Early Bluegrass - Byron Parker & His Mountaineers, 1940

Byron Parker & His Mountaineers were basically an off-spring of J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers, formed in 1937 as Byron Parker's Hillbillies by radio show host Byron Parker

• Born: September 06, 1911, Hastings, IA
• Died: October 06, 1948

and in its earliest incarnation comprised of Byron Parker (announcer), George Morris (guitar), Dewitt ("Snuffy") Jenkins (banjo), J. E. Mainer (fiddle) and Leonard Stokes (guitar).

Following several changes in personnel, these recordings from 1940 feature

• Homer "Pappy" Sherill (fiddle)
• Leonard Stokes (guitar/mandolin)
• Clyde Robbins (guitar)
• Dewitt ("Snuffy") Jenkins (banjo).

Kimball Hotel,  30 South Pryor Street, Atlanta, GA, February 9, 1940:
01 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Little Pal.mp3      
02 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - I'm Sorry That's All I Can Say.mp3   
03 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - The Family Circle.mp3                
04 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - A Beautiful Life.mp3                 
05 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - We Shall Rise.mp3                    
06 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Oh Darling Come Back.mp3             
07 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Carroll County Blues.mp3             
08 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Up Jumped The Devil.mp3

Kimball Hotel,  30 South Pryor Street, Atlanta, GA, October 10, 1940:
09 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - C & NW Railroad Blues.mp3
10 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Peanut Special.mp3                   
11 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - The Letter That Went To God.mp3      
12 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Tell Her Not To Wait For Me.mp3      
13 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - I Love My Savior.mp3                 
14 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - He Is My Friend And Guide.mp3        
15 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - That's Why I'm So Blue.mp3           
16 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Married Life Blues.mp3               
17 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar.mp3     
18 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - If You Could Be The Same.mp3         
19 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - I'll Have A New Life.mp3             
20 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Gethsemane.mp3                       
21 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Can The Lord Depend On You.mp3       
22 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - The Old Country Church.mp3           
23 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - I Don't Love Nobody.mp3              
24 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - Those Blues Don't Worry My Mind.mp3  
25 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - When I Make That Last Move.mp3       
26 Byron Parker & His Mountaineers - The Letter That Went To God.mp3

DOWNLOAD AS ZIPPED MONO MP3 (VBR, 58 MB)

"Known under the amusing but somewhat dusty stage name of "the Old Hired Hand," this performer's real forte was as a radio announcer. However, the loose blend of live radio production and music that dominated the classic days of country music, old-time, and early bluegrass radio broadcasting allowed him to develop an interesting persona that was half-disc jockey and half-frontman vocalist; although he also tended to incorporate someone with a smoother voice to act as the real lead singer. More important to bluegrass lovers, he presided over a loose aggregation of bluegrass pioneers based out of South Carolina through the '40s on his radio and recording projects. The combo often included the titanic tandem team of fiddler Homer "Pappy" Sherill and DeWitt "Snuffy" Jenkins, as well as guitarists and singers such as Leonard Stokes, Clyde Robbins, Floyd Lacewell, and Gene Ray. Whether Parker's influence was benign or heavy handed, the musical results cannot be denied....

Jenkins and Sherrill were on hand throughout the Parker combo tenure, coming up with instrumental touches that have been considered key influences on the progressive bluegrass developments of players such as Earl Scruggs and Don Reno. Following the leader's death in 1948, the group itself adopted his old nickname and became known as the Hired Hands. Parker was also one of the earliest members of the Monroe Brothers band, and has been credited with playing a key role in their success and the popularization of bluegrass that resulted. He played with the Monroes from 1934 to 1937, appearing on the group's first recordings for Victor in 1936. His departure also coincided with the decision by brothers Bill Monroe and Charlie Monroe to pick their separate ways. At this point, Parker organized his first band, the Hillbillies. Later he would refine the name only slightly, changing to Byron Parker & His Mountaineers, or often the Old Hired Hand & His Mountaineers."
(SOURCE: http://www.answers.com/topic/byron-parker-1)

RELATED LINKS:

Allen`s archive of early and old country music:

Crazy Hillbillies Radio Shows 

Snuffy Jenkins & Pappy Sherrill "Crazy Water Barn Dance" LP on the Rounder label

 

 Snuffy Jenkins & The Hired Hands "Carolina Bluegrass" on Folklyric (1962)