Rockabilly
Birth name, James Arthur Heap aka Jimmy Heap ; Years active ca 1947 1977
always klick on pic’s.
Carter, Heap, Glendening, Williams, Barnett, Harris
Taylor, Texas, USA
Jimmie’s career did begin shortly after discharge from U.S.A.F. during WWII, more exactly said in 1947. Arlie Carter (piano), Horace Barnett (rhythm guitar), “Big” Bill Glendenings (bass) and Louis Renson (or Rencon) (fiddle), all belonged to the Melody Masters right from the start. Later they were joined by Cecil R. “Butterball” Harris (steel-guitar). Indeed Jimmie Heap was on vocal and lead guitar. With appearances on radio KTAE (from 1948 to 1956) and in clubs, they were always fully booked up. A Barnett composition about a club they were frequently playing at, “Dessau Hall Waltz” soon found the interest of Lasso Records, who cut the band during the Spring of 1948. Their first singles appeared therefore on this tiny label. They even had leased masters on 4 Star, wrongly credited to “Dolores & Blue Bonnet Boys”.
Released first as ”Wild” Bill Taylor and The Clefs // Bill Denning and The Clefs on Fame FA-502 [1957]
Original release, FAME FA-502 (US) 1958 ; This release, repro FAME FA-502 [1974]
Little Jewell (Jimmy Heap with Wm. Tell Taylor and orch. ) b/w Study hall romance (Jimmy Heap. with Bill Denning and orch.)
Little Jewell - 1958