Joe Goldmark is not only a musician but also a scholar, whose International Steel Guitar and Dobro Discography – “a resource book that attempts to list every steel guitar and Dobro instrumental ever recorded” – is a fascinating reference tool for those interested in Syd Nathan’s King Records legacy.
Jerry Byrd — one-time steel guitarist for Hank Williams — recorded four songs at Cincinnati’s King Records studio on October 29, 1954 as part of The Country Cats (with Al Myers on guitar). “Mountain Mambo” is the A-side of a King 45 that playfully incorporates Latin elements within a hillbilly jazz framework:
“Mountain Mambo”
The Country Cats (featuring Jerry Byrd) 1954
Audio clip includes excellent B-side, “Hot Strings.”
Thanks to The Jerry Byrd Fan Club website, I now know that “during the 1950s, Jerry Byrd upgraded to a seven-string, pre-war model of the same Rickenbacker Bakelite steel guitar (as pictured below). He was playing this fine instrument while on WLW radio in Cincinnati, Ohio, and recorded his popular Decca album, Hi-Fi Guitar, using this guitar.”
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Steel Guitarists –
= And The Music Historians Who Love Them =
Listed below are the other King/Federal/Deluxe/Audio Lab recordings referenced in The International Steel Guitar & Dobro Discography, with the names of the featured steel guitarists – where known and/or applicable – indicated in parentheses.
Streaming audio for many of the recordings below
Paul Blunt & His Islanders
Golden Goodies of Old Hawaii – 1960 [King LP]
The Buckeye Pals
“Buckeye Boogie” – 1952? [Deluxe 78]
The Country Cats (featuring Jerry Byrd)
“Mountain Mambo” / “Hot Strings“ – 1954 [King 78]
“Sun Shadows” / “Hop Scotch“ – 1955 [King 78]
Eddie Chamblee Orchestra
“Blue Steel“ – c. 1950 [Federal 78 – leased from Miracle]
Cowboy Copas (featuring Slim Idaho)
“Jamboree“ – Jan. 1948 [King 78]
Included on this various artists LP disguised as a Moon Mullican compilation
Mel Cox And His Flying X Ranch Boys (featuring Lefty Perkins)
“Guitar Jump” / “No Suh“ – 1950 [King 78]
King Curtis
“Steel Guitar Rag“ – 1962 [King & DeLuxe 45s]
Andy Iona & His Islanders
Hawaiian Interlude – 1950 [King EP]
The Kiddie Ka-Dees
“Remington Ride” – 1959 [King 45]
Freddy King
“Remington Ride“ – 1965 [King LP]
Closing track on this LP
Krazy Kris And His Swinging Gentlemen (featuring Floyd Smith)
[rec. Oct. 1956 in NYC – prod. by Henry Glover]
“Floyd’s Guitar Blues” / “Wishy Washy“ [King 45]
Eddie Martin & His King Serenaders
“Echoes of Hawaii” – Dec. 1946 [King 78]
“Pineapple Polka” – Nov. 1947 [King 78]
Leon McAuliffe (featuring Leon McAuliffe)
“Faded Love” / “Panhandle Rag” – 1983 [Gusto 45]
Hank Penny & His Radio Cowboys
~ featuring Noel Boggs (c. early 1946)
“Steel Guitar Stomp” / “I’m Counting the Days“ [King 45]
“Steel Guitar Stomp” / “Merle’s Buck Dance“ [King 45]
~ featuring Bobby Koefer (1947)
“Hillbilly Jump“ / “Kentucky“ [King 78]
~ featuring Ralph Miele (Oct. 1946)
“Penny Blows His Top” / “Locked Out“ [King 78]
“Steel Guitar Polka” / “Won’t You Ride In My Little Red Wagon“ [King 78]
~ featuring Herb Remington (Mar. 1950)
“Jersey Bounce” / “Wham! Bam! Thank You Ma’am!“ [King 78]
“Remington Ride” / “I’m Gonna Have My Picture Took“ [King 78]
~ featuring Speedy West (Jul. 1949)
“Hillbilly Be-Bop” / [b-side from 1947* – King 78]
Webb Pierce (featuring Shot Jackson)
“New Panhandle Rag“ – 1960 [4 Star 78]
Charlie Ryan (featuring Neil Livingston)
Hot Rod King LP – includes 1960 track “Steel Rock“
Cecil Surratt & Smitty Smith
“Liza Jane” / “The Words You Say“ – 1960 [King 45]
T. Texas Tyler (featuring Noel Boggs)
“Tell Your Lies To The Man In The Moon“ – 1946 [4 Star 78]
Also included on this 1959 King LP
Jimmie Widener (featuring Earl “Joaquin” Murphy)
“Jimmie’s Jump” / “She’s Done And Left Me“ – 1948 [King 78]
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BONUS HISTORY!
Maximum Steel Guitar on King Records:
LINK to “The Pre-Nashville A Team” at Cincinnati’s Herzog Studio
Starring Jerry Byrd & The String Dusters
