Black Jack Wayne
Born: February 8, 1923
Died: June 30, 1999
California Hayride
KEEN San Jose, CA
KVSM San Mateo, CA
Along the way, we’ll find artists who cause some discussion back and forth or even some debate. No, not about their music, but about the details of their career. We’ve already seen some discussion on this fellow in an exchange of emails. But, somehow we stumbled across an issue of Cowboy Songs from December 1957 that had a column written by Imogene Ellwanger who provides some tidbits. And a few other mentions elsewhere, too.
It has proven difficult to find something other than this short biography taken from hillbilly-music.com site. Black Jack Wayne (real last name : Shults) was a native of Oklahoma who moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when he was 14. He started guitar playing as a hobby but later on down the road, it became part of his career. He had an injury of some type and came back to the Bay Area and decided to join his brother’s band, the “Rattlesnake Ramblers”.
In 1950 he and his younger brother Chuck « Charles » bought the « Garden of Allah » nightclub, located in Niles, north of Hayward-Oakland Highway. They hired country artist Ed Cima to transform the Garden by painting cartoon cowboys and western scenes in a whimsical mural over the walls. He also hand painted the ceiling to look like the Taj Mahal. They tried to change the name but people wouldn’t accept it, so it remained the Garden of Allah.?In its heyday, the Garden catered to rock and roll fans on Friday nights, country western lovers on Saturdays and square dancers on Sundays. In mid-1956, he had three daily shows over the all-western radio station KVSM out of San Mateo, California. And a one hour show over television station KOVR with the “Bar 10 Ranch Boys”.
Black Jack and the Bar-10 Ranch Boys had several recordings in 1954 on the Cavalier label. Back then their latest release was “A Dream Just Won’t Do” along with “Nip or Two” (# 839) or Jack’s brother Chuck Wayne‘s « Mean Mean Mean » (# 836). The latter seems to be the Bud Hobbs song.
Later on in her column, Ms. Ellwanger mentions that KOVR, Channel 13 in Stockton, had two Western music shows on the air. One show had Glenn Stepp and his band. The other had Black Jack Wayne and his “Bar 11 Ranch Boys”. Black Jack had also started a live radio show from the Garden of Allah nightclub he owned that was broadcast over KEEN every Saturday night. She also wrote that there was a possibility that the “California Hayride” might start a show originating from the Garden of Allah every Friday night over Channel 13 in Stockton.
In 1955 on the Spur label we found Charles (Chuck) Wayne for two solid Hardrock Gunter type hillbilly rockers (hillbilly bop with a dose of western swing), « Rockin’ Rollin’ Rhythm » and “Rodeo Time Is Here » # 1245), and maybe more with « The Golden Key » (# 1248).
In 1957, per a column in Cowboy Songs by Imogene Chapman, we find that Black Jack had his own record label – Black Jack. And around
that time, had put out his first recording, “Time Stole My Empire” b/w “Shallow Water Blues” : the latter being a strong fast bluesy number. Tom Hall and Terry Fell helped on the record with their guitar and harmonica. At the time, they mentioned that you could order the record from Black Jack in care of radio station KVSM in San Mateo, California. No coincidence that Ms. Chapman might mention Black Jack, for in the same issue featuring “Stars on the Horizon”, she is listed as the president of his ‘fast-growing’ and ‘real-active’ fan club.
Later on, we found a mention on Channel 2, KTVU, now of the Fox Network, on the Bayinsider.com… “Not all of KTVU’s local programming was noteworthy or long-lasting. There was The Black Jack Wayne Show, a western variety show…”
In the KVSM studio (San Mateo), Black Jack Wayne cut in 1957 his next record « What Makes Me Hang Around » and backed Rose and Cal Maddox on « Gotta Travel On » (Black Jack 104). Medium honky tonk (nice guitar), with Jack vocally fronting, backed on chorus by Rose. His cooperation with the Maddoxes led him to offer them « Ugly & Slouchy » (Columbia 40836)
In 1959 Chuck Wayne had « Wishing/Thank You Call Again » on Ozark 963, both pop country. Incidentally the latter was written by two comperes of the Rural Rhythm days, Johnny O’Neal and Johnny Tyler. Black Jack Wayne and the Roving Gamblers backed Bill Carter on « Baby Brother ». B-side, « Ride, Gunman, Ride », was a Jack Wayne original. Chuck Wayne had his last known recordings in 1959 on Black Jack 106 with « I’m Sending You Some Roses /Blue Moon Waltz » (untraced record).
Black Jack Wayne had several interesting records on Cheyenne, among them « Dancing With A Stranger » (# 114) in 1960, before a couple on Big West and a solitary issue in 1962 on Decca. Charles Wayne also backed Mel Dorsey (« Little Lil » rocker) on Black Jack.
sources: main source was “hillbilly-music.com” site. Many Youtube label shots. And a lot of research! I am not THAT satisfied with this article.
arkansas 45s
http://collectorsfrenzy.com/details/271092122975/HEAR_TOP_CLASS_BOP_FROM_CA_CHUCK_WAYNE_RED_MURRELL_ON_CAVALIER
I find that you have eliminated all reference to his stint on the Vallejo, Ca. easio station which I think he owned in the late 50’s. He also promoted country music at the Dream Bowl, The Niles Canyon Inn and venues in San Pablo, Newark and Oakland.
knew blackjack and chuck, plus their wonderful mom, who made me a lemon pie on a sat. nite once a mont —- from her house next to the garden. i sort of grew up at the garden along with the gang from alameda every fri. and sat. nite. seen many up and comer stars there. rose & brothers, george jones, johnney cash, jerry lee lewes, gene vincent,”THE COLLINS KIDS” ( lARRY & lORRIE — EVERLY BROTHERS, PHIL AND DON, LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS AND ETC. WHAT GOOD TIMES.
THANKS !!!
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I had the pleasure of knowing Jack in a litle northern California fishing harbor called,Ft. Bragg (Noyo River). In my younger years we never missed a Saturday show of his on channel 2,with his brother Chuck..I can still remmember Chuck making his circular strum on his guitar.I sat with Jack many times talking about his past years in the business,and I was amazed how shy he was,and modest. I had a opertunity to have short talk with him one evening at the “Dream Bowl” in Napa California one night when Johnny Cash was appearing,and he told me how much he likes fishing…The next time I had a chance to meet him is when he was a charter boat captain.He was so modest that the people that had been working around him,never even knew he was an entertainer or song writer,till they over heard us talking about his past. It’s one of the main reasons that I believe Jack wrote a song he never got credited for..The song was a hit for another singer…The last Iheard that Jack hadmoved to Norman Oklahoma,and latter past away… one of my favorite songs he wrote was: ” AS I waited for tommorow,I lost Today”. 1st verse, I had dreams of fame and glory,I knew that fotune was on it’s way,as I waited for tomorrow,I lost today..great song miss u Mr Jack
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As I remember back it seems he also had a furniture store in Vallejo. He very often had Rose and brother Cal on his channel 2 show. I also think he had a son Jack Wayne who did a rock n roll act much like Elvis who was hot at the time.
My father was Huck fields and played both fiddle and lead guitar in Black Jack’s band. As a young boy I experienced some of the most profound and entertaining music on the planet. I remember Johnny Cash being billed and it was Black Jack and the roving gamblers backing him up that nite @ the Dreambowl. Maybe 1965 or 1966 circa. Also remember hanging out at Chuck and Jonnies house next to the Garden of Eden in Hayward! Good times, was it Lemon pie Jonnie (Chuck’s wife) used to make?
I was a little girl and went every weekend with my parents I remember benda lee and sat on jerry lee lewis’s piano what great memories I have and shared with my family roberta
Huck Fields was my great Uncle and taught me my first few guitar chords….some of my earliest memories are of Black Jack Wayne shows. Hey Joe, good to see you on here:)
I was fortunate to have fiddled in BlackJacks Rovin Gambler band from 1958 (Garden of Allah thru 1962 (Black Jack Way Show- KTVU CH 2= Oakland, CA & The Dream Bowl, Napa,CA)Lot’s of great memories…..mj
I have read here and elsewhere that Jim Reeves performed for Black Jack, at the Garden of Allah in Niles. Do any of the contributors to this blog recall that and perhaps have any recollections of the performance, including when it might have been (1960 perhaps?). Thank you.
Have a record with the song A Dream Just Won’t Do. It is a blue colored 45 It belonged to my uncle who wrote songs and I wouldn’t be surprised if they knew each other.
I attended many 1960 or so performances at The Dream Bowl in Napa, California while Black Jack was there. He had some great talent coming in. I saw Webb Pierce, Ferlin Husky, The Collins Kids, Carl Smith, June Carter, The Maddox Bros. and Rose, Wynn Stewart, Jan Howard, etc. I was talking to Jan backstage at the Opry and I asked her if she remembered playing there. She did. I sat next to him in a drive-in in Napa, and asked him if he was going to keep his promise to book Jenks (Tex) Carman. He said yes, but that never came about. I was going to go see Jim Reeves, but had to work late and so decided to catch him next time. So much for that!
Vern
Went fishing about 1976 in fort bragg on the cavalier, the wood boat that sunk a few months later within the harbor while tied to the dock. He took the time to talk to a a 12 year old
My brother and I performed there in the late 50’s, after being introduced to Black Jack Wayne at KTVU studios in Oakland. I ‘think’ it was there, that we met Black Jack thru a friend of ours, who was a producer there at that TV Station. We played there for a number of weeks and it was a great experience. Met Rose Maddox and some of her brothers, as they were part of the band there. KInd of funny now to think about those times. Jim, my brother and I, would drive up after getting off of football practice there in San Mateo and sometimes we came up on stage looking like we’d been in a bar fight. Funny stuff even now, for me to think about that.Met a ton of great performers who were kind enough to advise us on how to stand and sing into that Microphone and not get too close. Skeets McDonald, Freddy Hart were regulars. What a time to live in. Not sure that could happen today. Thanks for this venue to put this stuff down.
I worked 6 weekends as a drummer at the Garden of Allah when Johnny Cash was there also Maddox and Brothers and Rose and Marvin Rainwater. I did not get on the Black Jack Wayne Show. It was the best Gig/Job that I can remember. I also had a few Gigs with Cal Smith before moving to Michigan. There were two brothers that also played. One Played Steel and the other played Lead Guitar. I do not remember their names. I do remember Chuck Wayne also playing Guitar.
Hey, Vern——I am Jesse Smith. I was stationed at Travis AFB, (1957-1961) You made mention of a drive-in in Napa. Would that the “Wright Spot? Bought many a
burger and shake at that place Also spent a great deal of time at the “Dream Bowl”
where Black Jack, Rose and Cal and Tommy Duncan (remember him”?). So many good memories. Jesse Smith