The Later Years

Artists

Album Info

Label: Levee Records

The Levee Singers: The Later Years

Ralph Sanford had been the number one sub since the earliest days of the Levee. He would take Ronnie Dawson’s, or Ed Bernet’s or Smokey Montgomery’s place whenever one of them had to be away. When Ronnie left the group in the late 1960’s to pursue his own successful Rock-a-billy career, Ralph became the group’s full-time singer.

Also, bassist/singer Bob Christopher retired from his music career briefly and his place was taken by Grady Owen. Grady appears on cuts 1 through 9. When Grady moved from Dallas, Bob returned. The group was Ed, Ralph, Smokey and Bob since about 1969, until Smokey decided to concentrate his efforts on his other groups, which included the Lightcrust Doughboys. Working with the group briefly after Smokey left were Bill Hudson, Bret Van Sickle, Mike O’Daniel, and Sam Gafford. Ed’s brother Dick Brenet, piano and plectrum banjo, is currently the fourth Levee Singer.

These 20 cuts include some of their album, The New Levee Singers and The Levee Singers.