Jimmie Selph
Encyclopedia
Jimmie Selph born James Coin Self, was a versatile American country music
, rockabilly
and bluegrass
musician and occasional vocalist whose career peaked during the late 1940s–1950s. He played guitar, drums, accordion, and steel guitar. His names are occasionally seen professionally as variously Jimmy and/or Self.
label. He was a member of Curley Williams
' band, with who he recorded several albums. He also appeared with Dottie Dillard. On the Coin label he released titles including "Tom Catin' Around" (1956). He was also a drummer for Hank Thompson
and a singer with Milton Estes and the Musical Millers. Selph also recorded on Bullet Records
, including "Dream Castles Shared With You" and "Time's A-Wasting, Little Darling". Selph's vocal releases included "That's Why I Worry" and "Say You'll Be Mine". He appeared on and toured with The Grand Ole Opry beginning in the mid-1940s.
In 1955, he was a member of the house band
on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee
(originally known as the Crossroads Boys) with Grady Martin
, Bob Moore
and Bud Isaccs before he returned to Nashville, Tennessee
. As a Nashville and Hollywood session musician
, he backed Red Foley
, Don Gibson
, Webb Pierce
, Ray Price
, Molly O'Day
and The Browns
.
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...
, rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
and bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
musician and occasional vocalist whose career peaked during the late 1940s–1950s. He played guitar, drums, accordion, and steel guitar. His names are occasionally seen professionally as variously Jimmy and/or Self.
Biography
Selph's first release was in 1947 on the Majestic RecordsMajestic Records
Majestic Records was a mid-20th century New York City based record label. The label enjoyed its greatest commercial success in the 1940s, until over-ambitious expansion and an inability to keep distributors supplied with pressings of discs resulted in financial problems, and the label folded in...
label. He was a member of Curley Williams
Curley Williams
Curley Williams was an American country and western musician and songwriter from Georgia. His best-known song is "Half As Much". He was admitted to the in 1999.-Life & Career:...
' band, with who he recorded several albums. He also appeared with Dottie Dillard. On the Coin label he released titles including "Tom Catin' Around" (1956). He was also a drummer for Hank Thompson
Hank Thompson
Hank Thompson may refer to:*Hank Thompson *Hank Thompson , country music singer and songwriter...
and a singer with Milton Estes and the Musical Millers. Selph also recorded on Bullet Records
Bullet Records
At least three record labels with the name Bullet Records have existed.The earliest one was a record label based in Nashville, USA, which was started in 1945 by Jim Bulliet and C.V. Hitchcock. Bulleit was an early partner in Sun Records...
, including "Dream Castles Shared With You" and "Time's A-Wasting, Little Darling". Selph's vocal releases included "That's Why I Worry" and "Say You'll Be Mine". He appeared on and toured with The Grand Ole Opry beginning in the mid-1940s.
In 1955, he was a member of the house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee
Ozark Jubilee
Ozark Jubilee is the first U.S. network television program to feature country music's top stars, and was the centerpiece of a strategy for Springfield, Missouri to challenge Nashville, Tennessee as America's country music capital...
(originally known as the Crossroads Boys) with Grady Martin
Grady Martin
Thomas Grady Martin was one of the most renowned, inventive and historically significant American session musicians in country music and rockabilly....
, Bob Moore
Bob Moore
Bob Loyce Moore is an American session musician, orchestra leader, and bassist who was a member of the legendary Nashville A-Team during the 1950s and 60s.-Biography:...
and Bud Isaccs before he returned to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. As a Nashville and Hollywood session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, he backed Red Foley
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
, Don Gibson
Don Gibson
Donald Eugene "Don" Gibson was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson penned such country standards as "Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoyed a string of country hits from 1957 into the early 1970s.-Biography:Don Gibson was...
, Webb Pierce
Webb Pierce
Webb Michael Pierce was one of the most popular American honky tonk vocalists of the 1950s, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the decade. His biggest hit was "In The Jailhouse Now," which charted for 37 weeks in 1955, 21 of them at number one...
, Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
, Molly O'Day
Molly O'Day (singer)
Molly O'Day was an American country music vocalist who had some degree of fame and commercial success in the late 1940s. Despite her short recording career, 5 years, she became a legend in her own lifetime...
and The Browns
The Browns
The Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie Brown, had a close, smooth harmony characteristic of the Nashville sound, though their music also...
.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | "That’s Why I Worry"/"I’m Writing You Darling Through Tears" | Majestic Records |
| 1947 | "Little Boy’s Letter To Santa Claus"/"Easy To Please | Majestic Records |
| 19?? | "S-U-N-D-A-Y"/"Stars and Stripes Forever" | Capitol Records |
| 19?? | "Empty Arms and Broken Hearts"/"I’m Just Plain Lonesome" | Capitol Records |
| 1956 | "Tom Catin’ Around"/"You’ve Been Gone So Long" | Coin Records |
| 1958 | "Oh Babe!"/"You’re There" (as Jimmy Self) | Coral Records Coral Records Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly.... |