Jimmy Swan was born November 18, 1912 in Alabama. After his father left the family, his mother moved to Birmingham, where young Jimmy helped support his mother by shining shoes and selling newspapers. His most famous shoeshine customer was Jimmie Rodgers, known as the Singing Brakeman, and the Father of Country Music. He won a talent contest sponsored by a local radio station at the age of 15, and decided he might have a career in music. At 17 he married Alabama beauty queen Grace Armour, and they had three children, Charles, Wanda, and Randy. Jimmy ended up riding the rails to Mississippi and working for awhile to support his family during the Great Depression. The 1940’s found Jimmy in Mobile, Alabama, where he formed the only live Country nightclub band playing in the area. Jimmy’s first lead guitar player was Hank Locklin, who would become famous in his own right with such hits as Send Me the Pillow that You Dream On, Please Help Me I’m Falling, and Country Hall of Fame.
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 Denver Darling - Juke joint mama (1945) [2:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Juke joint mama (1952) [2:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Triflin' on me [2:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - One more time [2:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Lonesome daddy blues [2:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Hey, baby, baby [2:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Country cattin' [2:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - The way that you're living [2:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Honky tonkin' in Mississipi [2:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Rattlesnake daddy [2:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Trumpet records – the Hillbilly/Rockabilly sides

One of the earliest record companies to set up business in Jackson, MS. was Lilian McMurry’s TRUMPET label. This company was based at her husband’s furniture cum record store on Farish Street, five blocks West from the old Capitol building in downtown Jackson. She recorded first Gospel, then discovered Aleck Miller, aka Sonny Boy Williamson, and Elmore James. She had also Willie Love, Jerry McCain and Tiny Kennedy (« Strange Kinda Feeling ») in her roster. Read the rest of this entry »

 

 Jimmy Swan - Triflin' On Me [2:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Juke Joint Mama [2:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Jimmy Swan - Lonesome Daddy Blues [2:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Luke McDaniel - Whoa, Boy! [2:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Werly Fairburn - Camping With Marie [2:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Lucky Joe Almond - Rock Me [2:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Lucky Joe Almond - Gonna Roll And Rock [2:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Lucky Joe Almond - Hickory Nut Boogie [2:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Wally Deane - Cool, Cool Daddy [2:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download