1. Forum
  2. Usenet
  3. REC.MUSIC.ROCK-POP-R+B.19

  • Benny Martin, legendary c&w fiddler, 1952-53

    From RWC@21:1/5 to All on Mon Apr 1 16:43:23 2024
    http://www.hillbilly-music.com/artists/story/index.php?id=12191
    "In 1952, Benny Martin then went to WNOX as a member of "Lester Flatt,
    Earl Scruggs & the Foggy Mountain Boys" who soon moved to WVLK in
    Versailles, Kentucky and the Kentucky Barn Dance. About this time, the
    band also began their work at WSM for Martha White Flour on weekday
    mornings. Benny cut 16 sides with them on Columbia (13 as fiddler and
    three as bass vocalist in the quartet), sometimes considered
    **the best bluegrass ever recorded**."

    These 16 sides are likely included in the records listed for
    Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs And The Foggy Mountain Boys
    for the years 1952-53 at: https://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/artist/lester-flatt-earl-scruggs-and-the-foggy-mountain-boys

    I have yet to identify the actual 16 sides, but, in 1984 a vinyl album
    was released titled "Martha White Biscuit Time *1953*" - a 53 min.
    recording of a Live show. Here's a YouTube link for that recording,
    with comments declaring that Benny was at the top of his game:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olCnlM4qqcY

    Credits:
    Banjo – Earl Scruggs
    Bass – Bobby Moore
    Fiddle – Benny Martin
    Guitar – Lester Flatt
    Mandolin – Curly Seckler

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From RWC@21:1/5 to RWC on Mon Apr 1 18:43:56 2024
    On Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:43:23 -0400, RWC <letsrock@opbox.com> wrote:

    The 1984 vinyl album titled "Martha White Biscuit Time 1953" is a
    53 min. recording of a Live show when Bluegrass was near its peak.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olCnlM4qqcY

    ...friends and neighbors, we'd like to say a great big howdy
    to everybody listening...

    starts with a Martha White flour advert;
    southerners bought flour most times they went 'shopping'

    click on *more* to get a full 23 song list

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From RWC@21:1/5 to RWC on Tue Apr 2 22:03:38 2024
    On Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:43:23 -0400, RWC <letsrock@opbox.com> wrote:

    Benny cut 16 sides with Flatt and Scruggs for Columbia (13 as fiddler and >three as bass vocalist in the quartet), sometimes considered
    **the best bluegrass ever recorded**."

    these 16 bluegrass sides were recorded in Nov 52 and in Aug 53, in
    Nashville TN

    basic info from: http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.com/2014/08/flatt-and-scruggs.html

    release dates were copied as is from 45worlds.com

    Playlist (16 YouTube tracks; 2 had to be newly created): https://www.youtube.com/watch_videos?video_ids=7exSvI9qS1Q,Em2csd5DXrE,SSBZMZMhi64,oPvkraax2pg,XG6quOfXomI,T4KcsUCeoE4,xfrdtZLGNHU,qrWGOuWxeq8,FwyifxsGaiM,z6y7WqPirDY,Hrl4mkD8zwU,1GXAhrvqML0,dHFAyW34Lgw,KJCZ0Z6cGdQ,40s6npj9LJw,8JPeVYmWsEE,

    9 November 1952, Castle Studio at The Tulane Hotel, Nashville TN -
    (Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Curly Seckler, Benny Martin, Jody
    Rainwater)
    1 CO 21091 WHY DID YOU WANDER - 4 Apr 1953
    2 CO 21054 FLINT HILL SPECIAL - 12 Dec 1952
    3 CO 21091 THINKING ABOUT YOU - 4 Apr 1953
    4 CO 21125 IF I SHOULD WANDER BACK TONIGHT - 19 Jun 1953
    5 CO 21054 DIM LIGHTS THICK SMOKE - 12 Dec 1952
    6 CO 21125 DEAR OLD DIXIE - 19 Jun 1953
    7 OKeh 18004 REUNION IN HEAVEN - 13 Feb 1953
    8 OKeh 18004 PRAY FOR THE BOYS - 13 Feb 1953

    29 August 1953, Castle Studio at The Tulane Hotel, Nashville TN -
    (Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Louis Innis, Curly Seckler, Benny Martin,
    Bob Moore)
    9 CO 21179 I'LL GO STEPPING TOO - 2 Nov 1953
    10 CO 21248 I'D RATHER BE ALONE - 3 May 1954
    11 CO 21179 FOGGY MOUNTAIN CHIMES - 2 Nov 1953
    12 CO 21248 SOMEONE TOOK MY PLACE WITH YOU - 3 May 1954

    30 August 1953, Castle Studio at The Tulane Hotel, Nashville TN -
    (Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Louis Innis, Curly Seckler, Benny Martin,
    Bob Moore)
    13 CO 21209 MOTHER PRAYS LOUD IN HER SLEEP - 18 Jan 1954
    14 CO unissued THAT OLD BOOK OF MINE - LP CO 30347 - 1970
    15 CO unissued YOUR LOVE IS LIKE A FLOWER - LP CO 1019 - 1957
    16 CO 21209 BE READY FOR TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME - 18 Jan 1954

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)