Sheldon Bennet
Front Cover: Thompson
Back Cover: Packham
Austin Healy by Downing
Pool by Gearhart
Water by Filter
NRC National Recording Corp. NCR-LPA-2
1958
Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented here to share the cover art and jacket notes excerpt.
From the back cover: To fall back on trite phraseology, Sheldon Bennett can be classed as a guitarist's guitarist. His amazing technique has already fascinated many of the top string artists in the country.
In Swingin' Southern Guitar, NRC has captured a new sound in the record albums, created by a group of musicians, each an artist in his own field.
Sheldon Bennett's versatile interpretations are a direct result of his lifelong familiarity with all types of music.
As traces of his speech indicate, Sheldon was born in the Bayou country– DeRidder, Louisiana. His family moved to Port Arthur, Texas soon after that memorable event, and at the age of ten, Sheldon took up the violin. A couple of years struggling with the fiddle soon convinced him that his only reward therefrom was annoying his neighbors.
At twelve he switched to the guitar and knew that was what he wanted. In a few months time he was playing professionally on KPAC in Port Arthur.
From this point on both his ability and his career kept building. After graduation, Sheldon devoting full time to his career learned the hard life of the "One-Nighter".
Turning point of the Bennett life was his meeting with George Barnes, then a network artist of note. The Barnes technique intrigued Sheldon, and he found himself turning more and more from his basic Western Swing style
After a prolonged wartime stint in the Air Force, he joined WKY in Oklahoma City and stayed there for four years as a member of the staff band.
Now living in his favorite city, Atlanta, Sheldon and Bill Lowery, President of National Recording Corporation, evolved the idea of Swingin' Southern Guitar. To back him on the album, he has Karl Whittington, who had played Bass Fiddle for Tommy Dorsey, Paul Maerz, former drummer with Freddie Slack, and top notch rhythm guitarist, Duvall Adams.
From Billboard - December 15, 1958: Sheldon Bennett has a pleasant style of easy improvisation on guitar with these tunes, which comprise for the most part, familiar melodies. Working with rhythm support, he offers "Sleepy Time Down South," "Alabamy Bound," "Moon Over Miami," etc. Listenable wax from a talented cat.
Sweet Georgia Brown
Georgia On My Mind
South
Atlanta GA
Stars Fell On Alabama
Long, Long Ago
Rebel
Rock City Rock
Sleepy Time Down South
Alabamy Bound
Moon Over Miami
Devil's Dream
This is so fascinating, thanks for posting about it. On a whim, I googled my grandfather's name...he's been gone since the 80s. My grandfather was Paul Maerz, the drummer on the Sheldon Bennett record. I can't wait to share this with my mom.
ReplyDeleteHey! My great grandfather was Sheldon Bennett! It is interesting finding sights like this and other people that are connected to you in ways like this.
DeleteSheldon Bennett was my father. Not only was he a great musician, he was a wonderful father. Many of his grandchildren are following in his footsteps. His great Grandson, Randy (Scooter) Dominguez is a talented music composer and musician in his own right
DeletePaul Maerz was a dear fiend of mine; we played in Newton Burke Orchestra back in he early 70's. He was one unique person, and an incredible drummer, too. I still miss him!!!
ReplyDeleteJust brought this album home from the thrift store and put it on the turntable.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very, very good record. Good enough I had to look up more information. Almost a Texas Swing vibe, but not quite.
Sheldon Bennett was my father.He was a true musicians musician and a top-notch father He was a true gentleman and never met a strawithnger. His musical talents were very much in demand playing with many great performers. I could list a ton and you would know all of them
ReplyDeleteHis Atlanta musicians among the many are at the top.
He shared with me that he admired Lynol Hampton talents.
He also shared his time with Gordon Jenkins orchestra as one of the best and most rewarding
His good friends Chet Atkins and George Barnes Red Wooton and many others were with him throughout his life.
I walk with his musiic each day and know many many others also enjoy the same.
This is so special. My mom was his 2nd wife's daughter and he was such a loving stepdad to her and always so kind and gentle to us grandkids. I love reading the info about Sheldon too! Sounds like they were 2 wonderful men!
ReplyDelete