Rabon is usually playing lead guitar while Alton is playing rhythm. However, sometimes it is the other way round, and both can also combine lead and rhythm in the same song. Alton plays a standard acoustic guitar (different Martin models) and Rabon a 4-string tenor acoustic guitar (different Martin models too). On the majority of the duet songs, Alton is singing the lead part and Rabon the vocal harmony. During the Bluebird period, Rabon is the lead singer on 2 titles (“I’m Going Away” and “Promise Me You’ll Always Be Faithfull”) with Alton doing the vocal harmony. During the King period, Rabon sometimes is the lead singer but only on the verses because, during the choruses, he is always singing the vocal harmony while Alton is singing lead.

Jean Ruhe is likely an early pen name for Alton (only seen on the first pressing of King 503). Jim Scott and Thomas Neeley (or Jimmie Scott and Tom Neely) are pen names for Alton (Thelma Neely is the maiden name of his wife). Bob Nobar (Rabon anagram) and Norman King are pen names for Rabon (Nola King is the maiden name of his wife). Matthew Strange is a pen name for Alton, Rabon and Wayne Raney as well. Loys Southerland (maiden name of Raney’s wife) is a pen name for Wayne Raney. Lonesome Willie Evans is an artist name for Wayne Raney (unrelated to the Delmore Brothers, Willie Evans is a pen name for Raney). Hank Dalton is probably a pen name for Alton and an artist name for some other artists including Lonnie Glosson and Ray Smith.

Unfortunately, one does not know all the details regarding the accuracy of the dates, locations and musicians of the King period. And anything and everything was written. For instance, on the historic session which saw the first singing Hillbilly Boogie and the first Brown’s Ferry Four recording, the date is for the historian Charles K. Wolfe: 1945 on “Truth Is Stranger Than Publicity” 1st issue, circa March 1946 on “Everybody’s Grandpa” and January 1946 on “Truth Is Stranger Than Publicity” 2nd issue! Rich Kienzle give March 24, 1946.

Any documented addition or correction will be welcome. Your name will be quoted.

FORMAT

YEAR

Recording date; Location

Schedule ¹

ARTIST ² _{"Legend on 78 rpm labels" ³}
MUSICIANS (vocals, instruments) ⁴

1. If known
2. The artist name is not always the one of the leading performer (for instance: “Harmonica Blues” by Delmore Brothers is sung by Wayne Raney). See “Musicians” for the real leading performer.
3. The legends are mentioned for curiosity reasons but do not always correspond to the truth.
4. Only the lead instruments are specified for each title. The accompanying instruments (rhythm guitar, bass or drums) are quoted only for the session.
5. Sometimes a “1”, “2” or “3” appears following the master number on the King 78 rpm shellac, but it is not concerning the take number because a few different issues of the same title have different numbers.
6. For better clarity, when the Delmore Brothers are not singing the leading part, the title is in small capitals. When the title is unissued, it is in italics.
7. Sequels with different lyrics are mentioned as N° 2, Part 2 or Part 3.
8. When there is an alternate take, the master take is simplified "Master".
9. When the name Delmore is mentioned without first name, that means that it is not identified if the author is Alton, Rabon or both. Adapt. = adaptation, arr. = arrangement, rewrit. = rewriting.
10. It is possible that some Montgomery Ward issues have preceded some Bluebird issues.
11. King company used to mention “AA” and “A” instead of “A” and “B” from number 770.
12. Only the US issues are listed but also the foreign issues presenting a special interest.

ABBREVIATIONS

Names

Instruments

Labels

SPs = 78 rpm or singles

1931

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon)}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

1. According to Alton, two other songs was recorded this day: “The Girls Don’t Worry My Mind” and “Smoky Mountain Bill and His Song”.     2. Released December 31, 1931. No “A” or “B” side on this 78 rpm.

1933

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

1. “B” side by the Allen Brothers.     2. Masters BS 77230 to BS 77251 by the Vagabonds, the Prairie Ramblers, Salty Holmes and Ruby Blevins (Patsy Montana).

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

1. Aka "I've Got No Use for the Women".     2. “B” side by Bud Billings.     3. Aka "Young Charlotte".

1935

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars” or “Singing and yodeling with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, or vocal harmony ^R; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or lead vocal ^R; tenor guitar)

1. Label only credits Arthur Smith.     2. Issued as “El Sinsonte” by Arturo Muniz.     3. Issued as “Manzana Roja” by Arturo Muniz.

1. "Response" used relatively to the term "call-and-response" employed in gospel tradition.     2. Label only credits Uncle Dave Macon.

1936

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars” or “Singing and yodeling with guitars” or “Singing with violin and guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal except ^R, or response ¹ and lead vocal ^A; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or lead vocal ^R, or call ¹ and vocal harmony ^A, or vocal harmony and yodel ^A+; tenor guitar), Fiddlin’ Arthur SMITH (fiddle ^f )

1. "Call" and "response" used relatively to the term "call-and-response" employed in gospel tradition.

ARTHUR SMITH TRIO _{“Violin and guitars” or “Singing with violin and guitars”}
Fiddlin’ Arthur SMITH (vocal ^S, or lead vocal ^S+; fiddle), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, tenor guitar)

1. "St. James Infirmary Blues" tune based on 18th century traditional English folk song "The Unfortunate Rake".     2. Masters between 99192 and 99203 by Monroe Brothers.     3. “A” side by the Dixie Ramblers.     4. Issued under the name of Smoky Mountain Fiddler Trio.     5. "Careless Love" tune.

1937

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars” or “Singing and yodeling with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), Fiddlin’ Arthur SMITH (fiddle ^f )

ARTHUR SMITH TRIO _{“Violin and guitars” or “Singing with violin and guitars” or “Violin and guitars with singing”}
Fiddlin’ Arthur SMITH (lead vocal ^S, fiddle), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, tenor guitar)

1. Mentioned on Montgomery Ward 78 rpm as “Kilby Jail”. Variant of the traditional "The Prisoner's Song".     2. Label only credits Delmore Brothers.     3. Masters BS 07100 to BS 07115 by the Southern Melody Boys and Walter Couch & Wilks Ramblers.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

ARTHUR SMITH TRIO _{“Violin and guitars” or “Singing with violin and guitars” or “Violin and guitars with singing”}
Fiddlin’ Arthur SMITH (vocal ^S, or lead vocal ^S+; fiddle), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, tenor guitar)

1. Label mentions Arthur Smith Trio, violin and guitars (no mention of singing).     2. Label only credits Delmore Brothers.     3. Aka "Love Letters in the Sand".

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars” or “Singing with violin and guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), Fiddlin’ Arthur SMITH (fiddle ^f )

1. Aka "Willie Down by the Pond.     2. Aka “When the Roses Come Again”.     3. Label only credits Delmore Brothers.     4. Aka "Lonesome Road".

ARTHUR SMITH TRIO_{“Violin and guitars” or “Singing with violin and guitars” or “Singing with banjo and guitars”}
Fiddlin’ Arthur SMITH (vocal ^S, or lead vocal ^S+; fiddle, banjo ^b), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, tenor guitar)

1. Aka "I Know What It Means to Be Lonesome".     2. Aka "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains".     3. No Bluebird Issue.     4. "B" side Arthur without the Delmores; 5. No fiddle on this track

UNCLE DAVE MACON
“Uncle Dave” MACON (lead vocal, 5-string banjo), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, probably guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, possibly tenor guitar), unidentified (vocal harmony, or vocal chorus ^V, possibly guitar)

1. Reverse side Dave Macon without the Delmores.     2. Label only credits “Uncle Dave” Macon.     3. Masters 011912 and 011913 by “Uncle Dave” Macon without the Delmores.     4. “B” side by Southern Melody Boys.

1938

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

1. Aka "Weeping Willow Tree" or "Bury Me Beneath the Willow".     2. Masters BS 018719 to BS 018744 by the Heavenly Gospel Singers, the Pine State Playboys and Wiley, Zeke & Homer.

ARTHUR SMITH TRIO _{“Violin and guitars” or “Singing with violin and guitars”}
Fiddlin’ Arthur SMITH (vocal ^S, or lead vocal ^S+; fiddle), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, tenor guitar)

1. Label only credits Delmore Brothers.     2. "Brown's Ferry Blues" tune.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

Thursday, September 29; Andrew Jackson Hotel, Rock Hill, South Carolina

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars” or “Singing with guitars and bass” or “Singing with guitars, fiddle and bass” or “Singing with violin, guitars and bass”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony or vocal chorus ^C; tenor guitar), Smiley O’BRIEN (vocal chorus ^C, possibly guitar ^g), Chuck MAUDLIN (fiddle ^f ), Joe ZINKAN (string bass)

1. Master numbers between BS 027649 and BS 027671 by Walter Hurdt and also Arthur Smith & the Carolina Crackerjacks. Smith, who was going to become the creator of the instrumental hillbilly boogie (the former attempts were not typically hillbilly boogie) and the Delmores, who were going to be the creators of the singing hillbilly boogie, are crossed themselves this September 29, 1938!     2. Aka "What Does the Deep Sea Say?".     3. Aka "Cindy".

1939

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars” or “Singin’ with guitars, violin and bass” or “Assisted by Smiley O’Brien, Singing with guitars, violin and bass” (BS 032678)}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, or vocal chorus ^D; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal chorus ^D; tenor guitar), Smiley O’BRIEN (lead vocal ^O, possibly guitar), Chuck MAUDLIN (fiddle), Joe ZINKAN (string bass)

1940

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), unidentified (hawaiian guitar ^s)

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony; tenor guitar)

1. Aka "Mountain Dew".

1941

DELMORE BROTHERS _{(Alton & Rabon) “Singing with guitars” or “Singing with guitars, banjo and bass” or “Singing with guitars and bass” or “Singing with instrumental accompaniment”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), unidentified (banjo ^b), poss. Zeke PHILLIPS (string bass)

1. Wade Mainer adaptation of the traditional "Wabash Cannonball".

On August 1, 1942, the American Federation of Musicians, at the instigation of union president James Petrillo, started a strike against the major American recording companies. It ended in the Autumn of 1943 for Decca and Capitol, and until November 1944 for Victor and Columbia

1944

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Duet with Singing”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

1. Jean Ruhe is a pseudonym for Alton, cause he was under contract to Sylvester Cross, owner of the American Music publishing company.     2. “A” side is “Prisoner’s Farewell”.     3. Master K-1773 unidentified.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Duet with Guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

1. Same master number as first issue.     2. The name of the composer is changing. In the same way that for Jean Ruhe, Jim Scott is a pseudonym for Alton.     3. Second issue with different versions. “A” side is “Sweet Sweet Thing”, opposite of the first issue.

1945

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Duet with Guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

1. Same master number as first and second issue.     2. Third issue with different versions.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Duet with Guitars” or “Vocal with Guitars” or “ Singing with Guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, or vocal on 1st and 3rd verses ^D; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on 2nd verse ^D; tenor guitar), unidentified (string bass)

1946

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with Guitars” or “Vocal with Instrumental Trio” (K-1972) or “Vocal with String Band” or “Vocal Duet with Guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal except ^R, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on verses ^R; tenor guitar), probably Louis INNIS (rhythm guitar), Roy STARKEY (string bass)

1. Usually mentioned: Radio Recorder, Hollywood, California. But acetates K-1971 to K-1982 read: Cincinnati, Ohio.     2. Masters K-1969 and K-1970 by Roy Starkey.     3. On LP County CCS-110, Charles K. Wolfe mentions Merle Travis doing the standard guitar fills. There is no guitar in the Merle's style!     4. No King issue.     5. Always on the County LP CCS-110 Charles K. Wolfe mentions a Bluebird first version. There's no Bluebird version!

1. On many occasions, Charles K. Wolfe mentions Merle Travis singing and playing guitar on this two Brown’s Ferry Four titles. Merle is not present on this session. The bass singer is Red Foley and the two guitars are the ones of the Delmores.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with Guitars” or “Singing with Guitars” or “Vocal with String Band” or “Vocal Duet with Guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, or vocal on 2nd and 4th verses ^D; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on 1st and 3rd verses ^D; tenor guitar), probably Louis INNIS (rhythm guitar), Roy STARKEY (string bass)

1. Masters K-1983 and K-1984 by Cliff Carlisle. Masters K-1985 to K-1988 and K-1993 to K-1994 by Grandpa Jones with Merle Travis on electric guitar on February 22. Masters K-1989 to K-1992 by Hank Penny.     2. Charles K. Wolfe mentions Merle Travis taking a 12-string guitar break on “Midnight Train” (again on LP County CCS 110). There is no 12-string guitar on this title!

1. 1. On “Truth Is Stranger Than Publicity” 2nd edition, Charles Wolfe mentions February 2, 1946; but on “Everybody’s Grandpa”, he quotes the Grandpa’s recordings with masters numbers K-1985 to K-1994 on March! For this session, September seems more probable in regard both to the master numbers and the release dates. Concerning location, Wayne Raney remembers his first recording with the Delmore Brothers in Cincinnati.     2. Aka "Take This Hammer".     3. No King issue.     4. Bob Nobar is a pseudonym for Rabon.     5. Label only credits Delmore Brothers.     6. Only commercially issued short cut, but exists complete on acetate Audiodisc.     7. Masters K-2108 to K-2123 by Bill Carlisle.     8. Already recorded at Bluebird with the title "Happy on the Mississippi Shore".

BROWN’S FERRY FOUR _{“Sacred” or “Quartet with Guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (baritone lead vocal on verses ^A, or baritone vocal; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor lead vocal on verses ^R, or tenor vocal; tenor guitar ^g), Louis Marshall “Grandpa” JONES (baritone lead vocal on verses ^J, or baritone vocal), Clyde Julian “Red” FOLEY (bass vocal)

1. Aka Red Foley.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal Duet with Guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar)

1. Possibly recorded at WSM Radio Station, Nashville, in regard of the Raney recordings with masters K-2137 to K-2139.

WAYNE RANEY _{“Harmonica Solo” or “Harmonica with String Band” or “Harmonica with Talking”}
Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (guitar or comments ^D), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar or comments ^D)

1. According to Wayne Raney, a 4th instrumental was recorded in WSM Radio Station the same day: “The New Deal Blues”.

1947

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Singing with Guitars” or “Vocal with String Band” or “Vocal Duet”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal except ^R, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on verses ^R; tenor guitar), Wayne RANEY (harmonica ^h), possibly Roy LANHAM (electric guitar ^e), possibly Al STRICKLAND (steel guitar), unidentified (fiddle ^f ), unidentified (string bass)

1. Pseudonyms for respectively Rabon and Alton.        2. Unissued masters of K-2525 and K-2526 by Buster "Buck" Glosson, brother of Lonnie Glosson, probably with the Delmores: "1-2-3-4-5" and "Fan It/Bugle Call Rag medley".      3. With farm sound effect and Alton’s introduction All right boys, one, two, three, four... and conclusion It’s the silliest thing we ever did play! 4. Pseudonym for Sydney Nathan (the owner of King records): it is the maiden name of his wife.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Singing with Guitars” or “Vocal with String Band” or “Vocal Duet”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, or vocal on 2nd verse ^D, or vocal on 1st verse ^D+, or vocal on 1st and 3rd verses ^D++; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on 1st and 3rd verses ^D, or vocal on 2nd verse ^{D+ D++}; tenor guitar)

1. Aka Stringbean.     2. Introduction by Alton.     3. Introduction by Rabon (on the County LP CCS-110, Charles Wolfe mentions “Frozen Girl” with Alton’s introduction!!).

1. Masters K-2613 to K-2616 by Grandpa Jones with Merle Travis on electric guitar.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), probably Roy LANHAM (electric guitar ^e), unidentified (string bass)

1. Masters K-2645 to K-2652 by Grandpa Jones. About the eventual Delmores’ part on these numbers, none of their guitars are detectable and on “I Guess You Don’t Remember Now” the chorus is too much covered by the Grandpa’s voice to certifiy the Delmores’ presence. Wayne Raney is present, but exceptionally not on the following Delmore’s titles (K-2653 to K-2662).     2. Copyrighted Thomas Neeley but mentioned Jim Scott on 78 rpm.

GRANDPA JONES and DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Louis Marshall “Grandpa” JONES (vocal on 1st, 2nd and 5th verses ^J, or vocal on 1st verse ^G; 5-string banjo), William Alton DELMORE (vocal on 4th verse ^J, or vocal on 3rd verse ^D; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal on 3rd verse ^J, or vocal on 2nd verse ^D; tenor guitar)

1. Aka Grandpa Jones.     2. Aborted after one minute.     3. On the same #9 track than "Darby's Ram".

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal except ^R, or vocal on 2nd verse ^D; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on verses ^R, or vocal on 1st and 3rd verses ^D; tenor guitar), Roy LANHAM (electric guitar ^e), possibly Zeke Turner ¹ (electric guitar ^e+)

1. Real name James C. Grishaw.     2. Aka Hank Penny.     3. No King issue.

WAYNE RANEY _{“Sacred” or “Vocal with String Band” or “Vocal with Guitars and Harmonica”}
Wayne T. RANEY (lead vocal except ^{M N}, harmonica), possibly William Alton DELMORE (guitar ^g), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^C, tenor guitar), Maxine “Mac” LUNA (lead vocal ^M, or vocal chorus ^{L C}; possibly guitar, probably mandolin ^m), Norman LUNA (lead vocal ^N, or vocal chorus ^L, or vocal harmony ^M)

1. According to Wayne Raney the session was engineered by Alton Delmore and Vernon Deliplane at KWEM Radio Station, Memphis, Tennessee, the night before a ban was imposed on recordings until further notice. Actually, the American Federation of Musicians called a new recording strike beginning on January 1, 1948. The strike ended on December 14, 1948.

1949

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (vocal, or lead vocal ^W; harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, tenor guitar), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), Louis Innis (string bass)

1. Possibly E.T. Studio, 811 Race Street, Cincinnati on Friday May 6.     2. Louie Clark (or Louis Clark) is a boyhood pal of Wayne Raney.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal except ^R, or vocal chorus ^C; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on verses ^R, or vocal chorus ^C; tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (vocal chorus ^C, harmonica), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), Zeke TURNER (electric guitar), Louis Innis (string bass)

1. Henry Glover is a black pianist, trumpet player, songwriter and King arranger and A & R producer.

LONNIE GLOSSON _{“Singing With Instrumental Accompaniment”}
Lonnie GLOSSON (lead vocal, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), unidentified (string bass)

1. No “A” or “B” side on the Decca 78 rpm of this period.

WAYNE RANEY
Wayne T. RANEY (lead vocal, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), unidentified (string bass)

1. Matrices recut at the Cincinnati studios on October 14, the same master numbers being used. The issued titles are probably from the second session.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus, tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (vocal chorus, harmonica), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), probably Zeke Turner (electric guitar)

1. Matrice supposed to be recut at the Cincinnati studios on October 14, the same master number being used. According to Tony Rounce, “Fast Train Through Arkansas” by the Delmores does not exist. The acetate for K-2940 is just a re-dubbing of Maxine “Mac” Luna’s cut K-2831.     2. They are 2 issued versions of “Trouble Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues”: one with medium tempo and equal voices, another slower with the voice of Wayne Raney more important. It is not sure which one was recorded the first. It is possible, too, that the 2 versions came from the second session.     3. Aka Henry Glover.

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (lead vocal, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), unidentified (string bass)

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (lead vocal, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus, tenor guitar), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), probably Zeke Turner (electric guitar)

1950

Lonnie GLOSSON _{“Singing With Instrumental Accompaniment” or “Harmonica Solo With Instrumental Accompaniment”}
Lonnie GLOSSON (lead vocal ^G, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), unidentified (vocal harmony ^G), Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), probably Zeke TURNER (electric guitar)

1. No “A” or “B” side on the Decca 78 rpm of this period.

LONESOME WILLIE EVANS ¹ _{“Vocal with Instr. Accomp.” or “With Harmonica and String Accompaniment”}
Wayne T. RANEY (vocal ^W, harmonica ^h), Lonnie GLOSSON (lead vocal ^G, harmonica ^h+), William Alton DELMORE (guitar), unidentified (vocal harmony ^G), possibly Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), probably Roy LANHAM (electric guitar), unidentified (string bass)

1. Pseudonym for Wayne Raney.     2. Probably the original version with composer George Vaughn Horton being present.     3. Pen name for Wayne Raney. Maiden name of his wife.

HALLELUJAH TRIO _{“Vocal, with Instrumental Accompaniment”}
Probably George Vaughn HORTON (lead vocal ^V, mandolin), Lonnie GLOSSON (lead vocal ^G, possibly harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus, guitar), possibly Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), possibly Wayne T. RANEY (vocal chorus, harmonica), probably Roy LANHAM (electric guitar), unidentified (string bass)

1. Actually Ada Habershon-Charles H. Gabriel and rewriting Alvin Pleasant Carter.

LONESOME WILLIE EVANS _{“Vocal, with Harmonica and String Accompaniment”}
Wayne T. RANEY (Lead vocal, harmonica ^h), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^A, guitar), possibly Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^R, tenor guitar), unidentified (vocal chorus), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica ^h+), probably Roy LANHAM (electric guitar), unidentified (string bass)

1. Masters DLG-50280 to DLG-50293 by Claire "Shanty" Hogan and Teddy Phillips & his Orchestra.

HANK DALTON ¹ AND THE BRAKEMEN _{“Vocal, with Instr. Accomp.”}
Probable Ray SMITH (lead vocal ^S, vocal chorus), Lonnie GLOSSON (lead vocal ^G, vocal chorus; harmonica ^h), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus, guitar), probably Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), possibly George Vaughn HORTON (mandolin ^m), probably Roy LANHAM (electric guitar), unidentified (string bass)

1. Pseudonym at once for Alton and a number of artists including Lonnie Glosson and Ray Smith (nothing to do with the Sun artist). There’s no presence of Alton in others Hank Dalton’s sessions.     2. No “A” or “B” side on this 78 rpm.

HALLELUJAH TRIO
Archie Rabon DELMORE (lead vocal ^R, vocal on 2nd verse ^D, vocal chorus; probably tenor guitar), William Alton DELMORE (vocal on 1st verse ^D, vocal chorus; probably guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (vocal on 3rd verse ^W, vocal chorus; harmonica), possibly George Vaughn HORTON (mandolin), unidentified (string bass)

1. No “A” or “B” side on this 78 rpm.

LONESOME WILLIE EVANS
Wayne T. RANEY (lead vocal, harmonica), probably William Alton DELMORE (guitar), possibly Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), possibly Roy LANHAM (electric guitar ^g), unidentified (fiddle ^f ), unidentified (string bass)

1. Pseudonym at once for Alton, Rabon and Raney.     2. No “A” or “B” side on this 78 rpm.

The Raney files mentions the following recorded titles for London: "Sweet memories", "Danced with the Bottle", "Mistreated Blues", "Today Is So Lonely Since You're Gone", "Little Bird", "Bayou Blues", "My Heart Fails Me", "Caroline Boogie Boy", "You'll Never Catch Me Cheatin' Anymore", "Blues in My Dreams", "My Home in the Skies".

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (vocal, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), Louis Innis (string bass)

1. Masters K-3103 to K-3106 by Clyde Moody.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), unidentified (background vocal ^C), Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), probably Zeke Turner (electric guitar), unidentified (fiddle), Louis Innis (string bass)

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (lead vocal, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus, tenor guitar), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), probably Al MYERS (electric guitar), unidentified (fiddle)

1. Eddie Smith is a pianist and a King engineer.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal except ^R, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on verses ^R; tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), probably Al MYERS (electric guitar ^e), unidentified (fiddle), unidentified (string bass)

1. The voice heard before the track is that of Henry Glover.

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (vocal, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), Lonnie GLOSSON (harmonica), probably Al MYERS (electric guitar ^e), unidentified (steel guitar ^s), Henry GLOVER (piano ^p), unidentified (string bass), unidentified (fiddle)

1. Possibly Norman Luna.

1951

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal chorus ^C; tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (vocal chorus ^C, harmonica ^h), probably Al MYERS (electric guitar ²), unidentified (piano), unidentified (string bass)

1. First session recorded on tape.     2. Played partly in Travis Picking on “Who’s Gonna Be Lonesome for Me”, but Al Myers was known to play in this style.

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band” or “Vocal by Wayne Raney and the Trio” (K-3176, K-3177)}
Wayne T. RANEY (vocal, or lead vocal ^W, or vocal chorus ^C; harmonica ^h), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^{C W}, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^{C W}, tenor guitar), probably Al MYERS (electric guitar), probably Henry GLOVER (piano), unidentified (string bass)

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), probably Al MYERS (electric guitar), probably Henry GLOVER (piano), unidentified (string bass), unidentified (drums)

MERCER BROTHERS
Charlie MERCER (vocal, guitar), Wallace MERCER (vocal, tenor guitar), probably Alton DELMORE ¹ (guitar), Wayne RANEY (harmonica)

1. Good friend of the Delmores, 1950s disc jockey and personality in Alabama, Bob McKinnon stated then that Alton played guitar and Wayne Raney harmonica on the 1951 and 1952 Columbia sessions of the Mercer Brothers.

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (vocal, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), possibly Roy LANHAM (electric guitar ^e), unidentified (string bass)

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal except ^R, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, or vocal on verses ^R; tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), probably Henry GLOVER (piano ^p), possibly Roy LANHAM (electric guitar), unidentified (string bass)

1. Masters K-3270 to K-3273 by Moon Mullican (piano instrumentals).

BROWN’S FERRY FOUR _{“Sacred Singing”}
William Alton DELMORE (baritone vocal, possibly guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor vocal), Louis Marshall “Grandpa” JONES (baritone vocal, 5-string banjo ^b), Ulysses “Red” TURNER (bass vocal; probably guitar, or mandolin ^m)

1. Masters # 3280 to 3283 by Grandpa Jones on October 29.

HARLAN COUNTY FOUR _{“Sacred Singing with String Band” or “Sacred Singing”}
William Alton DELMORE (baritone lead vocal ^A, or baritone vocal; possibly guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor lead vocal ^R, or tenor vocal), Zeke TURNER ² (baritone vocal; possibly guitar, or string bass), Ulysses “Red” TURNER ² (bass vocal; possibly guitar, or mandolin ^m)

1. Possibly Tuesday, October 30.     2. No relation; they were at least 3 brothers acts named the Turner Brothers: Zeke & Zeb (real name Grishaw), Ulysses “Red” & Monroe “Lige” and Kenneth & Wayne.     3. In the King files as “John Three Sexteen”!

1952

MERCER BROTHERS
Charlie MERCER (vocal, guitar), Wallace MERCER (vocal, tenor guitar), probably Alton DELMORE (guitar), Wayne RANEY (harmonica), Doyle STRICKLAND (fiddle)

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (vocal, harmonica ¹), William Alton DELMORE (guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor guitar), unidentified (string bass)

1. Enregistré en re-recording.     2.Marked K-3382 both on the single and on the 78 rpm King 1087.

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), unidentified (string bass)

WAYNE RANEY _{“Vocal with String Band”}
Wayne T. RANEY (vocal, or lead vocal ^W, harmonica), William Alton DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal chorus ^D, tenor guitar), unidentified (string bass)

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), Wayne T. RANEY (harmonica), probably Zeke Turner (electric guitar), unidentified (string bass)

1. Masters K-3391 to K-3394 by Randall Parker.

BROWN’S FERRY FOUR _{“Sacred Singing” or “Sacred Singing with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (baritone lead vocal ^A, or baritone vocal; guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor vocal), unidentified (baritone vocal, probably guitar), Ulysses “Red” TURNER (bass vocal, mandolin)

1. Issued as Delmore Brothers.     2. Mrs C. E. Delmore is Alton and Rabon’s mother. Copyrighted in 1926.

CLYDE MOODY AND BROWN’S FERRY FOUR _{“Sacred Singing”}
Clyde MOODY (baritone lead vocal, probably guitar), William Alton DELMORE (baritone vocal, possibly guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor vocal, tenor guitar ^g), Ulysses “Red” TURNER (bass vocal, mandolin ^m)

1. Recorded by the Delmores on August 3, 1937, as “I Need the Prayers of Those I Love”.     2. Masters K-3457 to K-3460 by Clyde Moody without the Delmore Brothers.

BROWN’S FERRY FOUR _{“Sacred singing”}
William Alton DELMORE (baritone lead vocal on verses ^A, or baritone vocal; probably guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (tenor lead vocal on verses ^R, or tenor vocal), unidentified (baritone vocal, possibly guitar), Ulysses “Red” TURNER (bass vocal, mandolin ^m)

DELMORE BROTHERS _{“Vocal with String Band”}
William Alton DELMORE (lead vocal, guitar), Archie Rabon DELMORE (vocal harmony, tenor guitar), Ulysses “Red” TURNER (possibly response ^C, possibly string bass), Wayne RANEY (harmonica ^h), unidentified (electric guitar, possibly response ^C)

ALTON DELMORE AND THE BROWN'S FERRY FOUR _{“Quartet with Guitars”}
William Alton DELMORE (baritone vocal, guitar), probably Clyde MOODY (baritone vocal), unidentified (tenor vocal), unidentified (bass vocal)

1. Composer credit is A. L. Phipps on PMR LP’s but is Delmoer (very probably Alton Delmore) on the original 78 rpm.     2. Composer credit is A. L. Phipps on PMR LP’s but it is probably Alton Delmore.

1959

ALTON DELMORE
William Alton DELMORE (vocal, guitar), unidentified (guitar), unidentified (drum ^d), unidentified (piano ^p)

1. No “A” or “B” side on this single