Joe Franklin and his Mimosa Boys 
Very few information available on this North Carolina artist. He’d begin in Bluegrass style on Blue Ridge with « There’ll Be No Wedding Bells For Me », the flipside being Honky tonk: « Half Hearted Love » on Blue Ridge 401. Here he delivers a fast number with gospel overtones. His superb voice is well suited to this kind of number and aided by his Mimosa Quartet on backup harmony and a romping piano player.
blue ridge franklin hearted
Then his second disc, « If I Could Just Make It In », a real stomper of a number on Blue Ridge 202, a label based in North Wilkesboro, N.C.. With a driving beat and some superb guitar and piano behind Joe’s vocal. Joe was a DJ at WMNC, Morganton, some thirty odd miles at the time. He was later to secure a contract with MGM.
North Wilkesboro in far North West of the state
In my opinion (Phillip J. Tricker), one of the great unknowns of Hillbilly music. A piano is always very prominent on his recordings and I wonder if indeed it is Joe who pounds the ivories. The Mimosa Boys are a very tightly knit outfit that sounds like they are been together for a long time. Excellent steel and fiddle (Jim Buchanan ?) provide solid foils to some amazing piano work which is much more powerful than the usual ‘rinky dink’ style usually associated to Hillbilly recordings from this period, 1953. « Hitch-Hikin’ Blues » slows the pace a little but is in own right a very classy Honky tonkin’ side with some lovely work from the fiddle player while the steel player underpins everything well. THE side is « Hillbilly Boy », fast and furious, fantastic piano, short steel & fiddle solo. Both on MGM 11612.
Joe has two unissued sides from this July 1953 session.
He then disappeared completely, which is a real shame!
Flash! I came today (July 21, 2011) on 3 more discs by Joe Franklin. Via the “Starday-Dixie Rockabilly vol 2” on (UK) Ace, I found he was vocally fronting the Hi-Liters in 1958 for a (probably) Don Pierce production on Mercury. Both sides (“Dance Me To Death” and the unissued-at-the-time “Big Bad Wolf“) are to be found on Mercury 71342 from 1958. 
Strangely Michel Ruppli’s book “The Mercury label” gives the recording location as Universal studio in Chicago. Great rockers, a voice similar to the MGM artist of 5 years before, with again that rollicking piano (some could say a la Little Richard) in the background. The original flipside of “Dance Me To Death” is sung by a Daryl Petty (“Cha Cha Rock“). “Too Late For Tears” (Daryl Petty, vocal) remains unissued.
Then billed as “Joe Franklin and the Hi-Liters“, he had two more discs between 1959-60 on the Durham, North Carolina Renown label. They are of far lesser interest. The Renown 113 “Who Put The Pep In The Punch/True Blue” (latter song written by Darryl Petty) is billed as “white vocal group” by 45rpmrecord.com blogsite. Franklin returns to his bluegrass roots with “The Belle Of Tennessee” (Renown 114), although more pop/folk than real Bluegrass. “Swanee River Rock“, the final side, is a sax led instrumental, with again fine piano in the background.
Sources: Boppin’ Hillbilly serie (3 volumes), Youtube, 45rpmrecords.com.
Final note: Mr. David Hill wrote me this message on Feb. 20th, 2012: “I was saddened to hear that Joe Franklin had passed, but I appreciate the info from your site. I have a newspaper article around 1958, Bristol, VA concerning Darrell Petty, who was Joe Franklin’s piano player and his association with Joe, and the sale of Petty’s song A MILLION MILES FROM NOWHERE. I would like to share all my info with those interested. I would like to know what happened to Darrell Petty. Sincerely, David Hill”. So now we know who was the piano player on these discs! In a second message, Mr. Hill sent me scanned the article from “Bristol Herald Courier”, which gave more details on Darrell Petty. He had only 9 fingers, having been injured at 10 in a saw mill. The drummer was Mel Taylor, who later went with the Ventures, and another Franklin’s musician was Joe Buchanan (unknown instrument). It seems that anybody lost their trail after 1959-60. Here it is the first ever picture of Darrell Petty, tanks to Mr. Hill.
Flash (Friday, May 25, 2012), the excellent and undefatigable Mr. David Hill sent me a message as follow: “Here are some more photos and info I obtained from Burke County Public Library in Morganton, NC. This was Joe’s hometown. Daryl Petty passed away in the 70’s with cancer. I have been in touch with Joe’s sister. There is a display in the Burke County Museum on Joe and The Hi-Liters. I plan to visit there one day soon. Still bopping, David Hill”. Below are the press snippets of the Morganton, N.C. News Herald he sent me, from the beginning of 1958, also the Joe Franklin obit from 2001. Thanks, Mr. Hill!
Morganton N.C. News Herald, Jan. 21, 1958
Morganton, N.C. News Herald, Jan. 1, 1958
Morganton News Herald, Feb. 27, 1958
Latest news (Jan. 9th, 2013) : message from Jim Buchanan, fiddler/drummer for Joe Franklin (1951-1959)
I was the eleven year old Fiddler/Drummer with Joe Franklin beginning in 1951. I performed on the Ed Sullivan TV Show with Joe and daily live TV Shows at WCYB Channel 5 in Bristol Va.during the early Fifties. If you want to know anything about Darryl Petty, Ray Austin, James Duckworth, Charlie Connley or any other Mimosa Boys/Hi Litersn, ask the only living Member of the Band. I was there a part of it from the beginning. I have Audio recordings of the Mimosa Quartet recorded at WTOE Spruce Pine NC while Joe was a DJ there. I also have all the major news paper articles published during the time that I was with Joe Franklin. The Burke County Museum has the Suit that I wore on the Ed Sullivan Show as well as other articles such as pictures of me while with Mel Tillis performing at President Ronald Reagans inaugural ball in 1980. I left Joe Franklin in 1959 to work with Arthur Smith in Charlotte NC at WBTV. Later into Bluegrass Music with Jim and Jesse and the Virgina Boys WSM in Nashville. Mel Tillis during the 70s and part of the 80s.
David Grisman in San Francisco. George Jones in the 90s till 2008. Now teaching from Home in Franklin TN. Also a recording studio and producing and publishing. Church Band each
Sunday and semi retired from touring with groups. I can now do it my way….. after 60 yrs.
sent by Dennis West on April 22, 2020. Taken in September 1957.
Yours truly, Jim Buchanan – jim buchanan@live.com. Thanks, Mr. Buchanan! Now we know the name of Joe Franklin’s musicians.
arkansas 45s
Re- Joe Franklin and His Mimosa Boys There’ll Be No Wedding Bells For Me -I have this side on BLUE RIDGE 401 c/w Half Hearted Love…you have the sides listed with different label numbers – were there two, or more pressings with different sides?
Thanks
John E Burton
johnburton@jaybopmusic.com
Hi! John,
After an examination of the matter, you are certainly right. Blue Ridge 401: Wedding/Half hearted Love. Blue Ridge 202 If I could Just make It In/ ???. I had wrongly reversed the sides, but the notes from the Boppin’ Hillbilly album were a bit confusing.
On another subject. Tony Biggs told me you could maybe help with label scans, it is surely the case, as I saw your name frequently credited on excellent Malcy Chapman’s Starday Custom blogsite. Another person who I was corresponding with, Allan Turner, seems very busy since several months, and doesn’t answer my emails. I need some scans for Starday 100-200 serie for intended feature on my site. Please let’s keep in touch! Kind regards, Xavier.
xavier.maire@free.fr
Can you advise if joe franklin is still living and if he is how I can get in touch with him.I beleive this is the same Joe Franklin that played in the Norfolk Va area and eastern NC in the late 50s.
Thank you.
Hi! I really don’t know the whereabouts of Joe Franklin, even if he is still alive. If he does, he must be pretty old today, as he commenced his career as early as 1951-52, a mere 60 years ago. Sorry, I can not help anymore on that subject. You are right, he is probably the same one that played around Norfolk, Va and eastern NC area. Boppinest regards, Xavier
Joe, was a cousin of mine he died about 3 years ago, after brain surgery,yes Joe was on WTAR Norfolk, Va, for A few years He spent a lot of time with my brother James who lived in Norfolk at the time, Joe appeared on Ed sullivans show sometime in the 50s, I would love to find someway to get a video of that show,if you need info about I will share what I have, he was a wonderful person, but succumbed to the ladies
Hello Robert!
Wow, it’s not that often a relative of an artist is standing up. Thanks for the spare info you gave about Joe Franklin. Would you please give me some more; I’d be delighted to include it in the post, so the world would enjoy too about your cousin. Do you maybe have pictures? Only source for a TV show of way back would be Youtube…Anyway, many thanks for visiting, Joe Franklin was a great artist! Bopping regards, Xavier
Hi! I’m so glad I happened upon this page! I’m going to share it with my siblings and my mom. Joe Franklin was my mom’s father. Thank you for posting the MP3s–it’s really cool to get to listen to some of his songs!!
Hello,
Thanks for the comment. Do you happen to know Joe Franklin’s cousin, Robert Freeman? He posted a message a while back, and be reached at: freemansalvage@yahoo.com. God bless you. Do you have any picture of your grandaddy?
I was the Eleven year old Fiddler/Drummer with Joe Franklin beginning in 1951. I performed on the Ed Sullivan TV Show with Joe and daily live TV Shows at WCYB Channel 5 in Bristol Va.during the early Fifties. If you want to know anything about Darryl Petty,Ray Austin,James Duckworth, Charlie Connley or any other Mimosa Boy/Hi Liters ask the only living Member of the Band. I was there a part of it from the biginning.I have Audio recordings of the Mimosa Quartet recorded at WTOE Spruce Pine NC while Joe was a DJ there. I also have all the major news paper articals published during the time that I was with Joe Franklin. The Burke County Museum has the Suit that I wore on the Ed Sullivan Show as well as other articles such as pictures of me while with Mel Tillis performing at President Ronald Reagans inagrual ball in 1980. I left Joe Franklin in 1959 to work with Arthur Smith in Charlotte NC at WBTV. Later into Bluegrass Music with Jim and Jesse and the Virgina Boys WSM in Nashville. Mel Tillis during the 70s and part of the 80s.
David Grisman in San Francisco. George Jones in the 90s till 2008. Now teaching from Home in Franklin TN. Also a recording studio and producing and publishing. Church Band each
Sunday and simi retired from touring with groups. I can now do it my way….. after 60 yrs.
Yours truly, Jim Buchanan
Darryl Petty and my father were first cousins. Have lots of family stories but there are still questions we have about the years when Darryl was on the road. Anyone who has any information about Darryl or would like to share information about Darryl or Joe Franklin, please send me a message at gunner3z@yahoo.com
I recently found a song on line FLAMING LOVE by Daryl Petty and group. It was on YouTube or you can search using the song name. The site lists a black artist from recent years, but the song is from late 50’s. The song definitely reflects Daryl’s style of writing, but I cannot be sure if it is his voice. Fantastic harmony and back-up. Is this our Daryl Petty?
Concerning the appearance of The High-Liters on the Ed Sullivan Show, March 2, 1958, there seems to be a controversy about whether or not they were on the show. The format found on the site claiming to list the line-up on that night did not mention this group– One problem, many people watched the show that night (I for one), and remember seeing them. I will work to resolve this issue. If one could access the film out of files, it would prove the validity of our claim. Still Bopping, David Hill
I’m Joe Franklin’s daughter and have enjoyed seeing these postings. I can certainly testifly to the fact that Joe Franklin and the Hi Liters appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. I was 6 years old and have vivid memories of the excitement of the occasion and of watching the show. The band first performed a pop and next a gospel song. I remember being embarrassed when I wanted to dance with my mom in front of our black and white tv to the gospel tune as we had done to the pop tune, and my mom reprimanded me explaining that dancing to it was not appropriate. I would love to know if any of the Ed Sullivan Shows of the 50’s were recorded. I don’t know why there would be no listing on the line up notes. Thank you for sharing information here.
Hello Xavier and Friends, I’m back. I took a break from the research on Joe Franklin to write a book about my wife’s journey with multiple myeloma and transplant at Duke 7 years ago. (The Strawberry Patch) However, I’m starting back on this project. The Johnson Family, gospel singers and their daughter, Betty, accomplished pop singer were on Ed Sullivan that night along with the Hi Liters. There is supposed to be a video available at UNC library at Chapel Hill, NC. If it contains the whole show the Hi Liters would be in it. I have been unable to go myself, but hope to get there sometime. Maybe someone else could check this out. Let us know if you do. God bless you and your family Mrs. Pearson. Still Bopping, David Hill
Hello, I am the daughter of Tommy Sechler who played guitar in the band. Yes they did perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. You can view a copy of the show at the Library of Congress in Dc. You have to call and let them know when you would be coming for them to pull out the tape. A copy can be purchased but it is not the entire show, just the clip of Ed introducing them and their performance. The song they played in the show was “Rock Hard” .( I think that was the name of it). Joe Franklin was our cousin ( my mother was Helen (Franklin) Sechler. If my memory is correct I believe Daryl Petty was killed in a car accident a long time ago . I think that is what my father Tommy told us . I am 50 years old and that was when I was a small child so I hope I am not giving wrong information on him. My dad said he was an incredible piano player one of the very best ever. I do have some photos of The Hi-Liters and would love to hear or have any info out there on them to pass along to our family. Thanks so much for sharing all of this research. One of the photos above I had never seen before. I can be reached at Conniesechler@yahoo.com
Hi Connie,
So now we know the guitar player’s name. Thanks! Hope someday someone will go to the LC in Chapel Hill to look at the Ed Sullivan show tape.
Joe Franklin was my (adoptive) Grandmother’s nephew. When I was a little girl Joe & his band would stop by their house and play music. My favorite song was about a blue bird. “I’m gonna find me a bluebird” was part of the lyrics, and they would sing that for me (much to my embarrassment). Amazingly, one of my daughters married one of Ray Austin’s (? one of the Mimosa Boys) grandsons.I remember another piano player in one of Joe’s bands they called “Wimpy”.He was a BIG guy! I remember the perfect waves in Darryl Petty’s hair. One of the piano players, I don’t remember which one, was so hard on pianos they dreaded to see him coming and he could destroy a piano because he played it so hard. Joe died in March of 2001.
Joe & The Mimosa Boys played every Friday Night at the VFW Hut in Newton, NC & played in Hickory, NC on Saturday Night. I was about 15 or 16 years old & fell in love with Darrell Petty. After several months I learned he was married & his wife – Phyllis (Phid was her nickname) was pregnant was expecting a baby. I was heartbroken but my girlfriend & I drove to Morgantown, NC where he lived at the time. She had a little boy & I recall he had blonde like his Mom. During this time (probably 1955 or 1956) Joe Franklin had a terrible auto accident that scared his face & he looked different after that. He drove a big Black Cadillac the band was great. Darryl was missing part of a finger but you would never know it after listening to his piano playing. So sorry to hear Joe & Darryl are both deceased.
I think the year was 1958 and I was going about my rounds selling grit newspapers in Morganton North Carolina, and was it dudes Drive-In on East Meeting Street when a Cadillac pulled into the parking lot and honked the horn for curb service. At that time of day there wasn’t a curb hop on duty so I walked over to the car and took their order for some drinks. I went inside told one of the waitresses what was going on she got the drinks ready and I carried them back out to the car, I had no idea who where’s in the car because I was only 11 years old. The driver handed me a $10 bill I went inside and paid for the order and got the change tear it back out to the car the driver picked up all of the money except for a five dollar bill and told me to keep the change. Wow a $5 bill in 1958 was a bunch of money. They backed out and went on down the road I went inside and told the waitress what it happened and she said that was Joe Franklin. I had heard my mama and daddy mention his name before but I was too young pair care. Later I found out that I was a few years older then his daughter Judy, and we had gone to the same High School in Morganton North Carolina. I could be wrong but I’m thinking that Joe Franklin had his roots up in Avery County North Carolina which is due north of Morganton North Carolina which is in Burke County.
I think the year was 1958 and I was sitting outside of dudes Drive Inn on East Meeting Street trying to sell a grit newspaper to anyone that came by, we’re on a Cadillac pulled up in front and honk the horn for curb service. Since there wasn’t a curb hop at the time I walked over to the car and took their order hoping I might get a nickel tip. They ordered drinks I went inside and told the waitress what was going on she fix the drinks I carried him outside to the car and the driver gave me a $10 bill which I carried inside to pay for the order. I took the change back out to the driver side of the car and the driver picked up all the change except for the five and handed it to me and told me to keep the change. Wow a $5 tip was a lot of money in 1958 especially for an 11 year old boy. They pulled out and went on down the road and I went inside and told waitress what it happened and I asked her who that man was, and she said that was Joe Franklin. I had heard my mama and daddy mention his name but I had no idea who it was. Later I found out that he had a daughter named Judy who was younger than me, but we attended the same High School and Morganton North Carolina.
Joe and the Mimosa Boys recorded 5 gospel songs. 2 are on YouTube. I have 3 other gospel songs that are not. Shine On Me, The Wages Of Sin Is Death, And Satan’s After You. Can Not Remember Where I Got Them. I also have a 45 of Joe and The Blue Ridge Boys doing a Franklin composed I Wouldn’t Trade My Religion backed with There Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down. Joe’s 1st piano player was M. M. Turner and a banjo picker Gar Bowers was on 2 songs. Would like to know who banjo picker is on The Belle Of Tennessee. I also have Joe’s Swing Wide Those Golden Gates. Think Joe wrote this to. I live in Johnson City, Tn.
My uncle Chuck Henderson said he played e. guitar with Joe Daryl During time they was on the Sullivan show but he said he did not make that trip. He played on many records wit other artist. Don’t know about with Joe. Does anyone remember Chuck. He was from North Carolina as well. Also known as Chuck The Carolina Indian. He also played banjo.
Hello Roger. Would you please send me the 5 gospel songs made by Joe Franklin, so I can include them in the post? My address is: xavier.maire@free.fr. Thanks in advance. Xavier
To Roger Bowman..a man called Chuck The Carolina Indian played with Bonnie Lou and Buster Moore out of Johnson City, Tn back in the 50’s on WJHL. I don’t remember what instrument he played. They were full time musicians well known throughout the area. I think there is still a page on Bonnie Lou and Buster with mention of Chuck. Also, Eddie Skelton, Kingsport, TN may remember him.( Eddie Skleton music kingsport, TN)
I have a nice photo of Joe Franklin singing and playing the guitar with a band in southwest virginia 1950s. Joe’s name is on the guitar.
i just saw dennis west photo and i believe they were playing at a club in honaker or close by . the place was called the pink room. the building burned a few years ago i was told. would like to know if xavier is all right since the covid virus hit.