Thursday, June 11, 2009

Song Of The Day #058













Meet the Massey family. Raised on a ranch near Roswell, NM the group included Louise, her husband Milt Barbie, and her brothers Curt and Allen. They were stars of the WLS Barn Dance and the b&w photo was their promo picture put out by WLS. Beneath the picture it states:

Meet the music-making Westerners, newest members of the WLS staff. The dangerous looking man on the left with the bass "fiddle" is Milt Mabie. Next to him is Larry Wellington with his accordion. Then Dott Massey who plays violin and trumpet; Louise Massey Mabie, singer and pianist, and Allen Massey, guitar and banjo specialist. Louise, Dott and Allen are sister and brothers. Milt was "adopted" bt Louise several years ago, while Larry joined the group more recently. Reared on a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico, the Massey's took to music rather than "cow punching", so their father, an old-time fiddler, led them in Chautaqua and Lyceum appearances for three or four years, after which they entered radio.

In addition to their singing, they appeared in a Tex Ritter movie, and years later Curt wrote the theme music for the TV shows "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Petticoat Junction." In addition, Louise wrote the beautiful and much recorded classic "My Adobe Hacienda."

The group disbanded in 1950.

Today's selection is taken from their Bronco Buster CD (9026) release "Swing West." The British Archives of Country Music has also released a compilation, Louise Massey and the Westerners, Ridin' High 1933-1941.

Here they are doing My Adobe Hacienda.


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