As black musician and writer, Queen Esther wrote in a very interesting piece titled "The Truth About Black People and Country Music" African American Lesley Riddle for example befriended the Carter family, found and transcribed Negro spirituals for them, and gave them guitar lessons, thus establishing the bedrock of country music. This a reminder that African Americans pioneered this music and taught it to white folks. The closing number (as usual) is an old-timey solo number sung this time by black cowboy Percy Marshall. The Platters are doing a memorable version of Tennessee Ernie Ford's "16 Tons" that features their fabulous bass singer Herb reed on lead vocals.
Once again Mickey & Sylvia deliver another great "melanated" C&W tune, just like Joe Tex with his "Wicked Wicked Woman", and The Coasters with their classic "Along Came Jones", Brook Benton, Little Arthur Matthews, and Buster Brown. Reverend Moore and His Gospel Singers are giving another example of how Black Gospel music heavily influenced C&W with his version of the traditional "Glory Glory To His Name". Fans of Country and Rockabilly singer Warren Smith are probably familiar with his version of "Tell Me Who" that features a prominent steel guitar, I included here the version by R&B singer Big Maybelle. West Coast sax supremo Maxwell Davis is doing a nice version of "Hey Good Looking" followed by Ray Sharpe and his "Bus Song", Solomon Burke with "Almost Lost My Mind", Lou Rawls, Joe Seneca, and Sam & Dave. Washboard Sam is next with a proto-Western Swing number titled "Crazy About Nancy Jane" and Piano Red's "Big Rock Joe From Kokomo" brings to mind Moon Mullican and all the other Hillbilly piano players he often also inspired. Same for Little Willie John and the Young Jessie tunes. Memphian Rosco Gordon gives a perfect example of “Ebony Country Music" with the self-penned "Sally Jo" originally released on Sun Records. Titus Turner gives a new spin to Hank William's classic "Jambalaya" and R&B vocalist Johnny Thunder is next with "Don't Be Ashamed" a song that has a strong C&W and Gospel flavor. Amos Milburn turns square dance into boogie-woogie, followed by Baby Washington and Bobby Bland with two "melanated" western tunes.
We're kicking off with Nat King Cole doing "Wolverton Mountain", a country music song and a big crossover hit that established Claude King's career as an American country singer-songwriter in 1962, then another version of the Gene Autry C&W classic "Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins this time.
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