Born Bobby Musgrove in 1932. No biographical data have been gathered except those skin-deep, D.J.s only biographical facts on the “not for sale” King issues.

His career began under his real name on the Kentucky label with with “Dollar sign heart” (#584) in 1954, when he returned from U.S. Army. It’s a very nice hillbilly bopper, pushed by a fine guitar. A very rare issue on the Audio Lab label, seemingly a part of the Carl Burkhardt’s empire of Kentucky/Gateway/4 Big hits cheap labels: Grove had an EP (thanks to Allan Turner to have unearthed and shared this scarce issue) of 4 tracks, one being penned by Walter Scott of “I’m walking out” (Ruby 100) fame. In 1956, he dropped his name to “Grove” on the King label, where he cut 4 records, all of whom are good hillbillies, the best are “No parking here” (# 4946), and the echoey (fast, almost rockabilly) “Whistle of the gravy train” (# 5007). Also worth of hearing: “I saw here first” (# 5027). He’d redone his Kentucky tune as “Dollar sign“. During the latter part of 1957 he had his last single on the Cincinnati new label Lucky, # 003 “Jealous dreams/Be still, my heart“. Again two fine bopping sides.

Bobby Grove reappeared later in 1962 as minister and cut many religious albums with much success (several shots on YouTube). That’s all I know about him.

1963 issue of a 1956 track

With thanks to Allan Turner and John Burton for the loan of rare label scans and mp3, the others taken from the web.