"Besides being a touring comedy team they were noted as seasoned Nashville session musicians. In other words they played on a lot of albums backing up various famous musicians. They were not always credited on the records, and they were paid a set fee for their work. They had their first break as teenagers playing on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. A locally produced radio show in Tennessee (USA). This lasted until around 1938.
When World War II began the budding stars split up. Homer served in European theater of Operation and as Jethro put it "He was the unsung hero of the Pacific. They wouldn't let me sing!"
After the war the two regrouped and took jobs with Spike Jones. They toured briefly but then got a gig as regulars on the Chicago National Barn Dance as well as regular spots on Don McNeil's Breakfast Club. Both radio programs were based in Chicago. Homer & Jethro were to settle in Chicago and remain even after becoming a national success.They recorded a record or two on the King label circa 1946-48 and then Were Signed by Steve Sholes to RCA in 1948.
Their routine had always been deadpan parodies of popular songs. (sort of a precursor to Weird Al Yankovich) However, they were both first rate musicians and this is why their parodies songs were always popular. They had a number 2 country hit with How Much Is That Hound Dog In The Winder and number 14 with the Parody, Battle of Kookamonga (take off of Horton's Classic Battle of New Orleans)"
Homer & Jethro - Pore 'Ol Koo-LigerHomer & Jethro - Yeller Rose Of TexasHomer & Jethro - Cold Cold Heart No. 2Homer & Jethro - Sixteen TonsHomer & Jethro - The ballad Of davy Crew-CutHomer & Jethro - He'll Have To GoHomer & Jethro - Your Clobbered HeartHomer & Jethro - Slow Poke No. 2Homer & Jethro - Tennessee Border No. 2Homer & Jethro - Screen DoorHomer & Jethro - Unhappy DayHomer & Jethro - Homer & Jethro's Pickin' & Singin' MedleyThese
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5 comments:
I have a lot of Homer and Jethro and you are rite. They ar great at there comedy and music.
thaks for posting this. I am going to get all my old LP and 78's of them and revisit them tonight.
Homer & Jethro are the best. I've always loved their style of music. What about the rest of the songs on this album. Could you post the rest of them. Thanks, Bill Conley
Great stuff :)
Suprisedto see these still available after so long- they were only up for a week? Send Space never ceases to amaze me!
Thanks for dropping by 1coolguy and about flangehead. I will see what I can do.
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