Art Gillham - How's Your Folks And My Folks Down In Norfolk Town (1925)
Art Gillham "How's Your Folks And My Folks Down In Norfolk Town" Columbia 387-D (1925) Dudley Mecum
Art Gillham
"How's Your Folks And My Folks (Down In Norfolk Town)"
Columbia 387-D
1925
Song by Cal DeVoll & Dudley Mecum
I'm just a little rollin' stone,
Rollin' 'round all alone.
I've learned a lot, but what have I got?
Nothin' to call my own.
I met a friend from my home town today.
Believe me, I was mighty glad to say:
How's your folks and my folks down in Norfolk town?
Not one word have I heard since I've been knockin' around.
How's dear old dad and mother and all the family?
How's little sis and brother? Do they ever talk about me?
How's my gal, my old pal? That's the girl I left behind.
Now I find she's always on my mind.
I'm just an old black sheep and I'll get no sleep
Till I'm Virginia bound.
How's my girl and your girl down in Norfolk town?
How's your folks and my folks down in Norfolk town?
Not one word have I heard since I've been knockin' around.
How's dear old dad and mother and all the family?
How's little sis and brother? Do they ever talk about me?
Now, how's my gal, my old pal? That's the one I left behind.
Now I find she's always on my mind.
I'll get back there in that Dixie air
And gain another pound.
How's your folks and my folks down in Norfolk town?
Art Gillham was born on January 1,1895, in St. Louis, Missouri.
He grew up in St. Louis, graduating from the old Central High School in St. Louis.
He entered St. Louis University Medical School, but the medical profession was not his true calling.
In the World War I era, he stated to write songs with others. With Billy Smythe and Scott Middleton, Gillham wrote the famous "Hesitation Blues," which has been revived every decade or two (most famously by Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna fame).
Gillham and Smythe wrote other songs together, including "Mean Blues," "Just Forget," "The Deacon Told Me I Was Good," "Just Waiting for You," "Crying Again," "Things That Remind Me of You," and "You May Be Lonesome."
He traveled from town to town as a piano accompanist for singers.
Gillham worked for Ted Browne Music, promoting songs published by that company, and he worked steadily on radio before networks were formed.
In December 1922. Art became an accompanist on Station WDAP (headquarted at the Drake Hotel in Chicago).
One night he sang over the radio (despite believing he had no talent as a singer)--afterwards, he was told that he made a favorable impression on listeners, so he had a new career as a singer who accompanied himself on piano.
He earned a place in recording history by making some of the earliest electric recordings when Columbia experimented with the new technology in 1925.
He half-sang and half-spoke in a soft crooning voice. In February 1924 he was given a nickname as he performed on WSB in Atlanta: "The Whispering Pianist." He was given the name by the station's general manager, Lambdin Kay.
Art Gillham
"How's Your Folks And My Folks (Down In Norfolk Town)"
Columbia 387-D
1925
Song by Cal DeVoll & Dudley Mecum
I'm just a little rollin' stone,
Rollin' 'round all alone.
I've learned a lot, but what have I got?
Nothin' to call my own.
I met a friend from my home town today.
Believe me, I was mighty glad to say:
How's your folks and my folks down in Norfolk town?
Not one word have I heard since I've been knockin' around.
How's dear old dad and mother and all the family?
How's little sis and brother? Do they ever talk about me?
How's my gal, my old pal? That's the girl I left behind.
Now I find she's always on my mind.
I'm just an old black sheep and I'll get no sleep
Till I'm Virginia bound.
How's my girl and your girl down in Norfolk town?
How's your folks and my folks down in Norfolk town?
Not one word have I heard since I've been knockin' around.
How's dear old dad and mother and all the family?
How's little sis and brother? Do they ever talk about me?
Now, how's my gal, my old pal? That's the one I left behind.
Now I find she's always on my mind.
I'll get back there in that Dixie air
And gain another pound.
How's your folks and my folks down in Norfolk town?
Art Gillham was born on January 1,1895, in St. Louis, Missouri.
He grew up in St. Louis, graduating from the old Central High School in St. Louis.
He entered St. Louis University Medical School, but the medical profession was not his true calling.
In the World War I era, he stated to write songs with others. With Billy Smythe and Scott Middleton, Gillham wrote the famous "Hesitation Blues," which has been revived every decade or two (most famously by Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna fame).
Gillham and Smythe wrote other songs together, including "Mean Blues," "Just Forget," "The Deacon Told Me I Was Good," "Just Waiting for You," "Crying Again," "Things That Remind Me of You," and "You May Be Lonesome."
He traveled from town to town as a piano accompanist for singers.
Gillham worked for Ted Browne Music, promoting songs published by that company, and he worked steadily on radio before networks were formed.
In December 1922. Art became an accompanist on Station WDAP (headquarted at the Drake Hotel in Chicago).
One night he sang over the radio (despite believing he had no talent as a singer)--afterwards, he was told that he made a favorable impression on listeners, so he had a new career as a singer who accompanied himself on piano.
He earned a place in recording history by making some of the earliest electric recordings when Columbia experimented with the new technology in 1925.
He half-sang and half-spoke in a soft crooning voice. In February 1924 he was given a nickname as he performed on WSB in Atlanta: "The Whispering Pianist." He was given the name by the station's general manager, Lambdin Kay.