Tom Tall
Encyclopedia
Tommie Lee Guthrie known professionally as Tom Tall, is a rockabilly
singer popular in the 1950s.
He was born in Amarillo, Texas
and discovered at a talent show by record label owner Fabor Robison. He often sang duets with Ginny Wright
, and later recorded for Crest and Decca Records
where he met Eddie Cochran
, a session musician for the label.
In the 1960s, he was on the Chart label and had a comeback hit with Wright. While he was with Chart, Tall made a series of singles including a song called "Walk Tall" which was tailor-made because of his professional name. It was picked up in the United Kingdom by Irish singer Val Doonican
, who made the top five with the song.
Tall retired in Los Angeles
, where he was rediscovered by the German label Bear Family Records
, which issued albums in the 1980s by Tall and Wright. A recent CD by Bear Family was shared equally between both artists.
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...
singer popular in the 1950s.
He was born in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
and discovered at a talent show by record label owner Fabor Robison. He often sang duets with Ginny Wright
Ginny Wright
Ginny Wright is an American country music singer. She was born in Twin City, Georgia during the 1930s, first sang in glee clubs, and studied opera. She began performing country music in the early 1950s...
, and later recorded for Crest and Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
where he met Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
, a session musician for the label.
In the 1960s, he was on the Chart label and had a comeback hit with Wright. While he was with Chart, Tall made a series of singles including a song called "Walk Tall" which was tailor-made because of his professional name. It was picked up in the United Kingdom by Irish singer Val Doonican
Val Doonican
Val Doonican is an Irish singer. From 1965 to 1986 he was a regular fixture on the BBC Television's schedule with The Val Doonican Show, which featured his own singing performances and a variety of guest artists...
, who made the top five with the song.
Tall retired in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he was rediscovered by the German label Bear Family Records
Bear Family Records
Bear Family Records is a Germany-based independent record label that specializes in reissues of archival material ranging from country music to 1950s rock and roll to old German movie soundtracks.-History:...
, which issued albums in the 1980s by Tall and Wright. A recent CD by Bear Family was shared equally between both artists.