Archive for March, 2013

Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires Dies At 88

28th March
2013
written by Matt The Cat

Gordon Stoker Dies At 88

Gordon Stoker

GORDON STOKER of the Jordanaires has died at 88!  The Jordanaires were of course one of the great gospel quartets who will forever be linked to rock n’ roll having backed up Elvis on countless recordings.  Their distinctive sound can be hea…rd on Ricky Nelson and Jack Scott records as well.  STOKER joined the group in 1949 as its pianist and then became 2nd tenor in 1951.  I spoke to GORDON on the phone a few years ago and he was very kind.  His mind was still sharp and he could still remember nearly every Jack Scott record they sang on.  I love their rendition of “Working On A Building.”  You can see GORDON STOKER prominently on the far left of the frame below.

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R.I.P.

Hardrock Gunter Dies at 88!

21st March
2013
written by Matt The Cat

Hardrock Gunter Dies at 88

Hardrock Gunter

HARDROCK GUNTER, Rockabilly hero and Rock n’ Roll pioneer passed away at age 88 on March 15, 2013!  He died from complications from pneumonia.  His 1950 recording of “Birmingham Bounce” (Bama Records) makes our ever-growing list of possible “first rock n’ roll records” and man does it JUMP!  He had two single releases for Sun Records: “Fallen Angel” b/w “Gonna Dance All Night” in 1954 and “Jukebox, Help Me Find My Baby” b/w “Fiddle Bop” in 1956 as The Rhythm Rockers.  We’ve lost another great rock n’ roll pioneer…this time from the country side of the tracks.

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R.I.P.

Eddie Bond, Rockabilly Hero Dies at 79

21st March
2013
written by Matt The Cat

Eddie Bond Dies at 79

Eddie Bond

EDDIE BOND died yesterday (March 20th) of Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 79.  BOND will best be remembered for his 1956 Mercury single, “Rockin’ Daddy.”  The tune was written and originally recorded by Sonny Fisher.  BOND’s recording fea…tures John Hughey on steel guitar.  EDDIE BOND was born in Memphis on July 1, 1933.  During the mid-1950s, he toured with such notable rockabilly cats as Elvis, Warren Smith, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.  He’s one of the great unsung heroes of rockabilly and early rock n’ roll.

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R.I.P.