Like most other states in the good ol' USA, Missouri was the cradle of much great music. The St-Louis area in particular had a vibrant and diverse musical scene in the 40's and 50's. Jazz, blues, hillbilly and later on, rock'n'roll were well represented there. Chuck Berry is one of the best-known figures from that place of course, but there were as always a host of other artists who brought good stuff to the table. They often recorded for tiny independent labels : K-Ark, Bobbin, Joplin, Westport, Sho-Me, R, Big K, Stardust, Crestwood... Another such imprint was Sure, although there were other labels with the same name across the nation. This particular one probably belonged to its main artist : Austin Wood.
One thing is certain, Merrill never recorded again in the studio after 1969. He came four times to England, the last being in 1998, with at least one appearance at the renowned Country'n'Western Festival in Wembley but mainly stayed in San Diego and kept on playing clubs, hotels and even cruise ships. And hosting people from around the world who came to tell him how much they loved his music. His death on June 14, 2000, after a long battle against cancer, was sad news indeed. As a tribute to this hugely talented musician, let me share with you part of the impromptu medley he let me record in 1987 in his living room. He sure didn't need any sidemen to let it rock : his drive and sense of rhythm are astounding. Yes, Cats, before Jerry Lee Lewis, there was Merrill Moore ! Just click the turntable below left to hear him boogieing in top quality MP3 format.
© PAUL VIDAL * Privas, France * June 2001 - July 2019
AUSTIN WOOD - THE DISCOGRAPHY
Like on all pages, all record scans are taken from the Big V Jamboree collection.
----> 45's, EPs, LPs & CDs <----
According to 'L'Encyclopédie De La Country & Du Rockabilly' by my buddy, Michel Rose, the sessions took place on March 3 & 4,1969, in Los Angeles. Interestingly, in the CD booklet, Cary Ginell wrote that, in January 1969, 14 tracks featuring Merrill Moore and a jazz quartet had been recorded by John Abbey at Hollywood's Radio Recorders but were never released. What's right and what's wrong ?
One thing is certain, Merrill never recorded again in the studio after 1969. He came four times to England, the last being in 1998, with at least one appearance at the renowned Country'n'Western Festival in Wembley but mainly stayed in San Diego and kept on playing clubs, hotels and even cruise ships. And hosting people from around the world who came to tell him how much they loved his music. His death on June 14, 2000, after a long battle against cancer, was sad news indeed. As a tribute to this hugely talented musician, let me share with you part of the impromptu medley he let me record in 1987 in his living room. He sure didn't need any sidemen to let it rock : his drive and sense of rhythm are astounding. Yes, Cats, before Jerry Lee Lewis, there was Merrill Moore ! Just click the turntable below left to hear him boogieing in top quality MP3 format.
© PAUL VIDAL * Privas, France * June 2001 - July 2019
AUSTIN WOOD - THE DISCOGRAPHY
Like on all pages, all record scans are taken from the Big V Jamboree collection.
----> 45's, EPs, LPs & CDs <----
| The Singing Milkman & His Missouri Swingsters | Headin' Home (Bob Hastings) You Can Play Your Little Game Around The Corner (Ward Woods) |
DISCO-A DISCO-B |
| Sure | Truck Driver's Night Run Blues (Joe Cannonball Lewis) What They're Saying In The Old Home Town (Rosetta Elmore) |
H8OW-0405 H8OW-0404 |
| Sure | So Let's Rock (Cindy Walker) I Live For You (Merl Lindsay) |
K8OW-5102 K8OW-5103 |
| Sure 45-101 | I Want To Be Wanted Footsteps To Nowhere |
SoN 39691 SoN 39692 |