DESCRIPTION:
Since long Country, Hillbilly and Rockabilly fans had understand the Louisiana Hayride's prominent role in the raise of those styles of music and are looking by rare records by Werly Fairburn, Sleepy Jeffers, Bob Luman, Tommy Cassel, Tommy Trent, Johnny Ray Harris, Patty and Dee or Tibby Edwards. All those performers staged the Municipal Auditorium and were bring in numerous package tours in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Sometime for less than one dollar, you can see on the same stage Tibby Edwards, Claude King, Carolyn Bradshaw, Merle Kilgore, Elvis Presley or Johnny Cash. Tibby Edwards, real name Edwin M. Thibodeaux, could have been a second Hank Williams or another Georges Jones if luck had knocked at his door.

Tibby was born on March 19, 1935, in Garland (Louisiana) carrying the Cajun name of Edwin M. Thibodeaux. In 1949, he meets one of his idols, Lefty Frizzell, at a time when Ray Price was still his front man. Soon, Tibby became Lefty's musical protege and was on tour with him.In December 1952, living in Beaumont (Tx), Tibby landed membership on the Louisiana Hayride, broadcasted on Shreveport's KWKH radio station. He became a regular act and was featured on the show for five solid years sharing stage with Ernest Tubb, The Maddox Brothers, Jimmy Lee Fautheree, Country Johnny Mathis, Red Sovine, Elvis and many others. In 1953, thanks to J.D Miller, Tibby and his friend Jimmy C. Newman got an audition in Nashville for the "Mercury" label. The label shows no interest for Jimmy C. Newman but signed Tibby.

By August 1953, a second session in Nashville with unknown musicians gave birth to four more songs in the pure Hank Williams style even if one "Walkin' and Cryin' with the Blues" was borrowed to Al Terry, born Al Theriot. That song backed with "If You Love Me, Let Me Know It" was issued on Mercury 70236. The band sound just like the Drifting Cowboys (it might be them) and "Mercury" was probably trying' to capitalize on Hank's growing popularity after his death. Very surprising to have that record issued in Australia as Esquire-Mercury 1062 and more surprising to have a live Louisiana Hayride recording still in existence.


Until 1985, and in spite of having 13 singles issued on "Mercury" and a total of 34 sides recorded, Tibby never had an LP issued. Thanks to the work of Richard Weize, boss of Bear family Records, and with the help of Tillman Franks, Bob Allen, Bob Jones and Ian Saddler, that dream came true. That LP was the definitive one until came the new Bear Family CD "Tibby Edwards -- Play it Cool Man, Play it Cool" (BFX 16557) with liner notes and discography updated by Colin Escott and Dave Sax. Once again, Bear Family records from Germany bring us a masterpiece CD packing the complete recordings Tibby Edwards cut between 1953 and 1961. Recognition was late to come but thanks to Bear Family and died hard fans work, Tibby was inducted on Bob Timmers' Rockabilly Hall of Fame as member 368 on May 8, 2011.

Dominique "Imperial" ANGLARES.