The Miami times., 1952-09-20
Theatrically Yours

board. best selling pop charts las
week via the Joe Stafford cutting
on Columbia, MGM artistS-writer
Hank Williams has added anoth-
er to his long string of hits in the
pop field after taking off in the
hillbilly division. MGM released
the Williams recording Of "Jam-
alaya" in July and the tune was
covered by Joe Stafford for CO.
lumbia, Coral with the Neal Hef-
ti-Frances Wayne orchestra, and
Decca, with Smoky LanSon and
the Tutti Camarata ork.
The string of Williams ditties
that have been covered in the
pop division include such items as,
"Cold, Cold Heart" "I'm So
Lonesome I Could Cry, "Hey,
Good Looking" "Honky Tonk
Blues" "Crazy Heart and
"Lovesick Blues" Most Of these
tunes have been big sellers with
pop artists after Williams had
made them smash hits in t h e
country field. Williams has been
with MGM Records for about five
years, in which time the diSkery
has released 81 single waxingS by
the singer, and one four-record
album. These Is platters have sold
in aggregate more than 10000, 900
disks in the five-year period.
Williams "Jambalaya" to date
has passed the 100000 mark.
Popular New York disc jockey,
Willie Bryant, on his WHOM
show was the first to plug Herby
Kenny and his Rockets MGM
recording of my Song" The fol-
lowing night Willie plugged the
number twice on the air and gave
Herb Kenny a terrific interview.
The telephone calls really pour
ed in to the Willie Bryant pro-
gram as radio admirers congrat-
ulated Herb Kenny. Also, Fred
die Robbins on his all night WOR-
TV show from New York City,
interviewed Herb, played the
recording of my Song'' and gave
Kenny very good send-off. So,
Willie Bryant really started the
ball rolling among the nations
top decays by spinning Herb
Kenny's MGM recording. BY the
way, Lucky Strike Cigarettes are
set to sponsor Herb Kenny on his
own network TV show this fall.
Bobby Robinson, the popular
Harlem record store owner, acted
in behalf of the record merchants
of Harlem and, two weeks ago
presented a gold disk to Billy
Eckstine when the latter was
appearing at Harlem'S Apollo
Theatre, for having sold millions
and millions of MGM platters
The Gale Agency slapped
summons on Charlie Fuqua for
using the name of the New
Inkspots. OF course, there's
nothing Gale can do about it :.
Sarah Vaughan clicked onstage
at Harlem'S Apollo Theatre :.
Caught Louis Armstrong Show,
with Gordon Jenkins, two Sun
days ago at Broadway's Para
mount Theatre. 1t was terrific!
Johnny Hodges, M cur y
recording artist, is climbing fast.
His orchestra is a big box office
attraction wherever the worlds
greatest alto player appears.
Hodges is currently touring the
Midwest, and WGN disc jockey,
Sam Evans from Chicago sends
word that the Johnny Hodges
band is the latest thing in power
house box office attractions.
Bette McLaurin has been sign
ed for personal appearances by
the Gale Agency Billy Ford,
MIR. Sadhead, Charles Brown Ork
and Shirley Haven go to San
Antonio on September 80 to start
one night tour through the
Southwest that will last until
October % Joe Morris and his
ork 60 into the Spodor Club,
Youngstown, Ohio, September 8
to IA Floyd Dixon starts at
the Orchid Room in Kansas City,
Mo. on September % for one
week.
Una Mae Carlisle, the nation
ally popular pianist-composer last
week celebrated her third year
with her own show on ABC
network wrom WIZ. Una Mae
was given an additional contract
for five years by the network. Una
Macs tune, "How Close" Is
n,Vy,oA An~ R;~,o ~ H. Lsk -..-.Lo