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26 Apr 99 - 04:29 PM (#73569) Subject: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Doctor John Does anybody remember these singing, joking 'hillbillies'(mighty fine!) who appeared on BBC radio in the 40's or 50's. Do any recordings exist? I guess they first got me hooked on folkmusic USA; that is unless I heard Woody Guthrie on Children's Hour. And does anybody remember that? |
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26 Apr 99 - 04:38 PM (#73570) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Bert Yup. Sure do. I remember it as "Rocky Mountain Rhythm" though. It was a favorite in our family. Also, I remember reading in one of Tom Glazer's books that he used to play on that show. Was it a BBC show or was it just relayed from America? I've no idea where you will find recordings though. Bert. |
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26 Apr 99 - 05:57 PM (#73585) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Ewan McV (inactive) I also recall this band very fondly. I remember seeing them perform in Dingwall Town Hall in about 1952-5. There was an obituary in the Scotsman newspaper a few weeks ago of one of the band. As I recall from that obit only Big Bill was from the USA. No knowledge of recordings. What really turned me on to folk music was As I Roved Out, a BBC Sunday morning radio programme of filed recordings of unaccompanied singers. Astonishing. Then came Lonnie Donegan, and the whole world changed. Ewan McVicar |
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27 Apr 99 - 08:51 AM (#73719) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Bert Ewan, Ah yes. Lonnie Donegan. He doesn't get the credit he deserves for introducing a whole generation to folk music. Bert. |
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27 Apr 99 - 05:18 PM (#73823) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Doctor John Just found a tape I made from a radio programme which featured a recording by Big Bill Campbell called "In 1992" but recorded in 1935; they must have kept going a long time. They sound a bit like Rocky Mountain Slim and Desert Rat Shorty to me now! I wonder do the BBC still have anything; however their attitude to recordings I've found very bad - if they haven't destroyed it they will neither broadcast, release nor sell it to you. Talk about dog in a manger! How much wonderful material is gathering dust? However if you have a recording of something they've destroyed they welcome you with open arms. But that's wandering. Yes Lonnie Donegan finally showed me the way but does anyone remember early folkoid singers like Elton Hayes (small guitar) or Shirley Abacare (zither) DrJohn |
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28 Apr 99 - 09:31 AM (#73987) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Bert Dr. John, Yes Elton Hayes was in a Robin Hood movie one time. If I remember right he played Will Scarlet. I certainly remember him singing some kind of version of Gipsy Davy..... Ah de doo ah de doo da day Ah de doo ah de day ee Ah de doo ah de doo da day He whistled and he sang 'till the greenwood rang and he won the heart of a la-a-a-dy. I also remember Shirley Abicair singing "We're all going to the Zoo tomorrow" Haven't heard of them since "The Fifties" though. Bert. |
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28 Apr 99 - 11:38 AM (#74017) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Roger the zimmer Oh, memories, memories! What about BBC Children's Hour cowboy soap Riders of the Range written by Charles Chilton (who later produced Ewan McColl's Radio Ballads) with music by the "Sons of the Pioneers"? "Ghost Riders in the Sky", was one of their numbers I think. |
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28 Apr 99 - 12:25 PM (#74030) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Ewan McV (inactive) Yes, indeed. to all the above influences. I'm as sure as I can be that Shirley Abicair played autoharp rather than zither. Or both? Can Shirley really have sung We're All Going To The Zoo? The Paxton song, from I'd have thought 1965 or so. Ewan McVicar |
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28 Apr 99 - 02:37 PM (#74079) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Doctor John Roger, Charles Chiltern was born in 1917 and as far as I know is still around. Just bought the "Journey into Space" set of cassettes ..... I didn't know C.C. produced the Radio Ballads - they've just been released by Topic on CD. Dr John |
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28 Apr 99 - 03:46 PM (#74103) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Bert Perhaps I got the dates wrong and HAVE heard Shirley Abicair since the fifties. She was playing the zither when I saw her. Never saw her with an Autoharp. Ah! "The Riders of the Range", my greatest treasures were my Riders of the Range Annuals. I kept them for years. Bert. |
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29 Apr 99 - 03:26 AM (#74262) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Ewan McV (inactive) I'd always thought it was an autoharp, but that was as a post-event deduction rather than a clearly remembered observation! Sorry if I'm wrong. Re the Radio Ballads, we have a confusion between Charles Chilton and Charles Parker. Chilton is not mentioned in the index of Maccoll's autobiogray. Parker gets 30+ pages. (Also, I have somewhere several additional pages Maccoll sent me about the genesis of the Radio Ballads, for which some [BBC] people give Parker all the credit.) Ewan McVicar |
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29 Apr 99 - 03:52 AM (#74268) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Roger the zimmer You're right, Charles Parker, not Charles Chilton,was the radio ballads man- the old brain is definitely going! |
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12 Apr 09 - 07:38 PM (#2609895) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,A Welshman Yes Doctor John, I remember the post war years when Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers had a regular Sunday afternoon spot on BBC radio. That's about all I know, however. |
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13 Apr 09 - 05:35 AM (#2610053) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: MikeofNorthumbria Big Bill Campbell and his musical cowboys featured regularly on "Riders of the Range". And if my memory is correct, their songs were not just diversions from or interludes in the unfolding plot. Each week's songs provided comment on, or context for, the ongoing action, linking song with narrative in a way that partly foreshadowed the Radio Ballads. In that respect, the two Charlies (Chilton and Parker) were not so far apart after all. As for Shirley Abicaire – she delivered cheerful songs in an engaging folky style, accompanying herself on a zither (not an autoharp). Her biggest hit was "Let him go, let him tarry". Let him go, let him tarry, let him sink or let him swim, He doesn't care for me, and I don't care for him. He can go and get another, which I hope he will enjoy, But I'm going to marry a far nicer boy Her heyday was in the early '50s, over a decade before Tom Paxton wrote "We're Going to the Zoo" and Julie Felix popularised it on this side of the pond. Wassail! |
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13 Apr 09 - 07:04 AM (#2610068) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: ard mhacha The BBC programme, As I roved out, mentioned by Ewan McVicar also featured Seamus Ennis, Sunday mornings 9-30, also Charles Chilton produced a brilliant programme on the BBC Light Programme, Songs of the Blue and the Grey/[US Civil War] around the early 1950s. |
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13 Apr 09 - 09:53 AM (#2610141) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: RangerSteve His recordings are available on the BACM label from the U.K. |
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01 Dec 09 - 12:23 PM (#2777647) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST I WAS THINKING IN BED ABOUT VARIOUS THINGS AND I CAME UP WITH 'BIG BILL CAMPBELL'AND WAS THINKING DID HE SING "MY OLD ROCKING CHAIR". REGARDS BRIAN. BRIANES7OXN@HOTMAIL.COM |
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01 Dec 09 - 11:48 PM (#2778141) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Eric Armstrong Amazing how this thread jumped from 1999 to 2009 as if 10 years were the blink of an eye. I can recall this program in the mists of memory and if I recall correctly the central character 'Big Bill' did a monologue which I think was entitled 'The Cane bottom chair'. There was also a handsome young cowboy (name forgotten)who came riding in from the range and sang a song. Also a bunkhouse sweetheart(name also forgotten) It was all part of the British post war fascination with the imagined wild west.Talk about the imagined village! |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:03 AM (#2778165) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: MGM·Lion I remember Big Bill Campbell's Rocky Mountain Rhythm from earliest childhood, & I was born in 1932. I particularly recall a heartbreaking rendering - must have been about 1937 - of 'The Little Red Caboose Behind the Train': the lines "The fast express came roaring at 90 miles an hour, The dew was frozen on the window pane, And as he was a-driving he said a silent prayer For the little red caboose behind the train" became imprinted [probably not entirely accurately] on my memory; & recur to me, in those odd, discrete moments we all have, to this day. |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:14 AM (#2778173) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: MGM·Lion Going back to Shirley Abicair, whom I knew slightly as she was a regular customer at a restaurant my mother used to run in S Kensington, it was definitely the zither she played — I believe she was one of those who took it up under the influence of Anton Karas's inescapable "Harry Lime Theme", the solo soundtrack to the film 'The Third Man' (1949) — still remembered also as the one in which Orson Welles [allegedly] improvised his bit about the Swiss & the cuckoo-clock [inaccurately becoz it was apparently actually Bavarian in origin]. |
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02 Dec 09 - 02:11 AM (#2778194) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST I remember listening to BBC on the BBC in the forties and seeing him live at "The Empire" in Edinburgh. Something in the jungle of wool I laughingly refer to as my memory, tells me he was Canadian. A CD is available here My favourite song, performed by the resident comic in the group, was, "The Little Shirt My Mother Made For Me" The song I best remember Shirley Abicair for, was "Little Boy Fishing" Eddie |
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05 Dec 09 - 04:17 AM (#2781148) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Brian Ward Eric could not remember the name of the bunk house sweetheart. Her name was Peggy. |
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05 Dec 09 - 04:42 AM (#2781157) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Jim McLean When I lived for a short time with my brother in Shirlock Road, Hampstead, London,1960ish he introduced me to a large man who my brother said was Big Bill Campbell who sang 'The Little Red Caboose Behind the Train'. I'm not exactly sure of this as it's only a vague memory but could this be correct? |
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05 Dec 09 - 06:15 AM (#2781189) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Granny In Wales I was brought up in St Albans in Hertfordshire and when I was about four years old (1955ish) I found a music book of "Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountain Rhythm" in my father's piano stool. The piano was second-hand and a collection of sheet music came with it. I could read well by that time and had a look through this book. I found, to great amusement, "Alleluia I'm A Bum" and insisted that my father sang it to me. I thought it wonderful to be able to say Bum without being told off! There must have been about a dozen songs in the book, but the only other one I recall was "Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister" |
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05 Dec 09 - 07:56 AM (#2781230) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: RoyH (Burl) Talk about nostalgia! I used to love this show when I was a lad. The girl was known as 'Peggy Bailey, Sweet Voice of the West',and there was 'Sgt.Ted of the Mounties, who later became famous as a musical theatre star, Edmund Hockridge. MGM,I too remember 'The Little Red Caboose behind the train', also 'Hobo Bill's Last Ride, and 'Strawberry Roan'. I loved those storytelling songs. They were usually performed towards the end of the show before a rousing finale. Bill Campbell used to comment 'Mighty Fine' after every song (a thing lampooned by Tommy Handley in his show) and there were frequent instructions to 'Pass around the Applejack'. I didn't know there was a cd of it. Thanks for the link Guest Eddie, I'll get one right away. |
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05 Dec 09 - 09:37 AM (#2781267) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: MGM·Lion Right, yes, thank you — "Oh that Strawberry Roan": that was the other one that's been tickling around my head!!! |
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05 Dec 09 - 10:50 AM (#2781304) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Flash Company Mighty Fine! Remember the words of 'In 1992' which someone mentioned earlier, also Big Bill calling on Si and Hi to sing it. Buck Douglas was the usual comedy turn, I remember him singing 'Der Fuhrer's Face' and 'Betting the roll on Roamer'. As I was born in 1937, I was about 5 at the time. FC |
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06 Dec 09 - 05:22 AM (#2781939) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar Nice to see this threaqd re-emerging. I now understand that Shirley Abicair played zither. My confusion arose from a memory of a Radio Times photo o9f her holding up the instrument cradled in her arm, as Mother Maybelle played autoharp. I'd earlier said B B Campbell was perhaps American, later I found a clear assertion elsewhere that he was Canadian. Ewan |
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26 Dec 09 - 01:50 PM (#2796776) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,rawhide 38 IVE NEVER FORGET LISTENING TO DICK BARTON ON A SATURDAY MORNING BUT THE PROGRAM I WAS EAGERLY WAITING FOR AT 12OCLCK WAS BIG BILL CAMBELL IN TH LATE FORTIES.PUT ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE WHILE LISTEN TO PEGGY. LUCKY.BUCK. AND OF COURSE BIG BLL WHOM OPENED THE PROGRAM WITH IS [HOWDY]I REMEMBER AS IFF IT WERE YESTERDAY .RAWHIDE38. |
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26 Dec 09 - 02:08 PM (#2796794) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: open mike ha! his name was actually "Zeke Winters a.k.a. Big Bill Campbell" http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-Rhythm-Bill-Campbell/dp/B0009VN8AY and here is the song book http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BIG-BILL-CAMPBELL-ROCKY-MOUNTAIN-RHYTHM-SONG-BOOK-NO-2_W0QQitemZ310041079915QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq20091105?IMSfp=TL091105188004r22141 |
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01 Mar 10 - 10:48 PM (#2853719) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: LindsayCurran Thanks for the link to get the cd, Guest! I just ordered it!!! And talking about the wool that is my memory: Hahaha: Thought I remembered hearing him on radio, then later my family have vinyl record which we wore out - but just not possible, since y'all are talking about BBC program AND Zeke Winters, Canadian, aka Big Bill Campbell! Many thanks. I am delighted to have discovered rootsandrhythm - what a source. Asked them in notes to please credit Mudcat Cafe sending me to them! |
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01 Mar 10 - 11:01 PM (#2853725) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: LindsayCurran Thanks for the link to get the cd, Guest! I just ordered it!!! And talking about the wool that is my memory: Hahaha: Thought I remembered hearing him on radio, then later my family have vinyl record which we wore out - but just not possible, since y'all are talking about BBC program AND Zeke Winters, Canadian, aka Big Bill Campbell! Many thanks. I am delighted to have discovered rootsandrhythm - what a source. Asked them in notes to please credit Mudcat Cafe sending me to them! |
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02 Mar 10 - 04:25 AM (#2853833) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Guest David Jones Remember the Big Bill Campbell show very well, the door of the cabin would fly open when a new guest would come in, you could hear the wind and BBC would say "Put some more flapjacks on the fire". There was a fine yodeler as I recall. BBC was Canadian I think. Thanks for all the info. Elton Hayes, "Sweet Music and a Small Guitar" was his logo. He was very good, did a great rendition of "The Highwayman" |
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08 Apr 10 - 03:17 PM (#2882292) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Lisa My neighbour is the daughter of Big Bill and Peggy, Big Bill died when she was very young though. If anyone knows where I could get a picture of the stage show I know she would just love it! I have been googling but not come up with anything yet. Cheers! Lisa |
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08 Apr 10 - 03:44 PM (#2882308) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: RoyH (Burl) Another regular saying on the show was 'Pass around the applejack'. Anyone remember that? Burl |
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08 Apr 10 - 04:15 PM (#2882337) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Jim McLean Lisa, could you ask your neighbour if she knows whether her father lived in Sherlock Road, Hampstead, London in and around 1960/1? |
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09 Apr 10 - 04:42 AM (#2882654) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Lisa I will do Jim - any other questions :-) |
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09 Apr 10 - 07:04 AM (#2882716) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Jim McLean Lisa, thanks, it's because, as I posted earlier, I was visiting my brother then and he introduced me to this big man who my brother said was Big Bill Campbell. |
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09 Apr 10 - 05:01 PM (#2883143) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Doc John Glad this is still going - and getting more interesting all the time. Shows how memories play up! I orignally posted it as '..Rocky Mountaineers', so mine's doing the same! |
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10 Apr 10 - 05:21 AM (#2883497) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Mal from Brighton Big Bill and Peggy used to stay with my mother when they were playing at the Hippodrome Brighton during the war. Peggy was a lovely lady who became very friendly with my brothers and I. She was only very young then but she seemed very mature to us - I was only about 11/12 years old at the time. I remember they had a very big car (with seat belts!) and it was a very big thing when we went out with them. It was with Peggy I had my first taste of wine - happy days. I would love to know what happened to them and their later life |
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11 Apr 10 - 05:28 PM (#2884404) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST the song was the gypsy rover |
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11 Apr 10 - 06:29 PM (#2884445) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Fortunato very cool stuff. |
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25 Jun 10 - 06:32 AM (#2934473) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,charlie hi Mal im afraid to say Peggy passed away a few years back im not sure about Bill as she had re-married and moved to staffordshire some years back. I know at least one daughter was born in Brighton (my mum) who has also passed and strangely enough a week to the day before nan (peggy) if anyone knows what happened to bill and weather he is still around or went on to have more children i would be really interested also if anyone knows if peggy had any siblings i always presummed she was an only child as she never talked about family. thanks |
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19 Jul 10 - 10:18 AM (#2947604) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,john kellett Memories from my childhood.Also,I remember a discussion with army mates when I was in Egypt in '54-56.It was mooted that the mountie[was it really Ted Hockridge?]always sang "There's silver on the sage tonight" and that Peggy always sang "Prairie Rose" I remember that there were meat sandwiches to go with the applejack;and who could forget thatline from Little Red Caboose ----and the angels are all sober as they ride along in the little red caboose behind the train? In a radio interview,Bill explained that caboose referred to the brake van.Thanks to foregoing contributors for reminding me of agreat show |
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21 Jul 10 - 04:53 PM (#2949325) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Polly Hi all, Big Bill Campbell was my Grandfather! He was a very interesting character!! To set the record straight; he was Canadian, had three wives, two sons, two daughters. Peggy Bailey (The Sweet Voice of the West) was his last wife. Peggy's first daughter was not actually Big Bill's!! I could go on and on...glad to answer any other queries.. |
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25 Jul 10 - 01:06 PM (#2951910) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST ray Big Bill Campbell (Clarence Church Campbell) died in 1951 and is buried in the churchyard at Littlebury on the Cambridgeshire/Essex borders. I met Peggy a number of times when she lived in Bedford near her daughter (from her marrage to Ernest Durose)but I think she died a few years ago. |
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06 Aug 10 - 04:17 AM (#2959296) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,guest If I remember correctly, Big Bill Campbell always sang " Peg o' my Heart, I love you" on all his BBC Saturday early lunchtime shows, before Billy Cotton came on. |
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22 Aug 10 - 03:44 PM (#2970606) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Bazjaz My memory of Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers is the radio progamme always finishing with a line or tune saying 'The clock on the wall say's it's time to go home' |
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22 Aug 10 - 05:05 PM (#2970652) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Jim McLean Guest posted that Big Bill Campbell died in 1951. This can't be correct? |
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11 Sep 10 - 10:14 AM (#2984515) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Ray Big Bill DID die in 1951. I have been to his grave in Littlebury ,and also had long talks to Peggy when she lived in Bedford . She was known as "The sweet voice of the west",Buck Douglas was "the old cowpuncher" Norman Harper "The yodeling buckeroo" Mervin Saunders and later Eddie O'docherty "The sargent of the mounties" and Ronnie Braun played his old squeese box. Big Bill died in Ipswich in April 1951 while touring with the band. I have three CDs,a recording of the radio show and a touring programme signed by Peggy. I would answer any questions the best I can. |
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13 Sep 10 - 11:29 AM (#2985762) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Guest Polly you are correct 'Carol' Peggys First daughter was not his biological daughter but she was brought up under the illusion that he was and it wasnt till many years later and she required her birth cert to get married that it all came to light. Just for the record both peggy and her daughter Carol died a week to the day of each other carol on the 17th peggy on the 24th of december 2004. i would be interested to know who the other daughter was i know Anne from peggys side. and does anyone have photos? |
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13 Sep 10 - 06:17 PM (#2986107) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Kenny B (inactive) Hi Guest Do you have any info regarding Norman Harper who was certinly the Yodelling Cowboy I saw the Rider of the Range show in the Glasgow Pavillion? theatre and Norman Harper sang onstage on his horse "Starlight". After the show I went with my mother and father to meet Norman and his wife in the dressing room. My parents knew Norman Harper and Ted Hockeridge who both had been billetted in Clydebank with the Canadian Navy during WW2. We then walked Norman and Starlight to the stables around the New City Rd area and I got 10 seconds or so held on Starlights back before before he was stabled for the night. My mother(92) still kept a picture of Norman on Starlight in her handbag until recently. Kenny B |
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15 Sep 10 - 04:40 PM (#2987495) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Kenny B (inactive) refresh |
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21 Sep 10 - 03:33 PM (#2991003) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,karen w hi my name is Karen Wright I am the daughter of norman harper "THE YODELING BUCKEROO" and his wife Doreen, my parents seperated in 1952 and I lost contact with my father, my mother told me stories of their life together on the stage and I have some old photos of him and Starlight his horse. After much research I discovered, through the Salvation Army,that norman passed away in Wetzikon Switzerland in 1976. I would be grateful if anyone has any information on norman's life between 1952 and 1976 Thankyou Karen w |
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15 Oct 10 - 01:03 PM (#3007879) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Dear Karen, I used to listen to Big Bill's Rocky Mountain Rhythem boys when I was a lad around 1949/50. I learned several of the songs and would entertain my family and even a show in school ! Ragtime Cowboy Joe and Rock Me To Sleep In My Saddle, sang, I think by Norman Harper - who was your father ! How amazing ! I even saw him at the circus - Belle Vue, in Manchester, singing on his horse. He was my boyhood hero ! I would love to correspond with you and learn a little more about your father and his life and career. My email address is hughflint@mypostoffice.co.uk Best regards, Hugh Flint |
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15 Oct 10 - 03:53 PM (#3007971) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Doc John Some contradictions in this thread. Was Big Bill Campbell's real name Zeke Winters or Clarence Church Campbell as both have been quoted. Can someone set the record straight please? |
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17 Oct 10 - 04:46 PM (#3009371) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Kenny B (inactive) Hi Karen Could you join Mudcat and send me a copy of those photos if possible. My mother is 93 and a photo would give a much neede memory jab Kenny B |
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24 Oct 10 - 09:55 AM (#3014199) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,ray hitch Big Bill's real name was Clarence Church Campbell and he was born in Medicine Hat Alberta Canada in July 1891 and died 24th April 1952. He was known as Zake Winters with The Rocky Mountaineers on Radio Luxembourg. I have two photos of Norman Harper from a Rocky Mountain Rhythm Programme and recordings of him singing "The Old Apple Tree" and "You Are My Sunshine" from a recording of the radio programme. |
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27 Oct 10 - 11:38 AM (#3016814) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Hi Ray, I wonder if it might be possible for you to send copies of those photos of Norman Harper to my email address ? It is : hughflint@mypostoffice.co.uk I have great childhood memories of that program and, as I wrote in an earlier thread, saw him at the circus in Manchester. Best regards, Hugh |
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31 Oct 10 - 02:42 AM (#3019787) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Chrissy Clarence Church Campbell married Kathleen Mary Melsom in 1935 in Hendon and had a son and a daughter. |
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31 Oct 10 - 03:55 AM (#3019806) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: MGM·Lion Now that is the first I have heard of that marriage in Hendon, tho about that time, 3+ years old, I was a regular listener to the programme which my mother thought I would enjoy as I was just getting into cowboys; & we happened to live in the Borough of Hendon. ~Michael~ |
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31 Oct 10 - 10:58 AM (#3019987) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: karen w Hi can you send me your email address because I don't know how to download on mudcat I will send some photes of norman for your mother thanks karen w |
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31 Oct 10 - 02:54 PM (#3020158) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: olddude You bet I remember |
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05 Jan 11 - 04:45 PM (#3068008) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,pollyf My email is middlemains@btintenet.com of anyone wants to know anything about my Grandfather, Clarence Church Campbell aka Big Bill Campbell. He was born in Ottawa, Canada. |
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08 Jan 11 - 11:50 AM (#3069891) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: Kenny B (inactive) refresh |
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05 Jul 11 - 04:34 PM (#3182016) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Herb My father and i had tickets to see Big Bill in Ipswich when we heard that he had died. Ipswich Hippodrome I believe. I remember my mother singing his songs. Part of my childhood memories. |
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06 Jul 11 - 11:59 AM (#3182483) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Hi Polly, I am in contact with Mickey Dogherty, who is the son of Sgt. Ed Dogherty, from the Big Bill Campbell Show and he would like to get in touch with you. Not having his email address to hand, could you please reply to mine, which is : hughflint@mypostoffice.co.uk With thanks, Hugh |
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09 Jul 11 - 10:03 AM (#3184308) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,GUEST Jeanc Hi Polly I tried to email you asking for details about Big Bill Cambpell: I live in Littlebury, Essex where he lived and is buried. I am trying to collate information for our village history society; so any information you or others could give would be most welcome. As yet I have never found any photographs of him in the village -but there may be one out there somewhere! If anyone could contact me my email is cowelljean@aol.com - hope to hear from someone soon. |
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06 Sep 11 - 06:56 AM (#3218921) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Mary I was one of his rocky Mountaineers playing violin way back in 1941 joining the show in Edinburgh at the Empire?? and toured with them for several months before joining up with a musical act and going off with them ..a long time ago I remember Harold Walden the Comedian Bob and Rita Acrobats Jack Mitchell Ken and Eric Marsh Lost touch with them all when my life moved on ..We shared digs and a lot of fun times as well as lucky escapes. South Sheilds theater was bombed the night after we left Lll a long tiime ago! |
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06 Sep 11 - 03:40 PM (#3219151) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: dick greenhaus BIG BILL CAMPBELL Rocky Mountain Rhythm CD D 001 Rocky Mountain Rhythm/ I Like Mountain Music/ Covered Wagon Lullaby/ Hillbilly Jamboree/ The Call Of The Canyon/ Wait For Me Old Faithful/ Wouldn't Take A Million For The Old Grey Mare/ The Strawberry Roan/ The/ Lonesome Trail Ain't Lonesome Any More/ Rollin' Plains/ Goin' Down To/ Santa Fe Town/ Red Hills/ Old Cowboy/ Sourdough Dan/ I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart/ Moonlight Valley/ My Wagon, My Horse And Me/ Rocky Mountain Melodies/ The Old Red Bar ZEKE WINTERS A.K.A. BIG BILL CAMPBELL WITH ROCKY MOUNTAINEERS & BUNKHOUSE BOYS CD D 008 Hill-Billy Songs-Medley Pts. 1 & 2/ It Ain't Nobody's Biz'ness What I Do/ I Laughed So Hard I Nearly Died/ Blazin' The Trail/ At The End Of The/ Caribou Trail/ Hang It In The Hen House/ Haul That Timber/ Polly Wolly/ Doddle/ Big Rock Candy Mountain/ Little Red Caboose Behind The Train/ Intro: Pony Boy/ I'm An Old Cowhand/ Red River Valley/ In 1992/ Wah-Hoo/ The Wheel Of The Wagon Is Broken/ They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree/ When It's Harvest Time/ The Sunset Trail/ Saddle Your Blues To A Wild Mustang/ Christmas In The Rockies Pt.2/ Springtime In The Rockies/ Wal I Swan/ Springtime In The Rockies/ On A Good Old Time Straw Both available (CD ) from CAMSCO Music. $12.98+S&H |
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01 Nov 11 - 06:41 PM (#3248803) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Roy Smith Hi all Can anyone remember a Welsh girl singing with Big Bill? |
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27 Jan 12 - 04:16 AM (#3297053) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,TERRY I SAW THE BIG BILL CAMPBELL SHOW LATE FORTIES/EARLY FIFTYS AT THE PENGE EMPIRE WHICH STARTED MY LOVE OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND MY FASCINATION FOR THE HISTORY OF THE EARLY WEST AND MOUNTAIN MEN AND HAS DRAWN ME TO HOLIDAY IN WYOMING FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS.THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER ARTIST ABOUT THAT TIME WHO RODE HIS HORSE DOWN PENGE HIGH STREET WHILST APPEARING AT THE PENGE EMPIRE THAT WAS SHERIFF JOHNNY DENNIS,ALSO APPEARING WITH BILL CAMPBELL WAS AN INDIAN CHIEF WHO WOULD CRACK A BULL WHIP OVER THE HEAD OF THE AUDIENCE,AH MEMORIES |
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13 Jun 12 - 02:17 PM (#3362977) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Looking for a photo of Pearl Bailey, can anyone help? |
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15 Jun 12 - 08:38 AM (#3363695) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Hi Polly My name is Royston Smith, aged 68, retired and I have a great interest in family and local history. For the past five years I have been researching my local village of Brithdir in the Rhymney Valley in Glamorgan, South Wales with the aim of writing the village history. I am a former resident of Charles Street and old neighbours have told me that a local girl who use to live in the same street by the name of Pearl Williams was also known as 'Peggy Bailey' and they remember going to see her in the Big Bill Campbell show. I note from the forum that Big Bill was your grandfather and married to Peggy. I would very much like to obtain a photograph of Peggy Bailey, and wondered if you would have a photograph of her or of them together. Anything you could tell me about her would also be a big help. Regards Roy |
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17 Jun 12 - 02:10 PM (#3364620) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Hello to guest Charlie I was raised in the same village as Peggy and I know of a brother named Graham. |
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19 Jun 12 - 05:07 AM (#3365362) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST Seeking information on a music-hall act "5 Canadian Mounties" during the 1940s/50s with names of Bill, Lew, Dave, Harry and Sam who I am led to believe were all Welsh lads. |
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20 Jul 12 - 10:30 AM (#3379147) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Frank Ravlen Hi there, Some time ago I replied re Norman Harper whose Mother Elsie visited with us in Gorton,Manchester. (I can't find it on this site) when Norman was at Belle Vue Circus. We tried to make her comfortable as she felt a bit strange in our non-central heated terraced houses. I was only young at the time but I remember she was a nice plump lady with glasses on and spoke with an american accent but she may have been Canadian.She sent us food parcels for a couple of years afterwards.I have her photo somewhere,also a signed one of Norman and his horse. |
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24 Aug 16 - 06:31 PM (#3806619) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Liz Taylor I know it's a long time since anyone has posted to this thread but I've just come across it. I've recently found out that I'm related to Eric and Keith Marsh (also known as the "Marsh brothers") who used to tour with Big Bill. Their father was my maternal grandmother's brother, an actor, Stanley Marsh. They and their sister had followed him into a career on the stage. I have only just discovered this branch of the family as my grandmother never mentioned her brother or his family so I don't know a lot else apart from a few newspaper articles/ adverts on the internet. I would be intrigued to know more and especially hear any recordings |
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24 Aug 16 - 06:41 PM (#3806622) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: cnd Here's some links and a CD you can buy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqcZpSeXyYQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9AcaBSGrRk http://country-music-archive.com/country-cds/big-bill-campbell-rocky-mountain-rhythm/ Hope that helps some with hearing his music |
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06 Aug 19 - 10:42 AM (#4003555) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Allan Harper Hi I'm one of Norman Harper's 4 sons in Switzerland. I was looking for recordings of that radio show, I suppose with Big Bill Campbell. It is also very difficult or impossible to get something from BBC. Therefore, if you have recordings of my father, how would it be possible to acquire it. |
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06 Aug 19 - 10:55 AM (#4003559) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST,Allan Harper My email is: allanh@gmx.ch |
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24 Jul 23 - 08:10 PM (#4177594) Subject: RE: Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountaineers From: GUEST I'm Eric Marsh's daughter, Stanley's grand-daughter! Dad always said that Big Bill's recording of 'You Are My Sunshine' that he played on (he was a guitarist) would have been a chart-topper if they'd had a hit parade in those days! My email is lmarshvc55@gmail.com if you'd like to get in touch? Louise Marsh |