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Werly Fairburn (November 27, 1924 – January 18, 1985) was an American rockabilly musician.
Fairburn was born near Folsom, Louisiana. In his youth, he listened to the Grand Ole Opry and old-time music ("hillbilly music") on the radio. He learned to play guitar from an old, local blues musician. When World War II began, he took a job at a New Orleans shipyard before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in Hawaii. When he returned to New Orleans, he considered a singing career, but to make a living he learned how to cut hair. In 1948 he became known as the "Singing Barber" when he broadcast on WJBW from his barber shop.[1][2]
In March 1955, Werly joined the cast of the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, where he performed alongside Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bob Luman, David Houston and other early rockabilly stylists. Werly remained with the Hayride through the end of 1957. His first album appeared on Trumpet Records in the 1950s. Over the years he recorded for Columbia, Capitol, and Savoy. Fairburn also owned a label called Milestone Records—not to be confused with the like-named jazz label later founded by Orrin Keepnews[3][4]—in the 1950s and 1960s. Fairburn's music blended country, blues, and New Orleans rhythm and blues (R&B). He was popular in New Orleans and in Dallas, where he performed on the Big D Jamboree. His song "I Guess I'm Crazy" was covered by Jim Reeves. His 1956 single "Everybody's Rockin'" is considered a rockabilly classic. Fairburn moved to California in the 1960s and performed until his death in 1985.[1]
Discography
edit| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Camping with Marie / Let's Live It Over | Trumpet Records No. 195 |
| 1953 | I Feel Like Cryin' / Baby, Call on Me | Trumpet Records No. 196 |
| 1954 | Good Deal, Lucille / Baby He's a Wolf | Capitol Records #F2270 |
| 1954 | Love Spelled Backwards Is Evol / Nothin' But Lovin | Capitol Records #F2844 |
| 1954 | Prison Cell of Love / I Feel Like Cryin’ | Capitol Records #F2963 |
| 1955 | It's a Cold, Weary World / Spiteful Heart | Capitol Records #F3101 |
| 1955 | I Guess I'm Crazy (For Loving You) / That Sweet Love of Mine | Columbia Records No. 21432 |
| 1956 | Broken Hearted Me / Stay Close to Me | Columbia Records No. 21483 |
| 1956 | Everybody's Rockin' / It's Heaven | Columbia Records No. 21528 |
| 1956 | All the Time / I'm a Fool About Your Love | Savoy Records No. 1503 |
| 1957 | My Heart's on Fire / Speak to Me Baby | Savoy Records No. 1509 |
| 1957 | Telephone Baby / No Blues Tomorrow | Savoy Records No. 1521 |
| 1962 | You Are My Sunshine / Doggone That Moon | Milestone Records No. 2013 |
| 1968 | My Crazy World / There's Something On | Paula Records No. 295 |
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Capitol Records (not issued) | |
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Columbia Records (not issued) | |
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not issued |
Notes
editAll singles before Milestone 2013 were issued as 78 rpm and 45 rpm records with the same issue numbers. Milestone 2013 and on are 45 rpm only issues. UK record collector Matthew Duncan provided information for this article, having referred to Barry John's Rockabilly Price Guide for 45 rpm records and vintage recordings from his collection.
References
edit- ^ a b Eder, Bruce. "Werly Fairburn | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Luster, J. Michael. "Crescent City Country: Hillbilly Music in New Orleans". Louisianafolklife.org. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "The Note Book". The Hollywood Reporter. August 17, 1962. p. 8. ProQuest 2339635630.
Werly Fairburn, president of Milestone Records for the past three years, debuts on the label as a singer with 'You Are My Sunshine.'
- ^ Kirby, Fred (September 2, 1967). "R. Bialek Buys Milestone Line". Billboard. p. 1. ProQuest 1286226760.
Milestone began on a limited basis last year with Keepnews handling production and serving as an advisor part time. [...] A greatly increased sales and distribution network is being set up for the new label...