Davis Sisters (by Dick Grant)

THE DAVIS SISTERS

SESSION DISCOGRAPHY

DETROIT, MICHIGAN ONLY

THE DAVIS SISTERS

                                       Dairy Workers Hall, 15840 Second Avenue                         Highland Park, Mi.:                                                         Late 1952

                                                                WJR BIG BARN FROLIC

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Mary Frances “Skeeter Davis” Penick (vcl); Bud White (rhy gtr); Myrl “Rusty” McDonald (fdl); James “Roy” Hall (pno).                                                                                             M.C.:

                          IT WASN’T GOD WHO MADE HONKY TONK ANGELS                        WJR Radio Transcription (Uniss)

                          ()                                                                                                   Bear Family BCD-15722

                          JAMBALAYA                                                                                   WJR Radio Transcription (Uniss)

                          (Hank Williams)                                                      Bear Family BCD-15722

                          JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU                                                           WJR Radio Transcription (Uniss)

                          ()                                                                                                   Bear Family BCD-15722

                          TOMORROW’S JUST ANOTHER DAY                                               WJR Radio Transcription (Uniss)

                          ()                                                                                                   Bear Family BCD-15722

NB: The above recordings are RADIO STATION WJR BIG BARN FROLIC Radio Transcriptions.

THE DAVIS SISTERS

                          poss. Radio Station WJR, 3011 West Grand Blvd  Detroit, Mi.:       Late 1952

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Skeeter Davis (vcl); Bud White (rhy gtr); Roy Hall (pno); Harvey William  “Flash” Griner (stg bs).                                                                                                                                                                                                     M.C.:

                          TOMORROW I’LL CRY                                           (Demo/Uniss), Bear Family BCD-15722

                          (Skeeter and Betty Jack Davis) (Tannen Music Inc. BMI)                     

THE DAVIS SISTERS

                          poss. Radio Station WJR, 3011 West Grand Blvd  Detroit, Mi.:       Late 1952/Early 1953

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Skeeter Davis (vcl); Unk (gtr);

                                                                                                                               M.C.:

                          TAKIN’ TIME OUT FOR TEARS                                                         (Demo/Uniss), Bear Family BCD-15722

                          (Skeeter and Betty Jack Davis) (Tannen Music Inc, BMI)

THE DAVIS SISTERS-1

THE DAVIS SISTERS with Roy Hall and His Cohutta Mountain Boys-2

DAVIS SISTERS with Roy Hall-3

DAVIS SISTERS-4            Fortune Records Studio, 3942 Third Street                        Detroit, Mi.:                                                                     Late 1952

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Skeeter Davis (vcl); Leon Benson (rhy gtr); Clifford “Cliff” Southers (stl gtr); Roy Hall (pno).

                                                                                                                               Producer: Dorothy Summers “Devora” Brown

170-A/6229          JEALOUS LOVE  (Unduubed)                                  -1-2-3-4               Fortune 170-A, Fortune 45-170-A, 4 Star 1630

                          (Dorothy S.Brown)                                                                           4 Star ET-112, 4 Star ET-117, Fortune LP-3004

                          (Dorothy S.Brown) (4 Star Sales-BMi)                                                 Bear Family BCD-15722

NB(1): FORTUNE 170/45-170 released January 1953.

NB(2): 4 STAR 1630 released March 1953.

NB(3): 4 STAR ET-112 “VARIOUS ARTISTS” released 1953.

NB(4): 4 STAR ET-117 “VARIOUS  ARTISTS” released 1953.

NB(5): FORTUNE LP-3004 “THE DAVIS SISTERS HITS” released ca. 1963. May have been reissued with title of “JEALOUS HEART” and credited to SKEETER DAVIS.

THE DAVIS SISTERS

                                      Dairy Workers Hall, 15840 Second Avenue                         Highland Park, Mi.:                                                        Early 1953

                                                                WJR BIG BARN FROLIC

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Skeeter Davis (vcl); Albert “Al Allen” Punturi (el gtr); Rusty McDonald (fdl); Charles E. “Chuck” Hatfield (stl gtr); Betty Lee “Boots” Gilbert (trio vcl-1/stg bs).                         M.C.:

                          CRYING STEEL GUITAR WALTZ                                                      WJR Radio Transcription, Bear Family BCD-15722

                          (Susan Heather-Shorty Long)

                          RAG MOP                                                             -1                       WJR Radio Transcription,                      BCD-15722

                          (Deacon Anderson-Johnnie Lee Wills)

                          YOUR CHEATIN’ HEART                                        WJR Radio Transcription, Bear Family BCD-15722

                          (Hank Williams) (Acuff-Rose BMI)

NB: The above recording are RADIO STATION WJR BIG BARN FROLIC Radio Transcriptions.

THE DAVIS SISTERS                   

                                      Fortune Records Studio, 3942 Third Street                        Detroit, Mi.:                                                                   Early 1953

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Skeeter Davis (vcl); Al Allen (el gtr); Paul Williams Humphrey (rhy gtr); Chuck Hatfield (stl gtr); poss Ezra Cline (stg bs).                                                                                          Producer: Devora Brown

175-A                  HEARTBREAK AHEAD      (Undubbed)                      Fortune 175-A, Fortune 45-175-A

                          (Dorothy Summers Brown) (Forrest Music Corp. BMI) Bear Family BCD-15722

NB(1): FORTUNE 175/45-175 reviewed Billboard C&W Record Reviews Saturday 21st November 1953.

NB(2): FORTUNE 175/45-175 released Tuesday 24th November 1953.                        

NB(3): FORTUNE 175 was issued TWICE. Original release has 175-A/B in wax. The second release has 17R-A1/175-B-1-3 in wax. The above recording is undubbed.

NB(4): BEAR FAMILY BCD-15722 “DAVIS SISTERS MEMORIES” released Germany July 1993.

THE DAVIS SISTERS

                                      Dairy Workers Hall, 15840 Second Avenue                         Highland Park, Mi.:                                                        Early 1953

                                                                WJR BIG BARN FROLIC

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Skeeter Davis (vcl);

                                                                                                                               M.C.:

                          I’LL NEVER BE FREE                                             WJR Radio Transcription

                          ()

THE DAVIS SISTERS

                                      Fortune Records Studio, 3942 Third Street                        Detroit, Mi.:                                                                   Early 1953

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Skeeter Davis (vcl); Al Allen (el gtr); Dorothy “Dee” Cardis (rhy gtr): Victor “Vic Cardis” Kardos (fdl); Chuck Hatfield (stl gtr); Boots Gilbert (stg bs).  Producer: Devora Brown

174-A                  SORROW AND PAIN                                             Fortune 174-A, Fortune 45-174-A

                          (Skeeter and Betty Jack Davis))                                                        Bear Family BCD-15722

174-B                  KAW-LIGA                                                                                      Fortune 174-A,               45-174-B

                          (Hank Williams)                                                     Bear Family BCD-15722

NB: FORTUNE 174/45-174 released ca. August 1953.                       

THE DAVIS SISTERS      

                          poss. United Sound Systems Studio, 2nd Avenue Detroit, Mi.:       Early 1953

Betty Jack Davis (vcl); Skeeter Davis (vcl); Al Allen (el gtr); Dee Cardis (rhy gtr); Vic Cardis (fdl); Chuck Hatfield (stl gtr); Boots Gilbert (stg bs).                                                                            Producer: Devora Brown

                          SORROW AND PAIN        (Fast version)      Fortune (Uniss), Bear Family BCD-15722

                          (Skeeter and Betty Jack Davis)

                          YOU’RE GONE                (Swng Version)    Fortune (Uniss),                       BCD-15722

                          (Skeeter and Betty Jack Davis) (Tannen Music Inc. BMI)

DISCOGRAPHY compiled by DICK GRANT, DAVE SAX, AL TURNER, CRAIG MAKI & KEITH CADY with acknowledgements to Michel Ruppli, Richard Weize, Thieu Van De Vorst & Dorothy Mercer.

2000-2014.

                            

                                      

May Hawks (by Dick Grant)

MAY HAWKS

SESSION DISCOGRAPHY

MAY HAWKS with Lester Thomas and his Southern Pals                                         

                                      United Sound Systems Studio, 2nd Avenue                       Detroit, Mi.:                                                                     Late 1952

Lily May Hawks (vcl/o/dubbed vcl/gtr); Lester Thomas (rhy gtr); Roy Hall (pno);  

                                                                                                                               Producer: Dorothy Summers “Devora” Brown

173-A                  JEALOUS LOVE                                                     Fortune 173-A, Fortune 45-173-A

                          (Dorothy S.Brown) (4 Star Sales-BMI)                                                 Old Homestead OHCD-4042

173-B                  YEAR AFTER YEAR                                                                        Fortune 173-B,               45-173-B

                          (Lester Thomas-Clyde Orr-Don Large) (Trianon Publications BMI) Old Homestead OHCD-4042

NB(1): FORTUNE 173/45-173 reviewed Billboard C&W Saturday 11th July 1953

NB(2): FORTUNE 173/45-173 released Tuesday 14th July 1953.

NOTE: BILLBOARD SATURDAY 11th July 1953- COUNTRY & WESTERN RECORD REVIEWS

MAY HAWKS

FORTUNE 173

JEALOUS LOVE                                        73

An appealing story-ballad, with imaginative lyrics, receives a good performance from the thrush, with the aid of some “dubins.” Side has merit and could get attention with enough exposure. With a more imaginative arrangement this could have been a great side, but it’s still a good one for the market.

YEAR AFTER YEAR                                                                        65

Story ballad is sung adequately by the chantress, but it doesn’t have the freshness of the flip.   

MAY HAWKS The Tennessee Thrush

                                                                                                                               Detroit, Mi.:                                                                            1953

(vcl/gtr); Unk (pno); The Spellbinders (chrs);

                                                                                                                               Producer: Donald “Don” Large

L-706-A               NO TEARS LITTLE DARLING                                                            Horizon L-706-A, Old Homestead OHCD-4042

                          ()

L-706-B               I AIN’T NO SPRING CHICKEN                                                                       L-706-B,                           OHCD-4042

                          (May Hawks) (ASCAP)                                            HMC 2013D10    

NB(1): HORIZON L-706 released 1953.

NB(2): HORIZON Records was a division of Don Large Enterprises Inc, Detroit, Mi.

MAY HAWKS with Chuck Hatfield and his Treble-Aires

                                      United Sound Systems Studio, 2nd Avenue                       Detroit, Mi.:                                                                            1954

(vcl/gtr); Albert “Al Allen” Punturi (ld gtr); Dorothy “Dee” Cardis (gtr);  Charles E. “Chuck” Hatfield (stl gtr); Raymond “Curly Ray” Cline (fdl);Victor “Vic Cardis” Kardos (fdl); Charles N. “Charlie” Cline (bjo);  Betty Lee “Boots” Gilbert (stg bs) or Ezra Cline (stg bs).                                                                                                                                                          Producer: Devora Brown

178-C                 WASTED YEARS                                                   Fortune 178-A, Fortune 45-178-A

                          ()                                                                                                   Old Homestead OHCD-4042

179-C                 MEET ME DOWN IN NASHVILLE (AT THE OP’RY

                          TONIGHT                                                                                       Fortune 179-B, Fortune 45-179-B, Collector CLCD-2862

                          (Dorothy S. Brown) (Trianon Publications BMI)            Old Homestead OHCD-4042, HMC 2013D10                                                               

NB(1): FORTUNE 178/179 released Tuesday 26th October 1954

NB(2): FORTUNE 45-178/45-179 released Tuesday 26th October 1954.

NB(3): COLLECTOR CLCD-2862 “DETROIT IN THE 1950s, Vol.2.” released Holland 1998.

MAY HAWKS and LESTER THOMAS with Chuck Hatfield and his Treble-Aires-1

MAY HAWKS with Chuck Hatfield and his Treble-Aires-2

                                      United Sound Systems Studio, 2nd Avenue                       Detroit, Mi.:                                                                            1954

May Hawks (vcl-3/gtr); Lester Thomas (vcl-4/rhy gtr); Al Allen (ld gtr); Dee Cardis (gtr); Chuck Hatfield (stl gtr); Ray Cline (fdl) or Vic Cardis (fdl); poss Charlie Cline (bjo); Boots Gilbert (stg bs) or Ezra Cline (stg bs).

                                                                                                     .                        Producer: Devora Brown

F-9                     STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT                          -1-3-4                 Fortune 182-A, Fortune 45-182-A

                          ()                                                                                                   Old Homestead OHCD-4042, HMC 2013D10

F-10                   BABY, YOU’RE A BYGONE NOW                            -2-3                    Fortune 182-B, Fortune 45-182-B

                          ()                                                                                                   Old Homestead OHCD-4042,           2013D10

NB: FORTUNE 182/45-182 released Tuesday 9th November 1954.

MAY HAWK                                                                                                             New York City, NY.:                                                                1954

(vcl);

                                                                                                                               Producer:

E4-LB-6184         PASTIME GIRL                                                      X 0084, X 4X-0084, Old Homestead OHCD-4042

                          (Clyde Orr) (Voca ASCAP)                                       Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-071, HMC 2013D10

E4-LB-6185         DON’T LET THEM SEE MY FACE                                                      X 0084, X 4X-0084, Old Homestead OHCD-4042

                          (May Hawks) (Voca ASCAP)                                                             Hillbilly Researcher HBRCD-071, HMC 2013D10

NB(1): X Records Advert Billboard Saturday 22nd January 1955-X 0084/X 4X-0084.

NB(2): X 0084/4X 0084 released Tuesday 25th January 1955.

NB(3): X 0084 reviewed Billboard Reviews of New C&W Records-Saturday 29th January 1955.

NB(4): X Records Advert Billboard Saturday 12th February 1955-X 0084/4X 0084.

NB(5): X Records is a RCA VICTOR subsidiary label.

NB(6): OLD HOMESTEAD OHCD-4042 “A MEMORY OR TWO-1950s RECORDINGS FROM DETROIT’S GOLDEN AGE OF HILLBILLY MUSIC” released 2003.

NB(7): HILLBILLY RESEARCHER HBRCD-071 “HILLBILLIES WITH A APPEAL MASTER” released United Kingdom 2004.

NOTE: BILLBOARD Saturday 29th January 1955 REVIEWS OF NEW C&W RECORDS.

MAY HAWK

X 0084

DON’T LET THEM SEE MY FACE               70

Whether or not this is suitable song material will be judged by listeners. It tells of the ravages of cancer and the hope of being made whole again in the hereafter. A touching performance by the thrush.

PASTIME GIRL                                         68

Her emotions are more serious than his, we are told, in this gently sung weeper. Mighty pleasant singing by May Hawk.                                             

NOTE: BILLBOARD Saturday 5th March 1955 FOLK TALENT AND TUNES

May Hawks, artist and deejay of WJR, Detroit, stopped by for a visit with Thom Hall, WKYW, Louisville, Ky., while en route to Tennessee recently. 

MAY HAWKS      & LES THOMAS 

                                                                                                                              Detroit, Mi.:                                                                            1956

(vcl/gtr); Lester Thomas (vcl/rhy gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer:

                          JEALOUSY Vs BOSSY                                            (Uniss), Old Homestead OHCD-4042, HMC 2013D10

                          (Clyde Orr-Les Thomas)

103-A                  JEALOUSY Vs BOSSY                                            Coin 103-A,                     OHCD-4042,          2013D10

                          (Clyde Orr-Les Thomas)

103-B                  SOFT LIPS AND POISON KISSES                                                              103-B,                    OHCD-4042,           2013D10

                          ()

NB(1): COIN 103 released September 1956.

NB(2): COIN Records based in North Hollywood, Ca.

MAY HAWKS                                                                                                           Detroit, Mi.:                                                                            1957

(vcl/gtr); Lester Thomas (rhy gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer:

                          HARD TO GET                                                       (Uniss), Old Homestead OHCD-4042

                          ()

                          CARD FROM MY BOUQUET                                                            (Uniss),                           OHCD-4042

                          ()

MAY HAWKS                                                                                                           Detroit, Mi.:                                                                            1957

(vcl/gtr); Lester Thomas (vcl/rhy gtr);

                                                                                                                               Producer:

45-684-A             TALK A LITTLE LOUDER                                         Starday 45-684-A, Old Homestead OHCD-4042

                          (May Hawks-Les Thomas) (Starrite-BMI)                                             B.A.C.M. CD D-395, HMC 2013D10

45-684-B             FOREVER AND A DAY                                           Starday 45-684-B,                           OHCD-4042

                          (May Hawks-Les Thomas) (Starrite-BMI)                                             HMC 2013D10

NB(1): STARDAY 45-684 released December 1957.

NB(2): STARDAY 45-684 reviewed Billboard C&W Monday 27th January 1958.

NB(3): STARDAY 45-684 is a STARDAY custom pressing.

NB(4): B.A.C.M. CD D-395 “CUSTOM MADE HILLBILLY, Vol.3.” released United Kingdom 2012.

NB(5): HMC HMC 2013D10 “HILLBILLY FAVORITES, Vol.9.” released 2013.

DISCOGRAPHY compiled by DICK GRANT, MALCOM CHAPMAN, AL TURNER  & DAVE SAX with acknowledgements to Barry John, Craig Maki, Keith Cady, Mario Mancioti, Thieu Van De Vorst & Frantisek Frank.

2005-2014.