Ray Batts

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Wild Man Boogie, 1953

Ray Batts (born September 19, 1925 in Nashville , Tennessee , † November 20, 2015 ) was an American country musician . Batts also mixed his songs with elements of the Swamp Blues .

Life

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Batts served as a soldier in the US Navy during World War II . After his release, he made the decision to become a professional musician. Batts returned to Nashville and about a year later he got his own radio show on WMAK, which was paid at $ 100 a week (which was a good wage for the time). After Batts was now regularly heard on the radio, he was now aiming for recordings.

With four self-written titles he introduced himself to Jim Bulleit, who owned the Bullet Records label in Nashville. Bulleit quickly organized a recording session with studio musicians under the supervision of Owen Bradley . Batt's recorded single Wild Man Boogie / Bear Cat Daddy sold well; In addition, both titles represent the predecessors of rockabilly . Batts used a trumpeter on these recordings who had a style similar to Sonny Burgess ' later trumpeter Jack Nance.

In 1952, Bulleit gave Batts the opportunity to perform regularly at KWKH's Louisiana Hayride from Shreveport , Louisiana , for $ 200 a week . But Batts declined because his wife did not approve of the distant appearances. Batts then held another session that was produced by Ed Crowe. Stealin 'Sugar appeared from this session on the small Excello label and later became very popular among young rockabilly musicians.

Batts decided after the release of this single to retire from the music business and opened a furniture store. He expanded his business into a chain and from then on followed a regular life.

Discography

year title Label #
1953 Wild Man Boogie / Bear Cat Daddy Bullet 754
1954 Stealin 'Sugar / Maybe It's You Sweetheart, Maybe It's You Excello 2028

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. legacy.com