Leo raley

[lgc]

He's one of the best I've ever heard but I've never heard anyone on the board talk about him. He was Cliff Bunners mando player. I just want somew more info cause there ain't much that I can find.

[AlanN]

Probably because he is from a somewhat by-gone era, and pre-mass recordings (although Dave Apollon is from that era, and earlier - go figure). I know Tiny Moore spoke highly of Leo Raley.

[Gary S]

I am also a fan of Leo Raley and had wondered why he had slipped under the radar. I love early western swing music and find his approach to soloing on the electric mandolin completely unique. Love that tune "You dont Know my mind" as well as plenty of others...Gary

[lgc]

I find it amazing that he can take such amazing breaks by just playing the melody and changing the emphasis and syncopation of certain notes. Not many people have the nerve to try to play the stripped down breaks he pulled off. There was nothing to hide behind when he played.

[mrmando]

Leo Raley fans, be sure not to miss this:

http://flashranch.com/raley/raley.html

[gus garelick]

Tiny Moore spoke highly of Leo Raley as one of the first mandolin players to put an electric pick up on his instrument. He played with the original Texas Wanderers, Cliff Bruner's band in the 1930s and early 40s. I have a Bear Family box set of the complete recordings of Cliff Bruner and you can hear that "electric" mandolin. It's a little raunchy sounding, but there was no other way it could be heard in a band with drums and other amplified instruments. Another band in that same era was the Maddox Bros and Rose, here in California. One of the brothers played a Gibson A-50. It, too, must have had some kind of pickup on it, because the Maddox Bros played some very loud honky tonks back in those days. You can hear it on some of the reissue recordings of the band on Arhoolie Records.