Bluegrass history

[mikeh]

Revisiting Darryl's thread and all of those great pictures motivated me to check out something I have been meaning to do for a few years. #I was listening to Fred Bartenstein's radio program a while back and he was talking about King Records and songs that were recorded there. #Turns out the location of King Records was in Evanston, Oh., a Cincinnati suburb where I attend Xavier University. #I have driven by this spot a hundred times, but I googled King and got the address- 1540 Brewster Ave, Cincinnati ,Oh. On a forgotten dead-end street, in a rundown part of Cincinnati I found the once ice storage building and now HVAC duct manufacturer where King Records and the recording studio were located. #Some of the songs that helped define Bluegrass/mountain music were recorded here:

Grandpa Jones - Ol'Rattler

Reno & Smiley - Using my Bible For A Roadmap
# # # # # # # #Hear Jerusalem Mourn
# # # # # # # #I Know You're Marrid

The Stanley Bros. - White Dove
# # # # # # # # # #Rank Stranger
# # # # # # # # # #How Mountain Girls Can Love
# # # # # # # # # #Clinch Mt. Backstep
# # # # # # # # # #Mountain Dew
# # # # # # # # # #Midnight Ramble
# # # # # # # # # #Love Me Darlin' Just Tonight
# # # # # # # # # #Man O' Constant Sorrow
# # # # # # # # # #Oh Death

An exhaustive history can be found at www.bsnpubs.com/king/kingstory

Other famous artist including James Brown doing Papa's Got A Brand New Bag were recorded here.

[mikeh]

I was poking around outside, it looked like no one was there, but someone came to the door and let me in

[mikeh]

The young man who answered said someone had mentioned to him a while back that James Brown had recorde a song upstairs, but he had no idea what this place used to be.

[mikeh]

another inside shot

[mikeh]

King was founded by Syd Nathan , who was trying to capitalize on the market for Bluegrass/Mountain music in the Dayton and Cincinnati area. The Appalchian migration to this area, (which included my parents from Eastern Kentucky), was a result of the abundance of industrial jobs and the hope of a secure future.

Thanks for Looking.

[Scotti Adams]

Great stuff Mike..thanks!

[Willie Poole]

Mike were there any ghost lingering around in there? This being close to Halloween the fellow that let you in might have been one, can you say for sure?
....Willie

[mikeh]

Actually, it was a little spooky. I debated about putting that point in my post, for fear of sounding corny...but it really did sort of feel like "hallowed ground" in there