From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Fri Dec 19, 2003  1:32 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Bill Carlisle

BILL CARLISLE (By Kevin Carey)

Born 19 December 1908, Wakefield, Kentucky

Died 17 March 2003, Nashville, Tennessee

One of country music's founding fathers, Bill Carlisle's 70 (yes, seventy!)
years in the music business began in 1931 when he made his first impromptu
performance on the local radio station in Lexicon, Kentucky.

When discussing or writing about Bill Carlisle, it is impossible to ignore the
influence of his older brother, Cliff, who at four years Bill's senior,  both
encouraged Bill and joined him on many early recordings. Cliff's own career,
while cut short by his premature retirement in the late 40's, had seen him
record some of the finest early hillbilly sides and proving an inspiring figure
in his slide guitar style.

Following his brother's lead, Bill started recording in July 1933 on the
Vocalion label (an offshoot of the ARC group of labels, to which Cliff had been
signed). Bill's first release, Rattlin' Daddy, would prove to be one of his
strongest and, in its 1947 guise (re-named Rattlesnakin' Daddy) showed more than
a hint of the rockabilly style that would follow.

Recording details from this period are sketchy, although a number of recordings
were released on Vocalion, some with support from Cliff, and others that
appeared on Bluebird, while the labels would also list Bill variously as
"Smiling Billy Carlisle", "Bill Carlisle's Kentucky Boys", or "The Carlisle
Brothers". Mainly these recording would fall into the Jimmie Rodgers genre,
although Bill was as happy, if not happier to be recording both humourous and
slightly risqué lyrics.

Moving to Decca in 1938, the brothers output slowed, but continued in a similar
vein with much interplay between Billy and Cliff, with some tracks credited to
Billy which were mainly Cliff, and vice versa! Just to make matters even more
confusing, several tracks would also feature Cliff's son, Tommy.

With the outbreak of WW2, it wasn't until 1944 that both Cliff and Billy were
signed to the fledgling King label, and hits followed in 1946 with Rainbow At
Midnight, which peaked at number 5 (as The Carlisle Brothers), and in 1948 when
'Tramp On The Street' peaked at number 14.

A lean period then followed, which may have been coincidental with Cliff's
retirement, and it was only when Bill tempted Cliff to return to the business in
1951, with the formation of The Carlisles, that the hits returned, this time on
the Mercury label, where they now performed in a more energetic style and had
hits with Too Old To Cut The Mustard in 1951, and had their most successful year
in 1953 with the brilliant No Help Wanted (featuring Chet Atkins on guitar)
which peaked at number 1, Knothole, T'aint Nice, and Is Zat You, Myrtle?

Cliff retired in 1953, before recording the quartet of hits, and would pass away
in 1983.

Bill last success on Mercury came in 1954 with two hits which followed in the
same humourous vein, but the lack of further chart success prompted the band's
departure from Mercury in 1956.

Continuing to record on various labels, The Carlisles saw only one more chart
entry, when the innuendo filled 'What Kind Of Deal Is This' reached number 4 in
1965.

As far as stage performances were concerned, Bill kept The Carlisles format
running, despite numerous personnel changes, which would eventually see his
children included in the act.

Always famed for his energetic stage act, which would see Billy doing the splits
while singing, the nickname 'Bounding' or 'Jumping' Billy Carlisle were well
earned. The act would continue thus through to the 90's when Billy slowed down
on personal appearances, although he would occasionally appear on stage,
complete with zimmer frame, where he would perform a couple of songs holding on
to the frame, before throwing it over his shoulder and marching off stage to
rapturous applause.

Bill was inducted into the Country Hall Of Fame in November, 2002 and was the
oldest regular performer at The Grand Ol' Opry - his final appearance there (in
a wheelchair) coming in February 2002.

Billy died, aged 94 on March 17th, 2003 following a stroke.

Recommended listening -

Rough & Rowdy Hillbilly of the 1930's (Collector) - Bluebird/Vocalion
recordings

Tramp On The Streets (Cattle) King/Decca sides

Duvall County Blues (BACM) - Bluebird/Vocalion recordings