Delmore Brothers - Gotta Have Some Lovin

Alton Delmore (December 25, 1908 - June 8, 1964) and Rabon Delmore (December 3, 1916 - December 4, 1952), billed as The Delmore Brothers, were country music pioneers and stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930s. The Delmore Brothers, together with other brother duets such as the Louvin Brothers, the Blue Sky Boys, the Monroe Brothers (Birch, Charlie and Bill Monroe), the McGee Brothers, and The Stanley Brothers, had a profound impact on the history of country music and American popular music The brothers were born into poverty in Elkmont, Alabama, as the sons of tenant farmers amid a rich tradition of gospel music and Appalachian folk.[1] Their mother, Mollie Delmore, wrote and sang gospel songs for their church. The Delmores blended gospel-style harmonies with the quicker guitar-work of traditional folk music and the blues to help create the still-emerging genre of country. In addition to the regular six-string acoustic guitar, the duo was one of the few to use the rare tenor guitar, a four-string instrument that had primarily been used previously in vaudeville shows.[2]

In 1925 Alton wrote his first song "Bound For the Shore" at the age of 13, (co-written with his mother). It was published by Athens Music Co.[2]

The Brother's did their first recording session for Columbia in 1931, recording "I've Got the Kansas City Blues" and "Alabama Lullaby", which became their theme song.[3] They signed a contract with Victor Records budget label Bluebird in 1933 and became regulars on the Grand Ole Opry variety program. Within three years, they had become the most popular act on the show.[4] Disagreements with Opry management led to the brothers leaving the show in 1939. While they continued to play and record music throughout the 1940s, they never achieved the same level of success they had with the Grand Ole Opry.[4]

In 1941, their song "When It's Time For The Whippoorwill To Sing" made the Billboard "Hillbilly" top three and by 1946 they had expanded from their acoustic two-piece arrangements into a full band, with bass, mandolin, steel guitar, fiddle, harmonica, and additional guitars. Some of those additional guitars were supplied by Merle Travis. The most important backup musician on these sides was Wayne Raney,[4] who played a "choke" style of harmonica that was heavily influenced by the blues. The Delmores were also leaning increasingly towards uptempo material that reflected the upsurge in Western swing and boogie-woogie.

By the end of 1947, they were also using electric guitar and drums. Raney (who also sang) in effect acted as a third member of the Delmores in the late '40s and early '50s, when they plunged full-tilt into hillbilly boogie. These are the most widely available and, in some ways, best Delmore Brothers sides. They were also the most successful, and in the late '40s the brothers reached their commercial peak, releasing a series of hard-driving boogies with thumping back beats and bluesy structures.

The Brothers recorded "Hillbilly Boogie," "Steamboat Bill Boogie," "Barnyard Boogie," "Mobile Boogie," "Freight Train Boogie," and even "Pan American Boogie." These were exciting performances featuring extended guitar solos that clearly looked forward to the rock era.

Their best-known song, "Blues Stay Away From Me," is regarded by some as the first rock and roll record. It was covered by Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps.

Rabon died of lung cancer in 1952.[4] Following Rabon's death, Alton suffered a heart attack, the loss of his father and his daughter Susan, all within a three-year period. He moved back in Huntsville, Alabama. He taught some guitar, did odd jobs, and devoted his creative energies to writing prose. He wrote a series of short stories and his autobiography, Truth is Stranger than Publicity, published posthumously in the 1970s.[2]

Over the course of their careers, the Delmores wrote more than one thousand songs. Some of the most popular were Browns Ferry Blues, Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar and Fifteen Miles from Birmingham.[4]
The Delmore Brothers were inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Their pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.[3]

Bob Dylan was quoted in the Chicago Tribune, on November 10th 1985 as saying "The Delmore Brothers, God, I really loved them! I think they've influenced every harmony I've ever tried to sing

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hillbilly

[ratherknotty]

@MrJNScott Hi, another link of the Delmores and older boogie woogie piano is the guitar rift running thru 'Blues stay away from me' is the same as the left hand on Jimmy Yanceys- ' Yanceys Special' .

[ratherknotty]

@MrJNScott I wuold say The Delmore Brothers 'Hillbilly Boogie' started it all off! After that Jan 1946 record there was a rush of copy-cat boogie records.The biggest rip-off being The Armstrong Twins 'Mandolin Boogie' its Exacly the same as Hillbilly Boogie' but with the word Mandolin instead if hillbilly. even the instrumental break is identical! I know Arthur Smiths 'Guitar Boogie' came first but that was purely instrumental as was Zeb Turners. Barfields Boogie Woogie' was lame.

[MrRocknRoll92]

Great Country

[niaomalley]

I'm not in the Delmore family but I still love them! :p

[ratherknotty]

@drgonzoguy32181 The Delmore Brothers are assured of being a permanent influence for generations to come, their music is timeless. I just cannot get enough of them, I think, ,though in their day they were not fully appreciated and certainly did not get the wealth due to them.

[pariperenti]

This is so great, Albon was married to my grandmother Agnes' sister, Thelma! i love hearing and seeing about this kind of family history!

[drgonzoguy32181]

The Delmore Bros. are my great great uncles. Growing up my Grandmother would always tell me stories of sitting on the porch listening to Rabon and Alton play. Thank everyone for their positive comments! Help keep The Delmore Brothers music alive!!

[paulkebab]

that should read massaged !

[paulkebab]

Listening to the Delmore bros is like having your soul massgaed !

[WinsteadB73]

@ratherknotty Yep, it's all really similar of course. It's interesting because once you really delve into one of the sub-genre's, you find that there are little differences in style even within the genre, and even down to the individual musicians. I don't think of Hank Snow as bluegrass, or even most of Doc Watson, but I can see how an outsider would lump them all together.