The Blue Sky Boys
Encyclopedia
The Blue Sky Boys were an American country music
duo consisting of the brothers Earl Bolick (November 16, 1919 – April 19, 1998) and Bill Bolick (October 28, 1917 – March 13, 2008), whose careers spanned over forty years.
, as the fourth and fifth siblings in a family of six children. Their parents, who were deeply religious and belonging to the "First Church of God", taught them to sing hymn
s and gospel music
. A neighbour taught Bill how to play guitar
and banjo
while Earl on the other hand learned to play mandolin
and guitar
. Eventually, they decided to switch instruments and Bill chose the mandolin while Earl concentrated on the guitar. They made their radio debut in 1935 at local radio station WWNC
in Asheville, North Carolina
as part of the "Crazy Hickory Nuts". Sponsored by the "J. F. Goodson Coffee Company and together with Homer Sherrill of the "Crazy Hickory Nuts" they formed the "Good Coffee Boys" in the late 1935. Six months later, in June 1936, the Bolick brothers moved to Atlanta, Georgia
to perform at radio station WGST. Because they were sponsored by the "Crazy Water Crystal", they had to perform using the name "(Crazy) Blue Ridge Hillbillies".
In Atlanta, the Bolick brothers went to RCA Records
for an audition. At first, Eli Oberstein, the A & R man was reluctant to hear the brothers sing accusing them of copying the Monroe Brothers
. Anyhow, he changed his mind when he heard them sing and immediately signed them a recording contract. A discussion arose concerning what they should call themselves. Since they couldn't use the previous name "the Blue Ridge Hillbillies" - it had been taken by Homer Sherrill when the brothers left WGST - they decided to use "Blue Sky Boys as their name. Their choice of name came from the nickname of western North Carolina
: "Land of the Blue Sky".
They made their first recordings in Charlotte, North Carolina
on June 16, 1936. Their first record "Sunny Side of Life" coupled with "Where the Soul Never Dies" became an instant success. It sold so fast the brothers were dubbed "The New Hillbilly Kings. Between 1937 and 1941 the group recorded about 100 songs for RCA to considerable success on the hillbilly music circuit. Between 1941 and 1946 both brothers served in the military; after their discharge they returned to Atlanta and resumed recording with RCA. Some of their sides featured fiddle playing, from Leslie Keith
, Sam Parker, Joe Tyson and Richard Hicks. They enjoyed a number of hits just after the war, but disliked the burgeoning honky tonk
style and refused to record it. When RCA asked them to play with an electric guitar
, they refused and stopped recording until 1949. Frustrated with the changing musical climate, the Blue Sky Boys retired in 1951.
Bill became a postal clerk in his birth state and Earl took a job at Lockheed
Aircraft in Atlanta. It was not until 1962, when Starday Records released an LP of their radio recordings, that they decided to reunite and record again. Two LPs of new material followed, one secular (Together Again) and one religious (Precious Moments). They occasionally played live at folk festival
s; Capitol Records
recorded one of these, at the UCLA Folk Festival, and released it as an album. But by the end of the 1960s they had decided to call it quits again.
Once more, in 1975, they were convinced to record again, this time for Rounder Records
, and another round of folk and bluegrass circuit touring ensued. Following this Bill moved back to his birthplace and lived in Longview NC and Earl retired to Tucker, Georgia
.
In the 1990s, Copper Creek Records issued a series of four albums with live radio transcriptions from the 1940s.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo consisting of the brothers Earl Bolick (November 16, 1919 – April 19, 1998) and Bill Bolick (October 28, 1917 – March 13, 2008), whose careers spanned over forty years.
Biography
The brothers were born and raised in East Hickory, North CarolinaHickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
, as the fourth and fifth siblings in a family of six children. Their parents, who were deeply religious and belonging to the "First Church of God", taught them to sing hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s and gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
. A neighbour taught Bill how to play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
while Earl on the other hand learned to play mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. Eventually, they decided to switch instruments and Bill chose the mandolin while Earl concentrated on the guitar. They made their radio debut in 1935 at local radio station WWNC
WWNC
WWNC is a radio station in Asheville, North Carolina. It transmits at 5000 Watts of power. It currently has a News/Talk format and is affiliated with Fox News Radio...
in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
as part of the "Crazy Hickory Nuts". Sponsored by the "J. F. Goodson Coffee Company and together with Homer Sherrill of the "Crazy Hickory Nuts" they formed the "Good Coffee Boys" in the late 1935. Six months later, in June 1936, the Bolick brothers moved to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
to perform at radio station WGST. Because they were sponsored by the "Crazy Water Crystal", they had to perform using the name "(Crazy) Blue Ridge Hillbillies".
In Atlanta, the Bolick brothers went to RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
for an audition. At first, Eli Oberstein, the A & R man was reluctant to hear the brothers sing accusing them of copying the Monroe Brothers
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
. Anyhow, he changed his mind when he heard them sing and immediately signed them a recording contract. A discussion arose concerning what they should call themselves. Since they couldn't use the previous name "the Blue Ridge Hillbillies" - it had been taken by Homer Sherrill when the brothers left WGST - they decided to use "Blue Sky Boys as their name. Their choice of name came from the nickname of western North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
: "Land of the Blue Sky".
They made their first recordings in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
on June 16, 1936. Their first record "Sunny Side of Life" coupled with "Where the Soul Never Dies" became an instant success. It sold so fast the brothers were dubbed "The New Hillbilly Kings. Between 1937 and 1941 the group recorded about 100 songs for RCA to considerable success on the hillbilly music circuit. Between 1941 and 1946 both brothers served in the military; after their discharge they returned to Atlanta and resumed recording with RCA. Some of their sides featured fiddle playing, from Leslie Keith
Leslie Keith
Leslie Keith was an American bluegrass musician. Known as a formidable fiddler who won many contests, Keith once played with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, as well as The Stanley Brothers...
, Sam Parker, Joe Tyson and Richard Hicks. They enjoyed a number of hits just after the war, but disliked the burgeoning honky tonk
Honky tonk
A honky-tonk is a type of bar that provides musical entertainment to its patrons...
style and refused to record it. When RCA asked them to play with an electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, they refused and stopped recording until 1949. Frustrated with the changing musical climate, the Blue Sky Boys retired in 1951.
Bill became a postal clerk in his birth state and Earl took a job at Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
Aircraft in Atlanta. It was not until 1962, when Starday Records released an LP of their radio recordings, that they decided to reunite and record again. Two LPs of new material followed, one secular (Together Again) and one religious (Precious Moments). They occasionally played live at folk festival
Folk festival
A Folk festival celebrates traditional folk crafts and folk music.-Canada:Alberta*Calgary Folk Music Festival*Canmore Folk Music Festival*Edmonton Folk Music Festival*Jasper Folk Festival*Wild Mountain Music FestOntario*Barriefolk...
s; Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
recorded one of these, at the UCLA Folk Festival, and released it as an album. But by the end of the 1960s they had decided to call it quits again.
Once more, in 1975, they were convinced to record again, this time for Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
, and another round of folk and bluegrass circuit touring ensued. Following this Bill moved back to his birthplace and lived in Longview NC and Earl retired to Tucker, Georgia
Tucker, Georgia
Tucker is a census-designated place in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 27,581 at the 2010 Census. Although central Tucker, also known as "Main Street Tucker", is laid out as a planned "railroad town," it has never been formally incorporated. Municipal services such as...
.
In the 1990s, Copper Creek Records issued a series of four albums with live radio transcriptions from the 1940s.
Discography
- Together Again, 1963 (Starday)
- Precious Moments, 1964 (Starday)
- Presenting the Blue Sky Boys, 1966 (Capitol)
- Sunny Side of Life, 1973 (Rounder)
- The Blue Sky Boys, 1976 (Rounder)
- The Blue Sky Boys (2 record set), 1976 (Bluebird)
- In Concert 1964, 1989 (Rounder
- On Radio Vol 1 - 4 (4 volumes), 1996-97 (Copper Creek)
- Farm & Fun Time Favorites Vol 1 - 2 (2 volumes), 1996 (Copper Creek)