The Day The Music Died

Mississippi State Flag

Magnolia - State Flower

This is the man! Fiddlin' Rufus was his stage name. His real name was M.A. Brewer. And, he was the man! He was on The Louisiana Hayride, the Grand Ole Opry, had his own radio and TV. shows, performed live before thousands, and left his musical legacy by teaching scores of people to play his music.

Where did he get the name Fiddlin' Rufus? It was common in country acts to have comedic relief. Someone dared Dad to do a vaudeville black-faced act. He called himself "Rufus". And, he was a fiddler. Hence the name that stuck, Fiddlin' Rufus.

	Rufus' career began by playing with his family. They were all musicians. The family played for dances around their region during the depression.
M.A. Brewer and Ruth Inez Lemons (my Mom)

But Rufus' career really began when he was one of a group of musicians who started "Gathrights Saturday Night Jamboree". What you are looking at here are six of a thick booklet that was sold at every performance. These programs sold for the whopping fee of $.50. You could go to a movie and buy a coke and a candy bar for only $.35. So you can see where $.50 was a handsome price for a family to spend.

Gathright's Jamboree grew out of a simple jam session. A few musicians would gather after hours every Saturday night at a business establishment called Gathright Van & Storage Transit Co. This company was located at 300 Pine Street in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Their goal was to play, sing, and have a rollicking good time. By January 9, 1943, this group was broadcasting this jam session over local radio station KOTN. These programs were broadcast by remote control from the sales room. No admission was charged. Eventually, the crowd gathering to watch these talented musicians outgrew the store. More room was needed. The seating capacity was extended and Gathright's Hayloft was born.

On September 4, 1943, the program was broadcast for the first time over state-wide radio station KARK. Two performances were given. The first performance began at 8:00 p.m. and lasted until 8:55 p.m. The first thirty minutes was broadcast over KARK. The second show began at 9:05 p.m. and lasted until 10:00 p.m. The last 30 minutes was broadcast over KOTN. Here are just some of the participants: Joe Wallace, Master of Ceremonies; Brooks Henslee, Commercial Announcer and writer; Rubye Heird, redheaded singing star; Newt Martin, bass player; Betty Wadsworth, 12 year-old amateur contest winner; John Walton, musician; Gathright's Quartet; Fanny Evans, Blues Singer; Bill Dudley, guitar player and singer; Original Tune Peddlars; Johnnie Lou Henry, 14 year-old singer, dancer, and movie star; Patsy Sharpe, singer and tap dancer; Dolly Ragsdale sold tickets; Smokey Goodwin, singer, Two guys and a Gal, singing group; Eva Pappas, youngest entertainer; Troubadours, with M.T. Brewer; E.A. Evans comedian, singer, bass player, Joe Price, comedian; Gene Gray, singer, Amos Gathright, ticket taker, and the featured artists of the show, my Dad, Fiddlin' Rufus.

NATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH came with a contract to the Louisiana Hayride. He left his local area with Sammy Barnhart to perform there. The Louisiana Hayride was broadcast live every Saturday night from 1948 to 1960 on 50,000-watt radio station KWKH out of Shreveport, LA;s Municipal Auditorium. It was broadcast to America's heartland and relayed to both coasts by the CBS Radio Network. The show was also broadcast overseas by the Armed Forces Radio Network. Hank Williams Jr. is quoted as saying, "If the Opry was the Promised Land, then the Hayride was Heaven's Gate". Hank Jr. was born in Shreveport while his famous father was a member of the Hayride. Another famous performer there was Elvis Presley. Elvis signed a contract to perform every Saturday night for eighteen months for a whopping $18.00 per performance. It was at one such performance in December 1956 that Hayride producer Horace Logan coined the phrase that would signal audiences all over the world that Elvis had finished his last performance, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Elvis has left the building!" Kitty Wells made her debut there. More acts included Faron Young, Jim Reeves, Jimmy Davis, Gene Autry, Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, Tommy Sands, Slim Whitman, Red Foley, and Red Sovine. Dad would perform here for 12 years - the duration of the Hayride. View one of his Union cards, his band at the Hayride, and the Hayride Auditorium.

Dad's talents ultimately led to Nashville. In quick fashion Red Sovine offered Dad a contract to play the fiddle in his band. Simultaneously, Clyde Moody offered him a long term contract to bring his Arkansas-based band to the Grand Ole Opry. Clyde specifically wanted to showcase Dad's singing and yodeling. After giving it serious consideration, Dad declined his offer. He had a wife and five children at home and Mother was insisting that he be there to help her raise them. His youngest son, Jimmy, was creating a pressing need for guidance in his life. Clyde asked Dad if he was able to satisfy his desire to play music without a Grand Ole Opry contract. At that particular time Dad had me performing with him. He also had two radio shows a day on radio station KOTN in Pine Bluff, AR. He also had a weekly radio show on KCLA. Dad was one of several performers who orchestrated the first live T.V. show of it's kind in the entire state of Arkansas called "Homefolk's Party. He also routinely performed at every rodeo and other concerts in around the regional area. Clyde essentially told Dad that he was very envious of him for being able to perform in such a variety of venues and still be close to his family. He reluctantly agreed that Dad's decision was the right one for him at the time. After making that choice, Dad continued to expand his musical presence in Arkansas and the surrounding area.

I was "Little Bobby"! The only one of a family of five who performed professional with my Dad. I cut my musical teeth on state-wide radio station KARK out of Little Rock at the age of four (The same station my Dad first performed). Grandma Brewer pushed me into a singing career by promising to buy me a naval uniform just like the one my favorite Uncle Stansel wore. All I had to do was sing "Bell Bottom Trousers". "Bell Bottom Trousers" was hot on the hit parade, and a World War was raging. That was the reason for Grandma selecting that particular song. This song was very popular and was sung by various artists placed in the top nine positions for that year. It was sung or played by Kay Kyser, Guy Lombardo, Jerry Colonna, Tony Pastor and Louis Prima. Lombardo and Pastor were each to take it to the number two song in the nation.

I was the darling to the radio and live performances. We were bigger than Elvis. Example: Elvis came to Pine Bluff and performed at the Watson Chapel High School Auditorium. Elvis charged $.50 for that performance. In stark contrast, I was selling a single post card sized picture of me (above) for $.35. These postcards were sold at every live performance and by mail as a result of promoting them on our radio shows.

Some not so interesting dynamics began to occur between my Dad and me. I was really getting hooked on rock-a-billy music. Entertainers like Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and yes, Elvis Presley was beginning to catch my ear. My Dad had no intention of playing "that kind of music". The stage for a confrontation was set. I eventually quit performing with my Father altogether. That was a sad day for him. Needless to say, that did not enhance my Dad's feelings for Elvis.

One other personal experience with Elvis solidified my Dad's dislike for him. Dad was sitting in the KCLA studio waiting to perform his show. Two long-haired, hippy looking dudes walked into the studio. My Dad spoke to them, but they brushed right by him on the way to the station engineer. The engineer motioned to my Dad that it was time to start his show. When his performance began, these two strange looking dudes glued themselves to the studio window and watched the entire show without moving. After Dad's performance they each wanted to shake his hand and pat him on the back for a good performance. But, their initial disregard for my Dad was never forgotten. The two dudes were Elvis Presley and Hank Snow Jr.

Partly because of Dad's unsatisfactory experience with Elvis, he was always helpful to other acts coming into their own. TThe Browns were one such group. Shelby Cooper and my Dad would back the Browns as they promoted their music. Dad said he just about wore out a fiddle bow playing "Looking Back to See" for them. The Browns would capture their first gold record in 1959 with "The Three Bells". I dated one of the Brown girls, Norma Jean. I remember Norma using her "celebrity status" to con military officials when I was in Basic Training in 1959. Somehow she conned the drill instructors to bring me to the phone. Trust me when I tell you, getting someone out of basic training, even for a moment, was a rare, to non-existent event. That was a sweet thing for Norma to do, and quite a welcome surprise. Norma, my family, and I went back a long way. As an example, she used to cuddle up with my Mother every Sunday morning at church when she was younger. I regret that Norma died at too young an age!

My first real love was Dorothy Vanlandingham. Dorothy was best friends with Becky. Becky married J.E. Brown. Dorothy and Becky performed with headliner entertainment as dancers in the 50s and early 60s. In fact, they played at the nightclub in Biloxi, MS, where Jayne Mansfield made her last performance prior to being killed in a car accident. And J.E. was a personal friend of Elvis. The Brown family had a supper club just blocks from our home called The Trio. Elvis routinely stopped by to see J.E. (and maybe Bonnie?)on the way home to Memphis. Elvis became friends with The Browns because J.E. helped him get on the Louisiana Hayride. Elvis was a little different even then. Very restless.

Dad continued to play music right up until he died. His voice never left him. I have music recorded that he sang three months before he passed away. Dad's legacy was his music, and those he touched with his music. Scores of musicians are now able to play classical music in symphonic orchestras because Dad had taught them so well.

	Family around 1945

Just Months Before He Died. He loved playing at the Old Time Fiddler's Association

My Dad died February 9, 1986. He left behind a wife, five children and hundreds of friends. Those he left behind will always remember "The Day The Music Died".

This is "Little Bobbie" today. And this is my lovely wife Barbara.