BILLY BARTON

London, Kentucky area

Billy Barton was born in London, Kentucky, on November 21rst, 1929. At the age of sixteen, after special training at school, he had secured a job as a tobacco auctioneer but, when he was twenty-one, his love of music carried the youngster to his first professional appearance on radio KXLA out of Pasadena, California. However, it seems to have been a further two years before Billy was to see his name on record. This first release for Fabor A. Robinson’s Abbott label was a duet with Johnny Horton on the flip of Johnny’s ninth Abbott issue. The next record on the label showed the same format, Horton solo on one side coupled with Horton/Barton duet on the  other.

At  this time, he was recording as Hillbilly Barton and would persevere with this name for a further two issues

before simplifying his name to Billy Barton for his remaining six Abbott platters. Although none of these records became mammoth sellers, the Country press was full of praise and D.J.s were giving them plenty of spins. One side of each of his last two Abbott discs were duets with Wanda Wayne, who he would go on to marry shortly afterwards, in December 1954.

Whilst on the honeymoon the couple cut at least one session for the King label of Cincinnati, but it was most probably two separate sessions in a matter of days. The penultimate of the songs is Wanda Wayne’s « Turn Your Fire Down », which is an excellent Hillbilly bopper.

It was 1957 before we know of him recording again and then it was for the obscure Stars Inc. company. After that the next two seem to have been custom pressings from the same plant, the first under the banner of a music publisher, Vidor Pub. Inc., which was subsequently issued on the Barton label, and the second for the small Fire company, which was then picked up by the Radio label. These tracks were recorded in 1957/58.

There followed at least two releases for Gulf Reef, the first as Billy Boy Barton and the second under the name of Laurel London.

The last known issue by Barton is the out and out rocker on the Sims label. After that, who knows ? Barton wrote songs for Benny Martin, Cleve Warnock, and of course Wanda Wayne ; he co-wrote « Let This Be The Last Time », « Stop Talking » and « I’d rather Take A Beatin’ Than To Write »  with Rose Maddox. But his most successful composition has proved to be the early 50’s « A Dear John’ Letter ». Recently (1999), he left Nashville for Florida, and promises/threatens to release a tell-all book about the music business.

Ian D. Saddler’s view of Billy Barton’s music

I have to confess that Barton is one of my favourite artists, his records show a mastery of Hillbilly music, Hillbilly Bop, Rockabilly and Rock’n’Roll…My only regret is that he only made one Rockabilly disc in the classic slap-bass style. Of course, it is a marvelous two-sider and, although « Crazy Lover » is the recognised side, I personally prefer the flip. « Day Late And A Dollar Short » which has a great backing and the lyrics have a wonderful wry humour.

The Abbott ditties are quality Hillbilly, the duets with Johnny Horton being particularly fine boppers. The King tracks are again good Hillbilly, with « I’m Turning Over A Brand New Leaf » the stand out track for me. It is a top quality bopper, with a strong vocal. The Stars Inc. disc couples a nice Rock-a-ballad with a truck song that just does not come off. Despite the appearance of the titles, the  Fire/Radio platter is not a Gospel effort, but a Country influenced Rocker.

The first of the Gulf Reef  couples a Pop-rocker with a ballad, and is the poorest of Barton’s offerings. The second, again a Pop-rocker, has lyrics that will be appreciated by all R’n’R fans, and musically is a good jiver. Lastly the Sims (# 176), a fine rocker, with good guitar backing. Pop-country on the other side though.

Reprint from Roll Street Journal #5 (Autumn 1983) : Wayne Russel and Ian D. Saddler. Additional notes by Wayne Russell from « Let’s Flat Git It, Vol. 8 » (Bear Family 15936). Actual  name of Billy Barton may have been « John Grimes » (or was it another pseudonym ?), according to Prague’s Frank Discography on Johnny Horton. Wanda Wayne had a duet with Johnny Grimes on King.

Stampede 5001 (2009), UK (Abbott sides)

BILLY BARTON – a list of his records.

Abbott 108     Betty Lorraine (Horton only)/Somebody’s Rockin’ My Broken heart

Abbott 109     Rhythm In My Baby’s Walk (Horton only)/Bawlin’ Baby

Hillbilly Barton

Abbott 110     Strange Affection/She’s A Good Ole gal

Abbott 111     No Interest (Nothing but a girl)/Never Satisfied

Billy Barton

Abbott 113     My Darlin’ Liza Lou/You Made Me Love You

Abbott 117     Blues In The Blue Of Night/You Will Lways Be In My Heart

Billy Barton & Wanda Wayne

Abbott 155     I Cried My Eyes Out Over You/What’s The Matter With Me  (Barton only)

Abbott 166     You’re You (Barton only)/That Word Called Love

King 1440      The Song You Just Played/Why Don’t They Leave Her Aloine (Barton only)

Billy Barton

King 1457      Pardon Me, Old Buddy/What God Has Put Together, Let No Man Tear Apart

King 1478      Do You Love Me, Do You Love Me/I’m Turning Over A Brand New Leaf

Stars Inc. 548  No Tomorrow/Ten Wheels

Vidor Pub. Inc. 1007 Crazy Lover/Day Late And A Dollar Short (also on Barton # ?)

Fire 1008        Doorway To Heaven/The Deviul, My Conscience And I (also on Radio 117)

Billy Boy Barton

Gulf Reef 1001 Blue Lover/Monkey Business

Laurel London

Gulf Reef 1007  Don’t Knock The Rock/My Conscience And I

Billy Barton

Sims 176        Even Steven/Remebering

Sims 209        After The Boy Gets The Girl/Backstreet Affair

Sims 244        Letter To A Fool/Arms Of A Child

 

 Billy Barton - Why Don't You Leave Her Alone [2:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Billy Barton - Do You Love Me, Do You Love Me [2:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Billy Barton - Pardon Me, Old Buddy: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Billy Barton - Crazy Lover [2:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Hillbilly Barton - Bawlin' Baby [2:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Billy Barton - I'm Turning Over A Brand New Leaf [2:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Billy Barton - Day Late And A Dollar Short [2:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download