HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Elton Britt

Born in Marshall, Arkansas, on 27 June 1913, yodeler, Elton Britt, bought his first guitar at age ten for $5 from a Montgomery Ward catalogue, then trained himself to yodel after Jimmie Rodgers. Having a high pitch, he at one time during his career trained his lungs by swimming. In 1930 he changed his name from James Elton Baker to Britt upon successfully auditioning to replace Hugh Ashley in the Beverly Hill Billies. Raymond MacMillan, owner of both the MacMillan Petroleum Corporation and radio KMPC, had him flown to Hollywood to join that already popular group which performed on MacMillan's station. (One sees the similarity between that and the later comedy television series, 'The Beverly Hillbillies' [1962-71], concerning newly oil-rich, Jed Clampett, arriving to his glamorous California mansion in his rattletrap jalopy with Granny's rocking chair sitting atop his entire worth before striking oil.) The Hill Billies were also spelled Hillbillies, distinguished on this page as the former. Radio transcriptions were likely made while Britt was with the Hill Billies but none of certainty are surfaced. DAHR lists that group recording numerous titles in 1930 to 1931 but neither Baker nor Britt are mentioned among them. IMDb and Wikipedia have Britt appearing uncredited with a later version of that group alongside Gene Autry in the 1936 film, 'The Big Show'.

The Beverly Hill Billies separated in latter 1932, leading Britt to New York City where he made his first recordings with his brother, Vern Baker, and vocalist, (?) Gaylor, in various combinations as the Wenatchee Mountaineers. It was Elton at guitar and Vern on fiddle for their their first two tracks: 'Britt's Reel' / 'Texas Rag' (Banner 32967). 'Rabbs Creek' went unissued. 'Listen to the Mocking Bird' came to Conqueror 8323 in 1934. Gaylor contributed vocals to 'Dear Old Southern Moon' (Banner 32855). 'Little Rose Covered Shack in the South' (Banner 32980) was a duet with Gaylor, Vern out. Russell's 'Country Music Records' (CMR) lists 'Just an Old Fashioned Locket' (Conqueror 8225) as a solo by Britt. Numerous tracks went down from August 8 to August 10, Britt performing variously with Gaylor and / or Vern as the Wenatchee Mountaineers. Waynecountry lists four plates issued on unspecified dates in 1933: 'Dear Old Southern Moon' / 'I Like Mountain Music' (Melotone 12782), 'My Southland' / 'Wait for the Wagon' (Melotone 12795), 'By the Sleepy Rio Grande' / 'Blue Eyed Elaine' (Melotone 12833) and 'Dear Old Southern Moon' / 'Just an Old Fashioned Locket' (Conqueror 8225) [see also *].

'I Like Mountain Music' Wenatchee Mountaineers

Guitar / yodel: Elton Britt Fiddle: Vern Baker Vocal: Gaylor

8 Aug 1933 in NYC Matrix 13750-1

Banner 32855 / Melotone M-12782 / Conqueror 8194 / Oriole 8264

Composition: Frank Weldon / James Cavanaugh

'I Was Born in the Mountains' Wenatchee Mountaineers

Guitar / vocal: Elton Britt Fiddle: Vern Baker

9 Aug 1933 in NYC Matrix 13760-2 Conqueror 8194 / Oriole 8321

Composition: ?

Come titles with Roy Smeck at guitar and steel guitar in December of 1933 like 'There's a Home in Wyomin'' / 'When It's Harvest Time in Old New England' (Banner 32929). He spread the solo, 'Good Night Little Girl of My Dreams', on December 15 of 1933.

'When It's Harvest Time in Old New England'

Elton Britt w Roy Smeck at steel guitar

2 Dec 1933 in NYC Matrix 14411-1

Melotone 12872 / Conqueror 8276 / Oriole 8291

Composition: Bob Miller / Dick Sanford

'When You Played the Old Church Organ'

Elton Britt w Roy Smeck at guitar Keyboard: Bob Miller

2 Dec 1933 in NYC Matrix 14411-1

Melotone 12872 / Conqueror 8276 / Oriole 8291

Composition: Bob Miller / Dick Sanford

'Good Night Little Girl of My Dreams' Solo by Elton Britt

15 Dec 1933 in NYC Matrix 14418-3 Melotone 12873

Composition: Charles Tobias / Joe Burke

Britt's first titles with Ezra Ford (fiddle) were on March 5 of 1934 for 'Dear Old Daddy' / 'The Answer to Ninety-Nine Years' (Banner 33003). CMR has Britt's initial track with pianist, Bob Miller, on June 20 of 1934 with Ford: 'Take Me Home Boys' for ARC unissued. Miller is listed as possible on other titles that day with Ford, et al, like 'Heart in the Heart of Texas' with 'When I'm Four Times Twenty' (ARC 6-05-60).

On January 28 and 30, 1935, Britt joined the quartet, Pappy, Zeke, Ezra & Elton to string along 'Isle of Capri' with 'Open Up Them Pearly Gates' (Decca 5097), 'Alpine Milk Man' unissued. That quad of Ted Pappy Bellow, Zeke Manners, Charlie Heatherington and Britt held another session on July 23 for 'The Lady in Red' / 'In a Little Gypsy Tea Room' (Decca 5126). It was a trio with Manners out on October 18 for 'Where the Rhododendron Grows' / 'Red Sails in the Sunset' (Decca 5153). In 1936 Britt titles variously with Miller and Ford.

'Sweetheart, Let's Grow Old Together'

Duet by Elton Britt w Ezra Ford Others unknown

18 Sep 1936 in NYC Matrix 19839-2 Conqueror 8727

Composition: ?

In 1937 Britt put up titles with Manners' Swing Billies in March: 'Mr. Ghost Goes to Town' / 'Leave It Up to Uncle Jake' (Variety 536). The example below is from Bob Dylan's 'Theme Time Radio Hour' which aired from May 2006 to April 2009.

'Mr. Ghost Goes to Town' Elton Britt w Zeke Manners and His Swingbillies

13 March in NYC Matrix M240 Variety 536

Music: Will Hudson Lyrics: Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish

References for Bob Dylan's 'Theme Time Radio Hour' of 2006-09:

Fourble Wikipedia nightly moth Podbay

In 1939 Brit joined Texas Jim Robertson on May 12 for 'What Good Is the Sunshine?' / 'I'm Gonna Throw My Lasso' (Bluebird 8207) and 'Things That Might Have Been' with 'Bouncin' Along' (Bluebird 8186).

'I'm Gonna Throw My Lasso' Elton Britt backing Texas Jim Robertson (vocal)

13 March in NYC Matrix BS-036937-1 Bluebird B-8207

Composition: Bob Miller / John Klenner

DAHR discovers Britt first recording with the Skytoppers on 12 May of 1939 per 'They're Burning Down the House' released on Bluebird B-8175. But that is in error, as Britt performs solo on that track. Among his best-known tunes was 'There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere' in 1942, which he performed that year at the White House for the Roosevelts. That reached #17 on the country western popularity charts, briefly preceding his heydays in the latter forties. Britt placed nine titles in the Top Ten from 1945 to 1949. Those included the Skytoppers, with whom he first recorded per Praguefrank's on 16 Oct 1946 toward three issued tracks, the first being 'I Get the Blues When it Rains' released on RCA Victor 20-2027 with 'Too Tired to Care'. Britt placed a couple more titles well on the charts later in the sixties, including with the Skytoppers. His Top Ten (my convention) titles from 1945 to 1949:

   I'm a Convict with Old Glory in My Heart   #7   Jan 1945
   Someday   #2   Jan 1946
   Wave to Me, My Lady   #3   March 1946
   Blueberry Lane   #4   April 1946
   Detour   #5   May 1946
   Blue Texas Moonlight   #6   July 1946   Elton Britt and the Skytoppers
   Gotta Get Together with My Gal   #4   Aug 1946   Elton Britt and the Skytoppers
   Chime Bells   #6   Oct 1948   Elton Britt and the Skytoppers
   Candy Kisses   #4   March 1949   Elton Britt and the Skytoppers

'They're Burning Down the House' Solo by Elton Britt

12 May 1939 in NYC Matrix BS-036941 Bluebird B-8175

Composition: Charlie McCarthy / John Redmond / Lee David

'There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere' Elton Britt

19 March 1942 in NYC Matrix BS-073625-1 Bluebird B-9000

Composition: Paul Roberts / Shelby Darnell

'Rogue River Valley' Elton Britt w the Skytoppers led by Bertram Hirsch

19 May 1946 in NYC Matrix D6-VB-1797-1 RCA Victor 20-1927

Clarinet: Sal Frazalla Violin: Bertram Hirsch / Sam Raitz / Edw South

Guitar: Britt (vocal) / Anthony Gottuso Piano: Frank Signorelli

Bass: Lester Braum Drums: Chauncy Morehouse

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

In 1949 Britt performed in the film, 'Laramie', as the singing sergeant. Discogs has his debut LP, 'Yodel Songs', released in 1955.

'Chime Bells' / 'Molly Darling' Elton Britt Film

From the film 'Laramie' released 19 May 1949 Directed by Ray Nazarro

'Chime Bells' composed by Eddy Arnold

'Molly Darling' composed by Bob Miller w Elton Britt

IMDb IMDb Wikipedia

'Cannonball Yodel' Elton Britt

From the album 'Yodel Songs' released on RCA Victor LPM-3222 in 1955

Composition: Bill Bell / Britt / Louise Shelly / Mickey Stoner

'Uranium Fever Elton Britt

17 Oct 1955 in NYC Matrix F2-WB-7345 RCA Victor 47-6325

Composition: Penny Britt (wife)

Britt ran for President as a Democrat in 1960. Urged by his manager, at that time being Aubrey Mayhew, it's thought that Elton did so more for publicity than in sincerity. The sixties later witnessed appearances on the 'Jimmy Dean Show'.

'Home Sweet Homesick Blues' Elton Britt

28 April 1965 See the album 'The Singing Hills' released on ABC-521

Composition: Vaughn Horton

Praguefrank's follows Elton to as far as circa May 24-26, 1970, in Nashville to lay out such as 'My World of Memories', 'These Things I'm Not', 'Stardust' and 'You Gave Me a Mountain' issued on 'Elton Britt Sings Modern Country' (Certron 7010).