# The Shelton Brothers

The Shelton Brothers, Bob, Joe and Merle, were pioneer country musicians and renowned recording artists based out of Texas from 1933 through the 1960s. They created and popularized the songs Johnson's Old Gray Mule, Deep Elm Blues, These Shoes Are Killing Me, Oh Monah, Match Box Blues and My Heart Oozes Blood For You, "What's The Matter With Deep Elm", "I'm A Handy Man To Have Around" and "Henpecked Husband Blues". The Shelton Brothers (Joe and Bob) also wrote (their names appear as co-writers, but the writer was actually, individually, Sydney Robin) and were the second to record "Just Because" (Decca 46008), a song that has since been recorded numerous times by various artists including Elvis Presley who included it on his very first album titled "Elvis Presley". The original recording was by Nelstone's Hawaiians, comprising Hubert Nelson and James D. Touchstone. The song's opening line reads: Just because you think you're so pretty, just because you think you're so hot..... "Just Because" was the Shelton's first release on Decca but, due to their popularity, they went on to cut over 150 sides for the label. They also recorded sides for Victor Records and King Records. The Shelton Brothers would become one of the most successful country acts of the era.
The Shelton Brothers was also one of the earliest acts to appear on the famous Big D Jamboree which originated from the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. They later became an integral part of The Saturday Night Shindig which also originated from Dallas.

## Discography

| Record number | Titles | Record label |
| 46008 | Just Because / Deep Elm Blues | Decca Records |
| 46009 | Ida Red / South | Decca Records |
| 5079 | Beautiful Louisiana / Neath The Maple In The Lane | Decca Records |
| 5099 | Deep Elem Blues / Hang Out The Front door Key | Decca Records |
| 5100 | Just Because / Who Wouldn't Be Lonely | Decca Records |
| 5135 | Message From Home Sweet Home / Will There Be Cowboys Up In Heaven | Decca Records |
| 5161 | Johnson's Old Gray Mule / Nothin' | Decca Records |
| 5170 | Answer To Just Because / That's A Habit I've Never Had | Decca Records |
| 5173 | New John Henry Blues / Ridin' On A Humpback Mule! | Decca Records |
| 5180 | Eleven Miles From Leavenworth / Budded Roses | Decca Records |
| 5190 | I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World / Four Or Five Times | Decca Records |
| 5198 | Deep Elem Blues #2 / Daddy Don't Let No Low Down Hangin' Round | Decca Records |
| 5219 | When It's Night Time In Nevada / The Black Sheep | Decca Records |
| 5261 | Lover's Farewell / Sweet Evalina | Decca Records |
| 5339 | New Trouble In Mind / Dollar Down Dollar a Week | Decca Records |
| 5353 | Alone With My Sorrows / Story Of Seven Roses | Decca Records |
| 5367 | Just Because #3 / Giving everything Away | Decca Records |
| 5381 | She Was Happy Til She Met You / A Prisoner's Dream | Decca Records |
| 5397 | Goodness Gracious Gracie / Nobody But My Baby | Decca Records |
| 5409 | Cinda Lou / I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail | Decca Records |
| 5422 | Deep Elm Blues #3 / Go Long Mule | Decca Records |
| 5440 | Answer To Blue Eyes / Someone To Love When You're Gone | Decca Records |
| 5456 | Uncle Eph's Got The Coon / New Cindy Lou | Decca Records |
| 5468 | That Golden Love / Answer To Prisoner's Dream | Decca Records |
| 5471 | I'm Gonna Fix Your Wagon / Way Down In Georgia | Decca Records |
| 5475 | Blue Kimono Blues / My Gal Is Mean | Decca Records |
| 5484 | I Told Them All About You / Seven Years With The Wrong Woman | Decca Records |
| 5496 | By The Stump Of The Old Pine Tree / Eight More Years To Go | Decca Records |
| 5508 | When You Think A Lot About Somebody / Jealous | Decca Records |