Luke McDaniel

Luke McDaniel (born February 3, 1927 in Ellisville , Mississippi , † June 27, 1992 in Mobile , Alabama ), also known as Jeff Daniels , was an American country and rockabilly singer.

Life

Childhood and youth

Luke McDaniel was born to Jesse and Viola McDaniel as one of four children. In the mid-1930s, his parents divorced, from then on McDaniel lived with his mother in Ellisville. At 14 he graduated from school and then worked in a cotton factory . Even then he was influenced by Ernest Tubb and Cowboy Copas . After purchasing a used mandolin , he taught himself to play. He formed his first band with Howard Overstreet ( guitar ) and Red Davis ( double bass ).

Career

McDaniels and his band soon got a morning radio show . Shortly thereafter, he began a tour with country musicians Curley Fox and Texas Ruby . In 1950, however, he brought his own band back to life; he hadn't liked the style of his tour partners. He introduced himself to Trumpet Records in Jackson , Mississippi . After writing a few Hank Williams- style tracks , his first record was released. The track Whoa Boy was his first hit, which was also covered by Red Smith , among others .

In 1953, a few months before his death, he performed with Hank Williams in Biloxi . In addition, he had various radio and television appearances . Since he did not get his promised fee at Trumpet, Jack Cardwell referred McDaniel to King Records . At the same time, he moved to Mobile, Alabama. He made his first appearances in the Louisiana Hayride , where he met the young Elvis Presley . Inspired by Presley, he wrote the rockabilly track Midnight Shift under the pseudonym Earl Lee , which was recorded by Buddy Holly . Things were looking up not only professionally but also privately. McDaniel married Louis Marilyn Laurell, with whom he would later have a total of ten children, but one of whom died in childhood.

Daddy-O Rock , 1956

Since he started disputes with King, however, he switched to Meladee Records. There he switched to popular rockabilly and from then on released his singles under the name Jeff Daniels . His first rockabilly title, Daddy-O Rock , appeared in 1956. In 1956 and 1957 he held two sessions with the legendary Sun Records in Memphis , Tennessee ; however, the recordings were never released due to a disagreement with owner Sam Phillips . After that, McDaniel concentrated on his job on the radio. After he got divorced, he had to give up his music career for good as he now had to look after his children. Therefore he founded a shipping company . It was only when his children grew up that he appeared again from 1980 and recorded a few pieces for Duell Records.

Discography

as Luke McDaniel

year	title	Record company
1952	Whoa Boy / Tribute To Hank Williams	Trumpet Records
1953	A Tribute To Hank Williams, My Buddy / This Cryin 'Heart	Trumpet Records
1953	Drive On / Let Me Be A Souvenir	King Records
1953	I Can't Go / For Old Times Sake	King Records
1954	The Automobile Song / I Can't Steal Another's Bridge	King Records
1954	Honey Won't You Please Come Home / Crying My Heart Out For You	King Records
1954	Money Bag Woman / Hurts Me So	King Records
1955	One More Heart / Living In A House Of Sin	King Records

as Jeff Daniels

year	title	Record company
1956	Daddy-O Rock / Hey Woman!	Meladee Records
1959	Switch Blade Sam / You're Still On My Mind	Big Howdy Records
1959	Uh-Huh-Huh / Table For Two	Big B Records
1960	Foxy Dan / Some Day You'll Remember	Astro Records
197?	Uh-Huh-Huh / Table For Two	Big Howdy Records
197?	Foxy Dan / Bye Bye Baby	Big Howdy Records
197?	Hard Luck / Johnny's	Big Howdy Records
197?	I Tried / I'm Tired Of These Country Ways	Big Howdy Records
197?	Switch Blade Sam / You're Still On My Mind	Big Howdy Records
Unpublished titles
	Go ahead baby Huh babe	Sun Records
	High high high My baby don't rock That's What I Tell My Heart	Sun Records

Web links

• Luke McDaniel on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)
• Discography with audio samples