Personalities | The Delmore Brothers | Early Years of Hillbilly | Country

(Vocal duo, 1926–52)

The sound of The Delmore Brothers – a humorous blues or a wistful train song, told to the rhythm of two mellow guitars – echoed through country music across three decades. Alton (1908–64) and Rabon (1916–52) were among the first stars of the microphone era, their voices linked in soft, confidential harmony fit for the intimacy of radio. Between 1932 and 1938, as stalwarts of the Grand Ole Opry, they travelled with fellow cast-member Uncle Dave Macon and recorded behind fiddler Arthur Smith (1898–1971). Their comic piece ‘Brown’s Ferry Blues’ was a major hillbilly hit of the period. Later they were on WLW in Cincinnati and in at the birth of King Records, for whom they had hits like the sombre ‘Blues Stay Away From Me’ (1949), with the lonesome harmonica of Wayne Raney, and up-tempo numbers like ‘Hillbilly Boogie’, in which they transformed the easygoing swing of their earlier music into something close to rock’n’roll.

Styles & Forms | Early Years of Hillbilly | Country
Personalities | Curly Fox & Texas Ruby | Early Years of Hillbilly | Country

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.