Before rock and roll, I was a big fan of Les and Mary. Once went to the Chicago Theatre when they still had live acts between shows and saw Les and Mary - maybe '55 or '56 (?). I remember (even at that tender age) wondering how he would get the sound of the records. I don't know how it did it (no doubt played along with a recording). He and Mary stood close to the side of the stage (he probably would not let others help him) and they duplicated the sound on the records in person! Big stuff for the time. What a man! Maybe too much so!
Young Chris in Chicago
P.S. One of my favorites is Hank Snow's "Movin' On." He had great taste, as well as great chops. There is a cd reissue of everything he did back then, including skits.