HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Red Foley

Born Clyde Julian Foley in Blue Lick, Kentucky, on 17 June 1910, balladeer, Red Foley, sold more than 25 million records during his career. With a fondness for gospel, the popularity of his talent helped early country western gain stride as a musical genre that could be taken seriously. Red had a father with a general store where he performed on multiple instruments as a youth, eventually to settle with guitar and banjo. Upon graduating from high school he got a job as an usher and singer at a theatre in Covington, Kentucky. In 1930 Foley quit college his freshman year to join the bluegrass band, the Cumberland Ridge Runners (CRR) in Chicago, singing on 'National Barn Dance' at radio WLS AM. The CRR was formed in 1930 by the Renfro Valley Boys who were Karl Davis (guitar / mandolin) and Harford "Harty" Taylor (guitar / mandolin) also known as Karl & Harty. They were joined by fiddler, Doctor Hopkins. Hopkins was replaced in 1932 by Homer "Slim" Miller, the year John Lair became their manager, also performing on jug. The CCR stayed together until 1935, the year Davis and Taylor began releasing records as Karl & Harty [45 Worlds].

Russell's 'Country Music Records' has Foley playing upright bass with the CCR on April 11, 1933, for 'Sally's Not the Same Old Sally' (matrix C 534-4), that to become flip side to 'Ole Rattler' going down on the 12th toward Banner 32773 which Rocky52 finds issued in May that year. Also on the 11th Foley put away his solo rendition of 'The Lone Cowboy' (matrix C 535-1) followed by the CRR backing Linda Parker on 'Take Me Back to Renfro Valley' (matrix C 536-2) and 'Ill Be All Smiles Tonight' (matrix C 537-2) toward Conqueror 8164. The CRR next supported Foley on 'Single Life Is Good Enough for Me' (Banner 32783) released in latter 1933. Also issued that year were such as 'Goofus' and 'Roundin' Up the Yearlings' on Banner 33032.

'The Lone Cowboy' Solo by Rambling Red Foley

11 April 1933 at the Furniture Mart Building on 666 Lake Shore Drive in Chicago

Matrix C 535-1 Conqueror 8163

Composition: John Lair

'The Single Life Is Good Enough For Me' Rambling Red Foley

11 April 1933 at the Furniture Mart Building on 666 Lake Shore Drive in Chicago

Matrix C 538-2 Conqueror 8163

Cumberland Ridge Runners:

Guitar: Hartford Taylor Mandolin: Karl Davis

Fiddle: Homer Slim Miller Bass / vocal: Foley

'The 1936 Floods' Solo by Red Foley

31 March 1936 at the Furniture Mart Building on 666 Lake Shore Drive in Chicago

Matrix 1336-1 Conqueror 8676

Composition: Bob Miller

In 1941 Foley appeared with Tex Ritter in the film, 'The Pioneers'. He later hogged the top ten tiers of Billboard's new Country category for nearly a decade from 'There's a Blue Star Shining Bright' in 1944 at #5 to 'You and Me' in 1958 at #3. Seven of his titles rose to Country's #1 tier alone. His last title to place in the Top Forty was 'Travelin' Man' in 1959 at #29.

   Smoke on the Water   #1 1944
   New Jolie Blonde   #1 1947
   Tennessee Saturday Night   #1 1949
   Chattanoogie Shoe-Shine Boy   #1 1950
   Birmingham Bounce   #1 1950
   M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I   #1 1950
   Midnight   #1 1953

'Smoke On the Water' Red Foley

4 May 1944 in Chicago Matrix C 25171 Decca 6102

Trumpet: Reuben Raymond Steel guitar: Smoky Lohman

Bass: Duane Swalley Accordion: Frank Messina

Composition: Earl Nunn / Zeke Clements

'Have I Told You Lately That I Love You' Red Foley w Judy Martin

31 July 1946 in NYC Matrix 73658 Decca 46014

With Roy Ross and his Ramblers

Violin: Tommy Jackson Piano: Francis Craig

Guitar: Zeke Turner / Louis Innis Steel guitar: Jerry Byrd

Bass: Lee Reynolds Drums: Farris Courtney

Composition: Scotty Wiseman 1944

'Never Trust a Woman' Red Foley

12 Aug 1947 at Castle Studio at the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Decca 46074

Cumberland Valley Boys:

Violin: Tommy Jackson Piano: Francis Craig

Guitar: Zeke Turner / Louis Innis Steel guitar: Jerry Byrd

Bass: Lee Reynolds Drums: Farris Courtney

Composition: Red Foley / Jenny Lou Carson

'Just a Closer Walk with Thee' Red Foley w the Jordanaires (vocal quartet)

8 Nov 1949 at Castle Studio the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Matrix NA 2036 Decca 14505

Composition: Traditional

'Steal Away' Red Foley Red Foley w the Jordanaires (vocal quartet)

8 Nov 1949 at Castle Studio at the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Matrix NA 2040 Decca 14505

Composition: Wallace Willis / Minerva Willis (father / daughter)

'Sugarfoot Rag' Red Foley

11 Nov 1949 at Castle Studio at the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Fiddle: Tommy Jackson Guitar: Hank Garland / Jack Shook Bass: Ernie Newton

Matrix NA 2058 Decca 46205

Composition: Fred Jackson Garland

'Cincinnati Dancing Pig' Red Foley

22 June 1950 at Castle Studio at the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Matrix NA 2142 Decca 46261

Composition: Al Lewis / Guy Wood

In November of 1949 Foley had backed Judy Martin on such as 'Careless Kisses' and 'Church Music'. He then joined Ernest Tubb for titles on the 9th and worked with Tubb into latter 1953. Foley issued his first vinyl LP in 1950 per 'Souvenir Album' (Decca 5303). Later that year he backed Evelyn Knight in November 1950 on 'My Heart Cries For You' and 'Tater Pie'. He recorded titles with the Andrews Sisters on 26 April 1951. He supported his daughter, Betty, on a few occasions from 1953 to 1955. Foley's second and final appearance in film was in 1966: 'Sing a Song, for Heaven's Sake'.

'Tater Pie' Red Foley w Evelyn Knight

28 Nov 1950 at Castle Studio at the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Matrix NA 2274 Decca 27378

Composition: Cindy Walker

'Satins and Lace' Red Foley w the Andrews Sisters

26 April 1951 at Castle Studio at the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Matrix NA 2385 Decca 27609

Composition: Hal Blake / Hal Marquess

'I'm in Love with Molly' Red Foley w Ernest Tubb

14 Nov 1951 at Castle Studio at the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Matrix NA 2544 Decca 46387

Guitar: Billy Byrd / Grady Martin / Jack Shook (acoustic)

Steel guitar: Dickie Harris Piano: Owen Bradley Upright Bass: Jack Drake

Composition: Cy Coben

'As Far As I'm Concerned' Red Foley w Betty Foley (daughter) Television

1955 Venue unknown

Composition: Dale Parker

'One By One' Red Foley w Kitty Wells

1 Oct 1953 at Castle Studio at the Tulane Hotel at 206 8th Avenue in Nashville

Matrix NA 3148 Decca 29065

Guitar: Jack Anglin Steel guitar: Shot Jackson

Fiddle: Dorris Warren Upright Bass: Joseph Zinkan

Composition: Jack Anglin / Jim Anglin / Johnny Wright

'When My Blue Turns to Gold' Red Foley w Bob Wills (fiddle) Television

1959 'Ozark Jubilee'

Composition: Wiley Walker / Gene Sullivan 1940

'Peace In the Valley' Red Foley

19 March 1963 at the Columbia Recording Studio at 804 16th Avenue South in Nashville

Matrix NA 12431 See the album 'The Red Foley Story' on DXSB 7177 1964

Composition: Thomas A. Dorsey for Mahalia Jackson 1939

'Chattanoogie Shoeshine Boy' Red Foley Television

1966 'Ozark Jubilee'

Composition: Harry Stone / Jack Stapp 1949

Lyrics

'Peace In the Valley' Red Foley at 1:24:09

In the film 'Sing a Song for Heaven's Sake'

Composition: Thomas A. Dorsey for Mahalia Jackson 1939

IMDb IMDb

Praguefrank's follows Foley to as late as four sessions from February 27 to March 15 of 1967 at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, with Kitty Wells for the album, 'Together Again' (Decca 74906). Praguefrank's has Foley at a last session at Bradley's Barn on April 7 of 1967 for unissued titles, 'Smoke on the Water' and 'Looking Out the Window'. DAHR tracks him to as late as 1 May 1968 toward 'One by One' with Wells and Johnny Wright but that appears in error. Foley had been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967, the year before his death on September 19, 1968, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The last song he performed per Wikipedia was Thomas Dorsey's 'Peace in the Valley' on September 10 of 1968 for 'Grand Ole Opry'.