RARE ROCKABILLY
Rare rockabilly seems to be a well worn term by today's standards. Amateur musicologists tend to think that
if a recording did not place on the Billboard or Cashbox charts, it was too much of an obscurity. Hence,
when a copy of such a record surfaced for sale, it was labeled a rarity. In many cases, these records
are not scarce at all. They're simply uncommon. With this in mind and considering the current state
of the reissue market and the sheer volume of information concerning the very artists that recorded
these uncommon releases, the term rare rockabilly is very much still an actuality (that is, when used
appropriately). Avid aficionados as Bill Millar, Ray Topping, Rob Finnis, the folks at Kicks magazine,
Colin Escott and Martin Hawkins, to name a few, have ensured that the tales of many of these
lesser known artists has been recorded for posterity. Equally keen and just as important are some
of the die hard fans who linger among the many online mailing lists (like the rockinrecords and
hillbilly lists) who are constantly divulging a wealth of information on innumerable names
from the better known to the totally unknown. Without such devotees, all that would exist today
are records and the mysterious names that appear on their labels. Without such data, this music
couldn't possibly be appropriately juxtaposed in its correct context. Now, after many years of
research, we can indeed place rockabilly in its meaningful locus in history. We now know just
who the Phantom is. We also know that Lew Williams' recording career was far more prolific
than just his Imperial singles and we also now know far more about Art Adams than anyone may
have previously believed true. However, there are still many, many artists whose stories have
yet to be told and will remain in the depths of obscurity until such time as they are found and
interviewed. It is for this very reason that I struck upon the idea to create this page with
Bob Timmers on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame site. In my attempts to track down these still
unknown artists, I have indeed discovered many. I have been collecting their stories and submitting
them for publication in an Australian magazine called Big Beat of the Fifties, but with minimal
response. Thus I felt it would be more appropriate to make this information available via a
more easily accessible source - the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. So, as I locate and interview
many of the obscure performers (including record labels too) and obtain hitherto unseen
photos, they will be made available on this section of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Before delving into these enigmas though, I wish to offer a few brief words about myself.
I reside in a small country town in Western Australia and I've been actively collecting
and researching rockabilly and other roots related music for many years now. After a visit
to London I met some of the folks from the rockinrecords list, whom I previously knew by
name only. This visit also inspired me to become a dedicated record collector. That is, spending
exorbitant sums of my hard earned cash on original pressings (45 and 78 RPM). Since this time
I became actively involved in radio, co-hosting a program on Radio Fremantle with Dave Blaine.
Broadcast each Wednesday night, Dave and I would spin many of the seldom heard rockabilly,
R'n'R, hillbilly, blues and R&B of the forties and fifties. I also became a regular contributor
to a Melbourne based magazine called Big Beat of the Fifties. With my regular Hen's Teeth column,
I finally had a forum to share the information I had been digging up. Well, that's enough about me.
I hope you enjoy the artist profiles and find the discographies on this page helpful. If you have
any comments, corrections or additions to the information contained herein, please do not hesitate
to contact me at rockindaddy_1955@yahoo.com.
Shane Hughes - Capel, Western Australia
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