boppin’ to Grandfather’s Clock” on Cleveland indie label, Island. Two years prior, Gunter had already put together the ingredients that would define his signature sound on “Jukebox Help Me Find My Baby,” originally recorded in Wheeling, WV for Cross Country in 1956 before the single got picked up by Sam Phillips‘ and re-released on his vaunted Sun label later that August.
1958 –
Gunter also recorded ‘Songs They Censored in the Hills for Seeco 
Note the considerably drier sound – not to mention vastly different singing style – on Gunter’s second of three 45s for Cincinnati’s King Records “I’ll Give ’em Rhythm” (b/w “I Put My Britches on Just Like Everybody Else“), recorded in Cincinnati August 19, 1955 (interestingly enough, the same day as Herb & Kay‘s delightful “We Did“):
“I’ll Give ’em Rhythm“
Hardrock Gunter (1955)
Thanks to UK-charts.com, I am able to transcribe the following information from the Hardrock Gunter “bio disc” (thanks, Randy McNutt!) for the King 45 illustrated in the audio clip above:
“When Hardrock Gunter graduated from high school, he teamed up with Happy Wilson who organized the Golden River Boys. The original members of this group are still doing radio shows. After World War II, Gunter again went back into radio when the Golden River Boys were re-organized. In 1948 Hardrock started managing the unit and acted as personal manager to Happy Wilson until late 1949.”
King would issue another “bio disc” for “Turn the Other Cheek” that gives us the official explanation for Gunter’s stage name:
Hardrock Gunter, professionally speaking, leaped right out of the gate, recording his first few singles for mighty Decca, before moving on to MGM, Sun, King, Cross Country, Emperor (“Whoo! I Mean Whee!“), Island, Seeco, Cullman, D, El Dorado, Starday (“Hillbilly Twist“), Gee Gee, Brunswick, Rival, Essgee, Longhorn, Morgun, Rollercoaster, Home Brew, and Jar — possibly others.
Hardrock Gunter rocking a doubleneck Mosrite –
1999 Dutch 45 recorded in London
Matthew Loukes echos the call for Gunter’s “Birmingham Bounce” of 1950 – which preceded Jackie Brenston & Ike Turner’s “Rocket 88” and was the reason for Decca’s interest – as “first rock ‘n’ roll recording” in his 2013 obituary for the Guardian.
Hardrock Gunter + Hank Williams:
Twins Separated at Birth?
Check out this dead on impersonation of Hank Williams via 1951 parody of 1949’s classic “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It” on Bullet — “Granddaddy of Nashville indie labels“:
“My Bucket’s Been Fixed” by Hardrock Gunter (1951)
People are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for Gunter’s original recordings — including $1500 for “Gonna Dance All Night” on Sun.
LINK to Musical Impersonations (on Wax)
