Dan Hornsby
Encyclopedia
Isaac Daniel Hornsby was an American singer, musician, music writer, producer and arranger.
minister.
Dan Hornsby was born in Atlanta and attended North Georgia College. Later, at the age of 19 he worked as a painter with the W.E. Browne Decorating Co. in Columbus, Georgia
when he met Louise Wise of Little Rock, Arkansas
. She sang and danced in a roadshow and they met at the hotel, which Hornsby was painting. They married and had five children. His oldest son had a daughter Nikki Hornsby
, who also became a fulltime artist - singer, songwriter, musician, producer, arranger, and founder of CJP-NHRecords, Inc.
although he did not have any formal musical training. However, he enjoyed playing trumpet and singing with various dance bands in Atlanta in the 1920s. Hornsby formed his basic group Dan Hornsby Quartet: Perry Bechtel (banjo
, guitar and bariton
), Taylor Flanagan (piano and high tenor
), Sterlin Melvin (guitar and bass guitar) and Dan Hornsby (lead singer and arranger
).
The Atlanta Baking Company asked Hornsby to do a show on WSM Radio
in Atlanta. The group name was changed to Bamby Baker Boys and Hornsby became the first commercial performer of the WSB radio station, which started airing in 1922. His pleasant disposition and sense of humour earned him a nickname "Cheerful Dan".
- the oldest record company. His main role was a sort of talent scout, but he had many roles at Columbia Records during the 1920s and early 1930s, including production of his own recordings like "On Mobile Bay" and "I Want A Girl" or with Young Brothers Tennessee Band: "Are you from Dixie" and "Bill Bailey, won't you please come home", "Oh! Susanna
", "Little Brown Jug
", and other classic American songs. For example, Hornsby was the first recorded voice of the "Arkansas Traveler" and was the producer of the first recording of "You Are My Sunshine
".
Hornsby worked with Gid Tanner
and his group Skillet Lickers
. Horsby appeared usually in the role of city slicker, judge or sheriff, and he used the nickname Tom Dorsey.
On 28 August 1928 a building collapsed in Shelby, North Carolina
killing six people and injuring twice as many. Hornsby composed a song title Shelby Disaster:
Together with Clayton McMichen
Hornby wrote History in a few words published in 1931 by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.
In 1931 he recruited Alton and Rabon Delmore (later known as Delmore Brothers) for Columbia Records.
also affected the phonographic industry and Hornsby lost his job with Columbia Records despite selling over 9000 recordings of "The Shelby Disaster". He then went back to radio and worked with several stations including WGST, where his roles included announcer, continuity man and even a comic in programs like "Down to Unkle Zeke's".
For Bluebird Records
he played Uncle Ned in a series of children's bedtime stories such as "Humpty Dumpty", "Wynkyn, Blynky and Nod".
In 1939 he appeared in the first television broadcast in Atlanta. Later he joined RCA Victor Records and then moved to other stations like WATL and WCON
.
In 1986 Dan Hornsby was included into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame, joining the names of some of his friends and associates: Gid Tanner
, Clayton McMichen
and Riley Puckett
.
During his career Hornsby both created or joined many music bands:
Before career
His father Joseph Todd Hornsby was a contractor and a part time BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister.
Dan Hornsby was born in Atlanta and attended North Georgia College. Later, at the age of 19 he worked as a painter with the W.E. Browne Decorating Co. in Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
when he met Louise Wise of Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. She sang and danced in a roadshow and they met at the hotel, which Hornsby was painting. They married and had five children. His oldest son had a daughter Nikki Hornsby
Nikki Hornsby
Nikki Hornsby is an American pop, Americana, country and blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Teenage years:...
, who also became a fulltime artist - singer, songwriter, musician, producer, arranger, and founder of CJP-NHRecords, Inc.
Beginning of career
After the marriage Louise quit the stage, but Dan drifted towards show businessShow business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
although he did not have any formal musical training. However, he enjoyed playing trumpet and singing with various dance bands in Atlanta in the 1920s. Hornsby formed his basic group Dan Hornsby Quartet: Perry Bechtel (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...
, guitar and bariton
Bariton
Bariton may refer to:* Baryton, a string instrument* Baritone is most commonly the type of male voice that lies between bass and tenor....
), Taylor Flanagan (piano and high tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
), Sterlin Melvin (guitar and bass guitar) and Dan Hornsby (lead singer and arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
).
The Atlanta Baking Company asked Hornsby to do a show on WSM Radio
WSB (AM)
WSB — branded AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB — is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting a news/talk format. The station transmits with 50,000 watts of nondirectional power day and night, enjoying clear-channel status on its broadcast frequency according to the U.S...
in Atlanta. The group name was changed to Bamby Baker Boys and Hornsby became the first commercial performer of the WSB radio station, which started airing in 1922. His pleasant disposition and sense of humour earned him a nickname "Cheerful Dan".
Main career
Hornsby's performance on radio was noticed by Columbia RecordsColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
- the oldest record company. His main role was a sort of talent scout, but he had many roles at Columbia Records during the 1920s and early 1930s, including production of his own recordings like "On Mobile Bay" and "I Want A Girl" or with Young Brothers Tennessee Band: "Are you from Dixie" and "Bill Bailey, won't you please come home", "Oh! Susanna
Oh! Susanna
"Oh! Susanna" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster . It was published by W. C. Peters & Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1848. The song was introduced by a local quintette at a concert in Andrews' Eagle Ice Cream Saloon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 11, 1847. Foster was said to have written...
", "Little Brown Jug
Little Brown Jug (song)
"Little Brown Jug" is a song written in 1869 by Joseph Winner, originally published credited to "Eastburn" .It was originally a drinking song. It remained well known as a folk song into the early 20th century. Like many songs which make reference to alcoholic beverages, it enjoyed new popularity...
", and other classic American songs. For example, Hornsby was the first recorded voice of the "Arkansas Traveler" and was the producer of the first recording of "You Are My Sunshine
You Are My Sunshine
"You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. The song is copyright 1940 Peer International Corporation, words and music by...
".
Hornsby worked with Gid Tanner
Gid Tanner
James Gideon Tanner was an American old time fiddler and one of the earliest stars of what would come to be known as country music. His band, the Skillet Lickers, was one of the most innovative and influential string bands of the 1920s and 1930s...
and his group Skillet Lickers
Skillet Lickers
The Skillet Lickers were an old-time band from Georgia, USA.When Gid Tanner teamed up with blind guitarist Riley Puckett and signed to Columbia in 1924, they created the label's earliest so-called "hillbilly" recording. Gid Tanner formed The Skillet Lickers in 1926. The first line-up was Gid...
. Horsby appeared usually in the role of city slicker, judge or sheriff, and he used the nickname Tom Dorsey.
On 28 August 1928 a building collapsed in Shelby, North Carolina
Shelby, North Carolina
Shelby is a city in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 19,477 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cleveland County.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....
killing six people and injuring twice as many. Hornsby composed a song title Shelby Disaster:
Together with Clayton McMichen
Clayton McMichen
Clayton McMichen was an American fiddler and country musician.-Biography:Born in Allatoona, Georgia, McMichen learned to play the fiddle from his father and uncle. He moved to Atlanta with his family in 1913, working as an automobile mechanic. While there, he entered and won several competitions...
Hornby wrote History in a few words published in 1931 by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.
In 1931 he recruited Alton and Rabon Delmore (later known as Delmore Brothers) for Columbia Records.
Changes
The Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
also affected the phonographic industry and Hornsby lost his job with Columbia Records despite selling over 9000 recordings of "The Shelby Disaster". He then went back to radio and worked with several stations including WGST, where his roles included announcer, continuity man and even a comic in programs like "Down to Unkle Zeke's".
For Bluebird Records
Bluebird Records
Bluebird Records is a sub-label of RCA Victor Records originally created in 1932 to counter the American Record Company in the "3 records for a dollar" market. Along with ARC's Perfect Records, Melotone Records and Romeo Records, and the independent US Decca label, Bluebird became one of the best...
he played Uncle Ned in a series of children's bedtime stories such as "Humpty Dumpty", "Wynkyn, Blynky and Nod".
In 1939 he appeared in the first television broadcast in Atlanta. Later he joined RCA Victor Records and then moved to other stations like WATL and WCON
WCON (AM)
WCON is a radio station broadcasting a format. Licensed to Cornelia, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by Habersham Broadcasting Company....
.
In 1986 Dan Hornsby was included into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame, joining the names of some of his friends and associates: Gid Tanner
Gid Tanner
James Gideon Tanner was an American old time fiddler and one of the earliest stars of what would come to be known as country music. His band, the Skillet Lickers, was one of the most innovative and influential string bands of the 1920s and 1930s...
, Clayton McMichen
Clayton McMichen
Clayton McMichen was an American fiddler and country musician.-Biography:Born in Allatoona, Georgia, McMichen learned to play the fiddle from his father and uncle. He moved to Atlanta with his family in 1913, working as an automobile mechanic. While there, he entered and won several competitions...
and Riley Puckett
Riley Puckett
George Riley Puckett was an American country music pioneer mostly known for being a member of Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers.-Biography:...
.
Bands
- Dan Hornsby Trio
- Dan Hornsby Novelty Quartet
- Dan Hornsby Novelty Orchestra
- Dan Hornsby & His Lion's Den Trio
- Skillet Lickers
- Young Brothers Tennessee Band
- Bamby Baker Boys
- Taylor Flanagan & His Trio
- Georgia Organ Grinders.
Discography
| Year | Songs |
|---|---|
| 1927 |
|
| 1928 |
|
| 1929 |
|
| 1930 |
|
| 1931 |
|
| 1934 |
|
| 1939 |
|
| unknown |
|