Terry Fell

Terry Fell
Born(1921-05-13)May 13, 1921
Dora, Alabama
DiedApril 4, 2007(2007-04-04) (aged 85)
Madison, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • singer
  • songwriter
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
Years active1937–1952
Labels

Terry Fell (May 13, 1921 – April 4, 2007) was an American country musician. His famous song is "Truck Drivin Man"(1954).

Biography

Childhood and adolescence

Fell was born in Dora, Alabama on May 13, 1921, and got his first guitar at the age of nine. Later, he learned mandolin and took singing lessons. When he was 13 years old, his father died; three years later, he moved alone to California, where he spent some time in a camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps. After he briefly lived in Alabama again, Fell and his mother moved to the US West Coast. There, he began playing in 1943 as bassist for Merl Lindsay.

Musical career

"Truck Drivin Man" record

Fell started his record career in 1945 as a member of Billy Hughes' band, Pals of The Pecos. His first record was with Hughes on the Fargo label. He began his solo career with Memo, then Courtney, 4 Star, and Gilt-Edge Records, although none of his releases became hits there.

During his first session for RCA in Hollywood (1954), he recorded a song that would become a hit. Although the A-side, "Don't Drop It", was underplayed, the B-side, "Truck Drivin Man", became a classic, especially in the trucker country-music scene. In 1955, he made a guest appearance on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee.

Fell remained with RCA for the following two years; however, he never produced a single with the same success. RCA extended his contract in 1956. In 1958, he recorded some sides for Lode records. One of them, released under the name "Johnny Valentine," was a song he wrote called "Sandy" which became a No. 15 pop hit for Larry Hall in 1960.

In 1959, he began military service in the U.S. Army and was stationed in West Germany. Along with Elvis Presley, who was at the same time a G.I. stationed in West Germany, he wrote the song "Mississippi River". The single was never released, but the rights were later sold for $30,000 in 1996.

Due to the lack of success and health problems, his career fell short. Later, for a short time, he managed country star Buck Owens and wrote a song in 1961 with Bobby Edwards titled "You're The Reason". In 1962, Fell moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was a songwriter for various publishing companies until he retired. Published in 1993 with Bear Family Records, the album Truck Drivin Man was released with his collected RCA works. Terry Gordon noted that it was discontinued in 1998, but revised/reissued again. Because of his achievements in country music, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Fell died on April 4, 2007, in Madison, Tennessee.

Discography

He wrote and recorded a novelty record on the Lode label under the name Brother George Underbrush, called "Green Garden Hose". It was divided into two parts, one on each side.[1] He later released a cassette on Lode that contained several more of his strange musings.

Singles

All of the Memo, 4 Star, Gilt-Edge, and "X"/RCA singles were published under the name 'Terry Fell & The Fellers'.

Year Titles Part # Notes/Comments
Fargo Records
1945 Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More 1112 as 'Terry Fell & His Red River Rangers'
Memo Records
1946 I've Done All I Know To Do // You Ran Around (While I Was Gone) 3001
1946 Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More (reissue) 3002
1946 There's a Gold Moon Shining (On a Blue, Blue Heart) // You're Not Wanted Here 3003
1946 Mom I'm Coming Home // I'm Glad That It's All Over Now 3004
Courtney Records
1946 Stop Your Flirting Little Girl // Texas a La Mode (instrumental) 103 as 'Terry Fell & His Seven Southerners'
1946 Ramblin' Oakie // Steeling the Blues (instrumental) 104 with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters'
1946 Please My Darling, Think of Me // You Are Tearing My Poor Paper Heart 115 as 'Terry Fell & His Seven Southerners'
1946 Why Should I Feel So Blue // I'm Sorry We Have To Part 116 with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters'
1946 Please Tell Me Why // Waiting For a Love Untrue 136 with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters'
1946 That Naggin' Wife of Mine // Double Crossing Mama (v: Kenny Williams) 137 with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters'
Four Star Records
1947 Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More (reissue) 1160
1947 I've Done All I Know To Do // You Ran Around (While I Was Gone) (reissue) 1161
1947 You Are My Sunshine // Will There Be a Light in Your Window 1162
1947 Rainbow at Midnight // Guess I'm Better Off Without You 1163
1948 There's a Gold Moon Shining (On a Blue, Blue Heart) // You're Not Wanted Here (reissue) 1206
1948 Napanee // Little By Little 1211
1948 Snow Deer // With Another in Your Heart 1212
1950 Snow Deer // With Another in Your Heart (reissue) 1426
Gilt-Edge Records
1952 Yesterday // Dreamers Paradise 5071
1953 Fireball Boogie // I Can Hear You Clucking 5076
1953 Hillbilly Impersonations (Twelve Famous Singers) // Smoking Cornsilks 5084
"X" Records (subsidiary of RCA Victor)
1954 Don't Drop It // Truck Driving Man 4X-0010
1954 Let's Stay Together Till After Christmas // We Wanna See Santa Do the Mambo 4X-0069
1955 You Don't Give a Hang About Me // Get Aboard My Wagon 4X-0078
1955 Mississippi River Shuffle / He's in Love With You 4X-0114
1955 I'm Hot To Trot / Fa-So-La 4X-0149
RCA Victor Records
1955 I Nearly Go Crazy // That's What I Like 20-6256
1955 What Am I Worth // That's the Way the Big Ball Bounces 20-6353
1956 Over and Over // If I Didn't Have You 20-6444
1956 Wham! Bam! Hot Ziggity Zam // Consolation Prize 20-6515
1956 I Can Hear You Cluckin' // Don't Do It Joe 20-6621
1956 Play the Music Louder // Caveman 20-6707
Lode Records
1958 The Bears Are Taking Over Yellowstone // All Penguins Aren't Catholic 2001 as 'Brother George Underbrush'
1958 Green Garden Hose, Pt. 1 // Green Garden Hose, Pt. 2 2002 as 'Brother George Underbrush'
1958 Angel on a Cloud // Sandy 2003 as 'Johnny Valentine'
1958 Child Bride // Paper Kite 2004 as 'Terry Fell'
Crest Records
1960 Y'all Be Good Now // Who Who's 1071
Sims Records
1964 If I Could Learn To Love You Less // Music City U.S.A. 192
RCA Victor Records
1968 I Are a Millionaire // I've Never Been Sober 47-9719
Scorpion Records
1976 Big Truck Stop in the Sky // Coffee Jim Trucker SC-0508

Albums/CDs

  • Truck Driving Man (Bear Family BCD 15762, 1993) all RCA material
  • Get Aboard My Wagon (B.A.C.M. CDD 191, 2007) Memo/Gilt-Edge/RCA material
  • Ramblin' Oakie (B.A.C.M. CDD 333, 2011) Fargo/Courtney/4 Star material

References

  1. ^ Terry Fell, "Green Garden Hose," parts 1 and 2, performed by "Brother George Underbrush," Lode Records LO 2002, 45 rpm 7" single, date unknown; discogs.com image. Retrieved September 26, 2014.

Further reading