From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Tue Oct 15, 2002  1:24 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Sid King
 
SID KING (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born Sid Erwin, 15 October 1936, Denton, Texas

Along with his younger brother Billy, Sid was raised in Denton, TX by
his mother. His father, a professional race jockey, died when he was
only two or three.
Deeply influenced by both the country music of Lefty Frizzell, Webb
Pierce, Hank Williams and the R&B tunes of The Drifters, The Clovers
and Fats Domino, Sid was still in Junior High when he started his first
band, around 1952, with brother Billy joining later when the original lead
guitarist left. The group appeared regularly on Richard Pitzinger's show
on the local radio station KDNT, where they gained the name of the
"Western Melody Makers". Sid and guitarist Dave White also worked as
dee-jays for the station. The group soon became the featured artists on
the Saturday Night Shinding on WFAA-TV in Dallas, where they were
heard by Jack Starnes, co-owner of the Beaumont-based Starday label.

They cut their first single "Who Put The Turtle In Myrtle's Girdle" b/w
"If Tears Could Cry" in 1953 for Starday, at Jim Beck studios in Dallas.
Jim Beck had been instrumental in discovering or recording several of
Columbia's biggest stars, such as Lefty Frizzell and Marty Robbins.
He saw the potential in The Western Melody Makers and played their
tape to Don Law, head of country music A&R at Columbia, who signed
them. Renamed Sid King & The Five Strings, they cut numerous R&B
influenced tracks, such as "Drinkin Wine Spoli Oli" (Dec 1954), "Purr
Kitty Purr", "Sag Drag And Fall" (July 1955). They covered Carl Perkins'
"Blue Suede Shoes" one month after the original and did a great version
of Roy Orbison's "Ooby Dooby".
From 1954 to 1957, and despite the quality of tracks like "Let Er Roll",
"Good Rockin Baby", "Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight", they never
achieved any chart action. When their contract was not renewed, Sid
had crossed path with the rich and famous, had been a regular on the
Big D Jamboree and had played alongside Carl Perkins, Sonny James,
Lefty Frizzell, Gene Vincent and Buddy Holly.
Further recordings in 1958, and a single on Dot in 1959 made not much
noise either. It was time to quit and Sid, with his brother Billy bought an
hairdressing business in Dallas which they run until today.
They were brought to Europe in the 1980s and since then, have toured all
over Europe, to much of the delight of the fans, still playing that
infectious laidback Texas cat music.

Recommended listening:
- "Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight" Bear Faamily BCD 15535
(their complete Columbia recordings, plus a few odds and ends)
*ESSENTIAL*)
- "Rockin On The Radio" Rollercoaster RCCDD 3018 (a collection of
unissued live recordings from 1954-1956 plus unissued demos from
the late 50s / early 60s)
More info: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/SidKing.html