From:   "Phil" 
Date:  Thu Nov 13, 2003  7:27 am
Subject:  BTBWY - JACK GUTHRIE
 
JACK GUTHRIE

Born Leon Jerry Guthrie on November 13th 1915 in Olive Oklahoma.
Died January 15th 1948 in Livermore hospital in California

His father John was a blacksmith, and an uncle of folk singing legend
Woody Guthrie. Jack had two sisters and was pampered as three older
brothers had died before jack's birth. His father played the fiddle
and the kids were encouraged to be musical. Jack played the guitar,
fiddle and bass fiddle, he was also an accomplished horse rider.
During his childhood his family were nomadic moving from place to
place in Oklahoma and Texas before they moved to California like many
other Okies in the depression era/ he hated his given names and
called himself Jack, though new pals in the Golden State called him
Oke.

He alternated labouring jobs with rodeo jobs, until he broke a disc
in his back whilst stunt riding.He began singing in clubs and when 19
met an married Ruth, who was older. She became part of his trick bull
whip act on the rodeo circuit before he accidentaly scarred her. His
cousin Woody also migrated west and they started singing in clubs
together. Jack's hero was Jimmie Rodgers and Woody was fond of the
Carter family. They had an unpaid radio show for a while which helped
to drum up gigs. By now jack was a father and had commitments at home
so went back to labouring. Woody had written a song called Oklahoma
Hills (which was published in a song folio written for a female
replacement for Jack). Jack still sang the song after adapting it to
his own style.

In 1939 Woody headed east and became the darling of the socialist
folk scene that was developing there. An old flame of Jack's, the
sister of one of Woody's female duettists, encouraged him to approach
a record label. She quoted Woody's comment that his songs were for
everyone to use. She even got a loan, bought Jack a western suit and
finaced a demo session on Sunset Boulevard. Mary Ford sang on the
session and fiddler Billy Hughes (who later wrote for Jack)
introduced him to Capitol records. Impressed with what they heard
they gave Jack a 7 year contract. They re-recorded Oklahoma Hills in
a Western Avenue studio with Billy, Cliffie Stone and others in
October 1944 and released it under the name Jack Guthrie and his
Oklahomans. Other songs recorded include Rodgers' When the Cactus Is
In Bloom, Dallas Darling and I'm Building A Stairway To Heaven (years
before Sedaka, Zeppelin and Rolf Harris!!)

Uncle Sam drafted Jack at a mostunfortunate time to join Special
services as an entertainer. he recorded a session in ealry 1945
Whilst based on Iiwo Jima jack managed to injure himself in a fire
whilst cleaning part of his uniform with gasoline!!! His cigarette
caused the fire. By now Oklahoma Hills was the number one record on
Billboard's Juke Box Folk chart, it stayed number one for 6 weeks.
Jack agreed to sign on for 6 years with Special Services providing
they sent him back to the USA, which they did. Jack appeared
regularly on radio at home which increased sales dramatically. two
problems cropped up though, firstly cousin Woody heard about the hit
song and was unhappy at the songwriting credit to Jack. Eventually
capitol and Jack sorted it out giving them a joint credit. The second
problem was far more serious, Jack had TB and was eventually
discharged from the army on medical grounds. He had been stationed
near Tacoma Washington and recorded again in March 1946.

Ernest Tubb invited Jack out to Nashville, where he appeared as
Tubb's guest onthe Opry. he then toured with Tubb.One of Jack's
sisters also had TB but luckily recovered after spending a year
convalescing in a sanitarium. Jack was too stubborn to take ayear off
on the verge of bigger success and carried on performing. He started
to behave irrationally under all this stress and wounded a heckler in
a shooting gallery brawl. His marriage broke down, his wife left him
and took most of his money and his son whom Jack loved dearly. He
appeared in a film Hollywood Barndance (singing Oakie Boogie) and was
to star in a follow up but became very ill. Hi mother came to take
him home, he weighed less than a 100lbs and eventaullay had to enter
a Veterans hospital. In July 1947 the doctors said that he would
likely die soon. Bravely Jack checked out and agreed to more
recordings for Capitol, eventually recording his final sessions
wracked with TB like his hero Jimmie. His sister Wava cared for him
and drove him to sessions with Jack in a bed made up in the car. It
may seem callous but Jack was all for it and wanted to leave a legacy
for Capitol to exploit to benefit his family.His final sessions were
held in October 1947 recording songs like the most appropriate Oakie
Boogie, Shame On You, Out Of Sight Out Of Mind, Ida Red, San Antonio
Rose and the fitting For Oklahoma I'm Yearning. He also recorded
several transcription discs for radio use and these too have now been
issued.

He was admitted to a sanitarium but his TB worsened and he went back
to hospital, finally passing away on January 15th 1948. Capitol
issued a Memorial Album. His cousin Woody may be more famous today
thanks to the influence he had on Donegan and Dylan, but Jack's brief
career shone more brightly than most

Bear Family have issued fine cds by Jack and Oklahoma Hills is
particularly recommended. John Lewis of the Rimshots first introduced
me to Oklahoma Hills and a great song it is too.

Recommended Listening
Bear Family Oklahoma Hills , 29 Capitol songs and a thick detailled
booklet written by Guy Logsdon of Tulsa Oklahoma (24 hours from
everywhere) from which the above BTBWY is adapted.
Guy also anotated the 2001 BF cds of radio transcriptions/demos ,
Milk Cow Blues and When The World Has Turned You Down.