The Callahan Brothers

The Callahan Brothers

Source: Last FM

The Callahan Brothers consisted of Walter (b 1910) and Homer (b 1912) Callahan, a couple of yodelers who also went by Joe and Bill. These are not the murderous Callahans of Missouri. Hailing from Madison County, North Carolina, these Callahans went to New York City in the winter of 1934 to put down their debut tracks on January 2. Per Tony Russell's 'Country Music Records', titles issued by Banner were 'She's My Curly Headed Baby' / 'Once I Had a Darling Mother' (32955), 'Gonna Quit My Rowdy Ways (33004), 'Saint Louis Blues' (32994) and 'Ashville Blues' / 'Mean Mama' (33093). 'I Would If I Could But I Can't' went unissued.

'Gonna Quit My Rowdy Ways'   Callahan Brothers

2 Jan 1934 in NYC   Matrix 14508   Banner 33004

'Corn Licker Rag'   Callahan Brothers

5 Jan 1934 in NYC   Matrix 14532   Melotone 13340

'She's Killing Me'   Callahan Brothers

5 Jan 1934 in NYC   Matrix 14533   Banner 33004

'Rattlesnake Daddy'   Callahan Brothers

17 Aug 1934 in NYC   Matrix 15669   Banner 33414

Composition: Bill Carlisl

Per 'Rounder's Luck' below, a rounder is a wastrel. That's from the song's oldest-known recording on 6 September 1933 by Clarence "Tom" Ashley as 'Rising Sun Blues' (Vocalion 02576). Ashley had learned the song from his grandfather who had married about the time of the Civil War, meaning it might have originated prior to the 20th century. It is suggested that the so-called house of the Rising Sun in this song might be a prison at New Orleans, but it is more likely a bordello. There is a guidebook, 'Offbeat New Orleans', which places this house at 826–830 St. Louis Street where Marianne LeSoleil Levant was madam from 1862 to 1874. "Soliel Levant" translates to "Rising Sun" though others believe such to be fabricated. Eric Burdon of the British band, The Animals, nevertheless visited the place. It's said that Bob Dylan decided to go electric upon hearing the 1964 Animals version of 'House of the Rising Sun' on his car radio. Others suggest that there was no actual house at all, that such are only lyrics.

'Rounder's Luck'   Callahan Brothers

Aka 'Rising Sun Blues' or 'House of the Rising Sun'

11 April 1935 in NYC   Matrix 17289   Melotone 60259

Composition: Traditional

'Gonna Quit Drinkin' When I Die'   Callahan Brothers

4 April 1936 in NYC   Matrix 18931   Conqueror 8731

Composition: Reece Fleming / Respers Townsend

Like other early folk musicians the Callahans plied their trade from radio station to radio station as far west as Tulsa, Wichita Falls and Dallas until they went as far west as they could got to discover Hollywood in 1945 to make the film, 'Springtime In Texas', with Jimmy Wakely. 'The Billboard' lists them issuing 'St. Louis Blues' / 'Limb from the Old Apple Tree' (Cowboy Records 701) in June of 1948 as Bob Callahan and His Blue Mountain Boys with the addition of Alma Callahan.

'John Henry'   Callahan Brothers w Jimmy Wakely

From the film 'Springtime in Texas' released 2 June 1945   Directed by Oliver Drake

Composition: Traditional

'Turkey In the Straw'   Callahan Brothers w Jimmy Wakely

From the film 'Springtime in Texas' released 2 June 1945   Directed by Oliver Drake

Composition: Traditional

Praguefrank's traces the Callahans to as late as October 1951 in Dallas for 'This Crazy Crazy Feeling' / 'Blue Letters' (Columbia 20881), 'I've Had My Share Of Sorrow' / 'All Over You' (Columbia 20946), 'Blues on My Mind' / 'I Have Shifted Gears' (Columbia 21001), and 'You Have Used My Heart' / 'Lips That Tell a Lie' (Columbia 21047).

'Blue Letters'   Callahan Brothers

Nov 1951   Matrix CO46973   Columbia 20881

Composition: Callahan Brothers

Though the yodeling brothers were very popular in the thirties their music alone would not later be enough to sustain them, Joe to return to his roots in Ashville and become a grocer, Bill to remain in Dallas to pursue photography. Joe died yet fairly young in September of 1971. Bill continued onward for another three decades to September 12, 2002.