Lehman Monroe "Johnny" Tyler (February 6, 1918 – September 25, 1961) was an American country musician.
Biography
His career began around 1945 on Fargo Records with the band Original Hillbillies. In 1947 he signed a recording contract with RCA Victor, where he had the largest success of his career. His most well-known single for RCA was "Oakie Boogie", which hit the Billboard charts in 1947. He also recorded eight tracks with Luke Wills for RCA, and was a member of Wills' band, the "Rhythm Busters" for a time.
In 1953, he appeared on radio WGST out of Atlanta, Georgia. He became a member of Jimmie Smith and His Texans, which often made appearances at the Joe Cotton Rhythm Ranch. He recorded a few more singles at this time as well. In 1954 he played regularly on WGST and on the WSB Barn Dance, with Jimmie Smith. Later singles were issued on Specialty, Ekko, Liberty, Starday, and Rural Rhythm.
He died in 1961 at age 43. In 2004, most of his RCA singles were collected and released on compact disc as Two Dozen Western Swing And Boogie Jewels (Cattle Compact CCD-300). This compilation also includes six tracks with Luke Wills' Rhythm Busters, and the original 1946 Satchel Records version of "Oakie Boogie".
Discography
| Year | Part # | Titles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo Records | |||
| 1945 | no # | "Please My Darling, Think of Me" // "Give Me Back My Heart" | as 'Johnny Tyler & His Riders of the Rio Grande' |
| 1945 | F-1110 | "This Troubled Mind (O' Mine)" (v: Johnny Tyler) // "I Didn't Think This Could Happen To Me" (v: Johnny Tyler) | with 'Rocky Ship & His Prairie Pioneers' |
| 1946 | F-1113 | "I Can't Trust You Now" // "If I Knew Where You Are Tonight" | as 'Johnny Tyler's Riders of the Rio Grande' |
| Stanchel Records | |||
| 1946 | SR-101 | "Oakie Boogie" // "Yes I Do" (v: Red Egner) | as 'Johnny Tyler & Riders of the Rio Grande' |
| 1946 | SR-102 | "Troubles On Your Mind" // "Dora Darlin'" | |
| Bixby Records | |||
| 1946 | WM-500 | "Yes-I-Do" // "Okie Boogie" | (reissue) as 'Johnny Tyler & His Original Hillbillies' |
| RCA Victor Records | |||
| 1947 | 20-2171 | "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed" / "New Pretty Blonde (New Jole Blon)" | as 'Johnny Tyler & The Riders of the Rio Grande' |
| 1947 | 20-2182 | "Freight Train Boogie" // "Rockin' Chair Money" | |
| 1947 | 20-2290 | "Oakie Boogie" [re-make] // "Texas Red" | |
| 1947 | 20-2368 | "Behind The Eight Ball" // "I Don't Know Where To Go, But I'm Goin'" | |
| 1947 | 20-2503 | "City of Memphis" // "Oh How You Lied" | |
| 1947 | 20-2620 | "Peppin' Through The Keyhole (Watching Jole Blond)" // "That Wild And Wicked Look In Your Eye" | |
| 1948 | 20-2656 | "(Don't Telephone, Don't Telegraph) Tell A Woman" // "Can't Get The Foot Off The Rail" | |
| 1948 | 20-2774 | "Old McDonald's Boogie" // "Swamp Woman Blues" | |
| 1948 | 20-2928 | "Find 'em, Fool 'em and Forget 'em" // "Fiddlin' Joe" | Advance Folk Release, Billboard, Jun 12, 1948 |
| 1948 | 20-3139 | "Little Rock A-R-K" // "Cornbread and Butter Beans" | |
| 1948 | 20-3280 | "I Never See My Baby Alone" // "Jealous Blues" | |
| 1949 | 21-0017 | "Almost Every Time" // "Two Can Play Your Game" | |
| 1949 | 21-0053 | "It Ain't Far To The Bar" // "Gravy Train" | |
| 1949 | 21-0105 | "Nothin' Won't Cure The Blues" // "I Got Mine" | |
| Specialty Records | |||
| 1953 | SP-713 | "Take Your Blues And Go" // "A Sinner's Song" | |
| 1953 | SP-717 | "Hillbilly Preacher" // "I'm Grateful To You" | |
| Ekko Records | |||
| 1955 | EK-1000 | "Devil's Hot Rod" // "Words You Forgot To Say" | |
| 1955 | EK-1001 | "Ship With The Golden Sail" // "Where You Gonna Hide" | |
| Liberty Records | |||
| 1955 | 55007 | "One Way Heart" // "Heads Up" | |
| Starday Records | |||
| 1956 | 45-263 | "County Fair" // "Lie To Me, Baby" | |
| Rural Rhythm Records | |||
| 1957 | 45-509 | "Devil's Slate"; "Back Luck (They Call Me)" // "Ballad of Billy The Kid"; "Coal Miner's Blues" | 4-song 45rpm 7-inch EP |
| 1957 | 510 | "Devil On My Shoulder" // "If I'm To Bear The Name" | |
| 1958 | 512 | "It Felt So Good" // "God's Gonna Turn Us To Dust" | |
| 1958 | 45-512 | "Flowers While You're Living"; Yak Yak" // "It Felt So Good"; "God's Gonna Turn Us To Dust" | 4-song 45rpm 7-inch EP |
| 1959 | RR 45-515 | "County Fair" // "Lie To Me, Baby" | (reissue of 45-263) |
| 1960 | SPEC RR 509 | "God's Gonna Turn Us To Dust"; "Coal Miner's Blues" // "Devil's Slate"; Bad Luck (They Call Me)" | 4-song 45rpm 7-inch EP (reissue with one different song) |
External links
- Johnny Tyler at Hillbilly-Music.com
- Lehmon Monroe Tyler at Find a Grave