Hi Kendall, Sheb Wooley copied my record of "Good Morning Captain" note for note, yodel for yodel./ (Muleskinner Blues) Mine was only distributed in New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It sold 400,000./ Was played on the AM pop and Rock and Roll stations because my EX Manager, who also owned TETRA records, was Alan Freed's son in law.

I was a T/sgt Air traffic controller in the USAF at the time (1957) I was transferred to England shortly after it was released. My EX Manager held me to a 3year exclusive contract so that took care of any recording until 1959 when Wally Whyton of the Vipers Skiffle Group arranged an audition with George Martin who was with the Parlophone Co at the time.We recorded a bunch of good stuff. Two 45's were released before I was transferred back to the States, Kissin' Time-Man on my Trail and So You Think You've Got Troubles-If you Don't Know.

There were 4 dead copies of Bobby Ridell's "Kissin' Time" and mine released at the same time. The public lost interest. Mine was entirely different with a guitar lead and instrumental done by the Parlophone Studio Musician, and he was some gopod [picker, I'll tell you. Anyway, we4 didn't sell very many of these. Then we Released, So You Think You've got Troubles. One line was, "My doctor told me not to smoke, drink nothing stronger than a COKE." and it got by everyone, including Mr Martin, so the BBC couldn't play it. Surprisingly enough, it sold qu ite a few in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. When I was transferred back to the USA, Mr Martin suggested that I contact "Capitol Records", Palophone's USA affiliate, and I did. They told me that they never talk to artists, only to professional representatives, because singers and musicians were too "flighty and undependable and unintelligent". (Truthfully) Mind you, I was Chief Air Traffic Controller of the USAF Base mostl;y responsible for the Air Defence of New York City.

I decided that American recording Co. people were too flighty, unintelligent and undependable (not to mention dishonest) and that I could find other pastimes equally exiting and fulfilling. Which indeed I have.

I've only just recently started recording again. The CD I'm producing, recording and, so far, distributing containes some of the Parlophoe recordings. The rest were done here in Newport. I do all the singing and all the instruments on these, including guitar, 5-string banjo, steel guitar bass and fiddle. Good Morning Captain is also on it (Sinsull found a copy for me) I've already sold some of the preliminary "burns", the final edition, "Spanning the Decades, 1957 ---2001" will be ready to go within the week.

Oh Yes, it's me singing on "Captain Kangaroo's" "Working on the Sea"
Let's see if I get out of the "one hit wonder" category.

I'm still looking forward to meeting you. Maybe at the "Chantey Sing" coming up in Maine.

Regards

Jody