Terry Fell
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Terry Fell (May 13, 1921 – April 4, 2007) was an American country musician.
Terry Fell | |
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| Born | May 13, 1921 Dora, Alabama |
| Died | April 4, 2007 (aged 85) Madison, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1937–1952 |
| Labels |
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Biography edit
Childhood and adolescence edit
Fell was born in Dora, Alabama on May 13, 1921, and got his first guitar at the age of nine. Later, he learned mandolin and took singing lessons. When he was 13 years old, his father died; three years later, he moved alone to California, where he spent some time in a camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps. After he briefly lived in Alabama again, Fell and his mother moved to the US West Coast. There, he began playing in 1943 as bassist for Merl Lindsay.
Musical career edit
Fell started his record career in 1945 as a member of Billy Hughes' band, Pals of The Pecos. His first record was with Hughes on the Fargo label. He began his solo career with Memo, then Courtney, 4 Star, and Gilt-Edge Records, although none of his releases became hits there.
During his first session for RCA in Hollywood (1954), he recorded a song that would become a hit. Although the A-side, "Don't Drop It", was underplayed, the B-side, "Truck Drivin Man", became a classic, especially in the trucker country-music scene. In 1955, he made a guest appearance on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee.
Fell remained with RCA for the following two years; however, he never produced a single with the same success. RCA extended his contract in 1956.
In 1958, he recorded some sides for Lode records. One of them, released under the name "Johnny Valentine," was a song he wrote called "Sandy" which became a No. 15 pop hit for Larry Hall in 1960.
In 1959, he began military service in the U.S. Army and was stationed in West Germany. Along with Elvis Presley, who was at the same time a G.I. stationed in West Germany, he wrote the song "Mississippi River". The single was never released, but the rights were later sold for $30,000 in 1996.
Due to the lack of success and health problems, his career fell short. Later, for a short time, he managed country star Buck Owens and wrote a song in 1961 with Bobby Edwards titled "You're The Reason". In 1962, Fell moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was a songwriter for various publishing companies until he retired. Published in 1993 with Bear Family Records, the album Truck Drivin Man was released with his collected RCA works. Terry Gordon noted that it was discontinued in 1998, but revised/reissued again. Because of his achievements in country music, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
Fell died on April 4, 2007, in Madison, Tennessee.
Discography edit
He wrote and recorded a novelty record on the Lode label under the name Brother George Underbrush, called "Green Garden Hose". It was divided into two parts, one on each side.[1] He later released a cassette on Lode that contained several more of his strange musings.
Singles edit
All of the Memo, 4 Star, Gilt-Edge, and "X"/RCA singles were published under the name 'Terry Fell & The Fellers'.
| Year | Titles | Part # | Notes/Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo Records | |||
| 1945 | Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More | 1112 | as 'Terry Fell & His Red River Rangers' |
| Memo Records | |||
| 1946 | I've Done All I Know To Do // You Ran Around (While I Was Gone) | 3001 | |
| 1946 | Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More (reissue) | 3002 | |
| 1946 | There's a Gold Moon Shining (On a Blue, Blue Heart) // You're Not Wanted Here | 3003 | |
| 1946 | Mom I'm Coming Home // I'm Glad That It's All Over Now | 3004 | |
| Courtney Records | |||
| 1946 | Stop Your Flirting Little Girl // Texas a La Mode (instrumental) | 103 | as 'Terry Fell & His Seven Southerners' |
| 1946 | Ramblin' Oakie // Steeling the Blues (instrumental) | 104 | with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters' |
| 1946 | Please My Darling, Think of Me // You Are Tearing My Poor Paper Heart | 115 | as 'Terry Fell & His Seven Southerners' |
| 1946 | Why Should I Feel So Blue // I'm Sorry We Have To Part | 116 | with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters' |
| 1946 | Please Tell Me Why // Waiting For a Love Untrue | 136 | with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters' |
| 1946 | That Naggin' Wife of Mine // Double Crossing Mama (v: Kenny Williams) | 137 | with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters' |
| Four Star Records | |||
| 1947 | Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More (reissue) | 1160 | |
| 1947 | I've Done All I Know To Do // You Ran Around (While I Was Gone) (reissue) | 1161 | |
| 1947 | You Are My Sunshine // Will There Be a Light in Your Window | 1162 | |
| 1947 | Rainbow at Midnight // Guess I'm Better Off Without You | 1163 | |
| 1948 | There's a Gold Moon Shining (On a Blue, Blue Heart) // You're Not Wanted Here (reissue) | 1206 | |
| 1948 | Napanee // Little By Little | 1211 | |
| 1948 | Snow Deer // With Another in Your Heart | 1212 | |
| 1950 | Snow Deer // With Another in Your Heart (reissue) | 1426 | |
| Gilt-Edge Records | |||
| 1952 | Yesterday // Dreamers Paradise | 5071 | |
| 1953 | Fireball Boogie // I Can Hear You Clucking | 5076 | |
| 1953 | Hillbilly Impersonations (Twelve Famous Singers) // Smoking Cornsilks | 5084 | |
| "X" Records (subsidiary of RCA Victor) | |||
| 1954 | Don't Drop It // Truck Driving Man | 4X-0010 | |
| 1954 | Let's Stay Together Till After Christmas // We Wanna See Santa Do the Mambo | 4X-0069 | |
| 1955 | You Don't Give a Hang About Me // Get Aboard My Wagon | 4X-0078 | |
| 1955 | Mississippi River Shuffle / He's in Love With You | 4X-0114 | |
| 1955 | I'm Hot To Trot / Fa-So-La | 4X-0149 | |
| RCA Victor Records | |||
| 1955 | I Nearly Go Crazy // That's What I Like | 20-6256 | |
| 1955 | What Am I Worth // That's the Way the Big Ball Bounces | 20-6353 | |
| 1956 | Over and Over // If I Didn't Have You | 20-6444 | |
| 1956 | Wham! Bam! Hot Ziggity Zam // Consolation Prize | 20-6515 | |
| 1956 | I Can Hear You Cluckin' // Don't Do It Joe | 20-6621 | |
| 1956 | Play the Music Louder // Caveman | 20-6707 | |
| Lode Records | |||
| 1958 | The Bears Are Taking Over Yellowstone // All Penguins Aren't Catholic | 2001 | as 'Brother George Underbrush' |
| 1958 | Green Garden Hose, Pt. 1 // Green Garden Hose, Pt. 2 | 2002 | as 'Brother George Underbrush' |
| 1958 | Angel on a Cloud // Sandy | 2003 | as 'Johnny Valentine' |
| 1958 | Child Bride // Paper Kite | 2004 | as 'Brother George Underbrush' |
| Crest Records | |||
| 1960 | Y'all Be Good Now // Who Who's | 1071 | |
| Sims Records | |||
| 1964 | If I Could Learn To Love You Less // Music City U.S.A. | 192 | |
| RCA Victor Records | |||
| 1968 | I Are a Millionaire // I've Never Been Sober | 47-9719 | |
| Scorpion Records | |||
| 1976 | Big Truck Stop in the Sky // Coffee Jim Trucker | SC-0508 | |
Albums/CDs edit
- Truck Driving Man (Bear Family BCD 15762, 1993) all RCA material
- Get Aboard My Wagon (B.A.C.M. CDD 191, 2007) Memo/Gilt-Edge/RCA material
- Ramblin' Oakie (B.A.C.M. CDD 333, 2011) Fargo/Courtney/4 Star material
References edit
- ^ Terry Fell, "Green Garden Hose," parts 1 and 2, performed by "Brother George Underbrush," Lode Records LO 2002, 45 rpm 7" single, date unknown; discogs.com image. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
Further reading edit
- Biography of Terry Fell from rockabilly.nl
- Biography from the Alabama Music Office
- Alabama Music History Blog: "Dora Native Terry Fell"
- "Terry Fell, Forgotten Father of Trucker Music"