Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'

Subject: Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'
From: Jeep man
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 08:48 PM

Medlin was a performer with Snuffy Jenkins and I believe he portrayed a "black face" comedy act. The only picture I have is on the cover of Snuffy's CD. He had a good bass voice and was very good on the Talking Blues type song.

Just like to know a little more about him. Was he black or white? What happened to him? Jim

Subject: RE: Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'
From: GUEST,tsteagal
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 11:39 AM

Greasy Medlin was my great uncle.

Subject: RE: Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'
From: GUEST,tsteagal
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 11:41 AM

Greasy Medlin was a white man. Later on he wore face paint of white. He also did the subway comercial back in the 70's for the subway resturants. He was a fabulous funny wonderful man. He loved his family and he played the banjo like nobody else could.

Subject: RE: Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'
From: GLoux
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 12:14 PM

He sang Room Two Hundred and Two, with Snuffy Jenkins and Pappy Sherill, which I tried to decipher his words, but one line continues to escape me. Here's a link to that thread...

-Greg

Subject: RE: Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'
From: GUEST,TBurg
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 02:17 PM

Greasy in later years (very early 70s) played banjo along with a piano player named "Slim" at Shakeys Pizza Parlor on Airport Blvd in West Columbia SC.    The two wore red and white vests and derby hats and played songs such as "Roll Out The Barrell" and sing along for the customers. the words were put on the wall for those wishing to sing to. During their breaks, they would show old Laurel and Hardy silent movies.
   My father played trumpet and used to go in to play with them on weekends (tho my dad wasn't hired by the pizza place they liked him coming in).   I have many fond memories of that place and the three of them.   Greasy was a talented musician (self taught for the most part) and also MC and added lots of humor to their show. I only wish I had pictures of that.   Greasy also had a relative (brother I think) named Irvin Medlin who also used to come to Shakeys (on rare occasion) and after a few beers, used to join them and sing "The Lonesome Whipporwill"    All of this at Shakeys was well after his performing with "The Hired Hands" which I really don't remember, tho I did see pictures of Greasy in both black face and clown attire and again... thanks to finding these posts, it has brought back many fond memories.    Thanks

Subject: RE: Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'
From: Michael S
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 03:19 PM

Pat Ahrens, a lovely woman active in Columbia, South Carolina bluegrass and old-time music circles, has written two short, self-published "books" (booklets, really) about the careers of Snuffy Jenkins and Pappy Sherrill. As far as I can tell, they're not available presently in any public sales venue. (Perhaps Guest, T'Burg, above, knows her). In the late 1930s, early 40s, the two toured as part of a band called The Hillbillies. Of Greasy Medlin, who was white, Ahrens writes:

"In 1941, a delightful 'clown' with a colorful history in medicine and tent shows joined the Hillbillies. Julian Leonard Medlin, otherwise known as "Greasy," was born in Richland County, Dentsville, South Carolina, on September 18, 1910. He is the son of Leonard Julian and Eliza Parker Medlin. He got his first guitar when he was only eight years old, ad he began playing for local dances until he was thirteen. He then joined Dr. H.E. Foxworth's medicine show. Dr. Foxworth was from Dallas, Texas. This was April on 1931. The show traveled extensively ... Greasy also worked tent shows with Dr. Marshall {and others]. He also performed, accompanying himself with guitar, in vaudeville and with various country bands."

Ahrens says Medlin performed with The Aristocratic Pigs in 1944 and 1945. He later worked again with Jenkins and Sherrill in The Hired Hands. With this band, the trio (plus others) recorded an album for Folk-Lyric Records in 1962 title Carolina Bluegrass.

Medlin died on July 15, 1982. Ahrens' book contains a photo of his gravestone, which gives his first name as "Julin," perhaps an unfortunate spelling error. The inscription reads, "A Man Loved By All Mankind." (My wife says my own inscription will read, "He was crabby only some of the time.")

That's what I know (or, it's what Pat Ahrens writes, actually).

--Michael Scully
--Austin, TX

Subject: RE: Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'
From: GUEST,walton s tissot
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 10:19 AM

Julian "greasy" Medlin

Here is a '83 doc;
http://www.folkstreams.net/film,68

Subject: RE: Who knows 'Greasy Medlin?'
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 07:17 AM

I knew Greasy Medlin in the early '60's. He was a white man but did a vaudville blackface comedy act. Sang with a deep voice. He was on Carolina In The Morning TV Show on WIS-TV in Columbia, SC with Snuffy Jenkins, Pappy Sherrill and The Hired Hands plus "The Reece Sisters". He was a wonderful person.