Lucky White: the king of terrible stories with beautiful melodies. Since 1946.

From Telephone, Texas. Born May 16, 1923. Died January 6,1997 from cancer. He served in the US Marines during WWII and was honorably discharged after being injured during a training mission. The long lost cousin 8 times removed, of Television Star Betty White? Nobody knows... On July 12, 1947, Lucky became the first country singer to record his version of the Bob Wills and Cindy Walkers' Classic “Sugar Moon”, A song more commonly associated with K.D. Lang, Willie Nelson and ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL some 40 years later. Lucky's cover appears on his new album NO MUSIC, NO BETTIES, NO LUCKY on Slip<>Disc Records released 24 years posthumously in August of 2021. Past members of Lucky White's Dude Ranch Playboys: Leodie Jackson, Cliffie Stone, Red Murrell, Terry Fell, Fairley Holden, Johnny Grande, Bill "Tanner" Taylor, Les Paul and Little Jimmy Dickens. Past members of Lucky White and the Ponderosa Playboys: Pat Compton, Stu Basore, Grandpappy Robbins, Jack Horman. Ad Lou Darlin (Lucky's wife) and you have Lucky's side project "Lou Darlin and the Pastimers". In 1946, band leader Lucky White with Leodie Jackson teamed up and wrote two songs together. The first composition was also the first version. An instant classic entitled "THAT NAGGIN WIFE OF MINE" with Leodie on the vocals. Released July 14, 1946. Lucky co-wrote, and composed the musical arrangements for this song with writing elements that would become a staple within the creation of Rock n Roll music. The first rock n' roll song with electric lead guitar solo breaks during the interludes? A method and genre that hadn't been invented just yet as it was certainly being created within this classic tune. The song structure was filled with elements of Rock n' Roll, Ska and Punk Rock long before those genres were conceived. Cliffie Stone learned everything he knew about song structure while working with Lucky White and his Dude Ranch Playboys. They pressed a block of 300 units at $0.20 (twenty cents) per unit for a total of $60.00. Appearing on the Courtney records blue label as track 130B. On the Flip-side track 130A, was Lucky's blues hit entitled: DOWN AND OUT BLUES. Written by Lucky White in that same year. A song about his first wife. His vocal track gave Hank Williams a run for his money. Lucky name checks Leodie, while Leodie rips it up on the table steel delivering sounds that only David Gilmore of Pink Floyd could do on his electric guitar 27 years later in the 1970's. Unfortunately for Lucky, Leodie and the Dude Ranch Playboys, they hit that pesky "taboo wall" and weren't invited or allowed to perform their song at the Grand Ole Opry. --Electric lead guitar solos in the spring of 1946? The following month in early August of 46' Leodie Jackson would release is own version of THAT NAGGIN WIFE OF MINE on the Courtney label (137A) August 17, 1946 with his band the Swingsters. Lucky appears on this recording playing the rhythm guitar and singing the backing vocals. This was the first cover of the song originally recorded by Lucky and Leodie a month earlier. Courtney records used a chronologically number system. Lucky and Leodies recording was printed by Courtney records as 130B. Leodies cover was recorded and released weeks later and printed by Courtney records as 137A, We're aware of Kanaka Bush And His Hawaiians with the same 130 numbers printed on their recordings. Courtney may have used the same numbering system for different genre's in those days. During his music career, Lucky White and his band toured with Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Cliffie Stone, Leodie Jackson and his Western Swingsters, Little Jimmy Dickens, the Sunshine Trio, Foreman Phillips, Les Paul and Mary Ford among many others. We've noticed that some of the Hillbilly researchers have taken the liberty and changed the chronological order of Lucky and Leodies first recording of THAT NAGGIN WIFE OF MINE, with Lucky's Dude Ranch Playboys. They report that it's somehow a mis-print. They altered it from 130b to 230b in their bio's. Why this was done by the research community is not clear. We know the number 230 is stamped in the deadwax of the disc. This might have something to do with the alteration. It makes sense too. We also know that the song THAT NAGGIN WIFE OF MINE on this disc was recorded by the Dude Ranch Playboys before Leodie did it with Lucky in the Western Swingsters. Lucky and Leodie's version with the DRPB was recorded almost a month before Leodies cover with his band the Western Swingsters. Which includes a cartoonish percussion addition. Resembling some kind of argument. The song would be covered 5 times from 1946 thru 1951. Four members of the Dude Ranch Playboys did their own versions. Leodie Jackson did his cover with his "Swingsters" the way he originally co-wrote it with Lucky in the spring of 1946. Terry Fell's cover is printed and listed as "Terry Sell" on a Courtney Records advertisement. SOURCE: Billboard Magazine August 17, 1946. We've found no recording of Terry's cover. Red Murrell covered his version in 1948. Fairley Holden in 1949, and an outsider named Lonnie Glosson covered it in 1951. Lonnie may have actually been in the Dude Ranch Playboys. We're still researching that possibility. Lyrics were changed and verses removed by Red, Fairley, and Lonnie. Fairley and Lonnie claimed writers credits on their own versions. Were Lucky and Leodie censored and banned? It could be suggested and argued that this song was the beginning of not only early rock n' roll, a few months before Arthur Crudups' "That's Alright" (momma) recorded September 6, 1946. but also early censorship of modern American music as well. Was the banning a performance of it, on a national level by design? Rock n' Roll music wouldn't show up for another 7 years. The second song Lucky and Leodie share credits on together was an Instrumental entitled: "Jackson Stomp" with Leodie holding the lead credits. Leodie was jamming on his table steel for this classic with Lucky's band backing him up in perfect time. Leodie delivered more of his incredible steel guitar sounds that only musicians like Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin could translate on his guitar 22 years later in 1968. Lucky shares music/writing/composition and arrangement credits only he could provide with his band the Dude Ranch Playboys. We hope this information helps clear up the misinformation up on Discogs, and all other media outlets worldwide. As we look thru the microscope we find that four of Lucky's songs entitled: 1) YO YO HEART, 2) ONE OF YOUR LIES, 3) PONDEROSA ROCK and 4) FLOUR, LARD, COFFEE, SUGAR, somehow magically appear on 12 different compilation albums manufactured in the Netherlands, Holland. On the Boppin Hillbilly series, dating back to 1989 from what we've discovered so far. Lucky White's cover of SUGAR MOON, (Recorded July 12, 1947) also appears on "Boppin Acetate's Coast to Coast released by Collector Records CLCD 2869. Lucky White and Bob Wills worked together in their respective bands, tours and radio appearances. Bob gave Lucky his blessing with members of his Dude Ranch Playboys clearly laying down their classic viola and violin sound. Lucky was never informed by the producers, manufacturer, or distributors in the Netherlands regarding the proper rights and clearances for the above tracks we just mentioned here. The producer, manufacturer and distributor never contacted Lucky's publishers BMI/Sony/ATV/Acuff-Rose either. What's even more absurd is that the same manufacturer in the Netherlands, Holland appears to have stolen Lucky's song he wrote, performed and recorded with Bill "Tanner" Taylor a band member of the Dude Ranch Playboys entitled: ONE OF YOUR LIES" released November 14, 1953 by Lucky White and his Band. Who was his band? The Dude Ranch Playboys. Publishers: Four Star/Sony/ATV/Acuff-Rose This song appears hidden within another band called the "MILLER BROTHERS Boppin Hillbilly Series". Released on Collector Records. It's completely unauthorized with zero licensing in place from the label or SABAM. Even more compelling is that the B.A.C.M (British Archive of Country Music) may have failed to do any substantial research and or contact BMI for any contact information? It certainly appears to Lucky's immediate family that this might be a bad case of International copyright Infringement? As we research even further we see that the B.A.C.M (British Archive of Country Music) took it upon themselves to release the Terry Fell/Leodie Jackson CD entitled: RAMBLIN OAKIE. As we've already mentioned, It appears that the researchers typed in 230A and deemed it a mis-print rather than 130A with Lucky's track Down and Out Blues for the 1946 release on Courtney records. In December of 2021 we found this title being claimed by Bebop Capitol on youtube that Terry Fell was the singer on Lucky's Down and Out Blues. We reached out and informed Bebop Capitol that this was blatant theft. They removed the video from youtube after a nine month battle. On this release, with track number 9, there is no mention or music/writing/arrangement credits for Lucky White's classic he produced with Leodie entitled "That Naggin Wife of Mine 1" either. Why? Someone failed to contact BMI? It's the 130B version off his Courtney Records release. Continuing in our research we found a digital album entitled: Terry Fells' "Texas a la Mode". In this digital album two songs are hidden within. Both the Jackson Stomp and Down and Out Blues by Lucky White's band the Dude Ranch Playboys. This is a completely unauthorized release. We've been in contact with the distributor One media ip in the United Kingdom. They claimed it was "public domain". This claim of course is utterly false, so we informed them that this is not public domain that we own the rights to both songs. We're currently investigating who is it that delivered the digital masters for the Texas a la Mode album? If any of you hillbilly researchers have any information please let us know. We've notified the legal department at Sony Music Publishing regarding the unauthorized releases on the Boppin Hillbilly Series. Stay tuned... UPDATE: We've reached out to BEAR FAMILY RECORDS in Germany they informed us that they only distribute Lucky's music, they don't manufacture it, Collector Records in the Netherlands, they've never replied. Both One Media ip-Synerige OMP, (Pinewood Studios) they replied and said they'd get back to us. We have not heard from them in four months. They have not answered our follow up concerns either. We contacted the B.A.C.M in the United Kingdom they have not responded. We then contacted Stompin Steve Hathaway a notorious hillbilly researcher up in Cupertino, California. Back in March of 2021. He was helpful with information he gave to Lucky White's daughter Linda over a year ago. He stopped communicating after we launched Lucky's website and released his album NO MUSIC, NO BETTIES, NO LUCKY, back in August of 2021. We reached out to him offering an exclusive interview for his hillbilly researching biography and radio show a few weeks ago via email. Steve has not replied....... Lucky White, the original MAN IN BLACK of the 1940’s. He released a string of mild radio hits on the 33' 45' and 78' RPM formats from 1946 thru 1968. Roy Acuff and Fred Rose liked Lucky's music so much that they published Lucky on their Acuff-Rose label in 1953. Buck Owens was associated with Lucky White and his Dude Ranch Playboys for a short spell when Buck was driving trucks back in the late 1940's early 1950's. One of Bucks' very first performances was when Lucky got him up on stage at the Ships Cafe in El Monte, California. Lucky gave Buck the exposer he needed both on stage and on his radio shows. He was one of many that appeared live on Lucky's radio broadcasts. Lucky was live on the air from 1946 thru 1954 on KPMO Radio Pomona, and KWKW Radio 1430 Pasadena, both in California. He was a headliner at the Forman Phillips Ballroom in Baldwin Park California in the 1940's and 50's. He promoted and put on country western shows much in the same way Goldenvoice/Stagecoach has done it for the last 20 plus years. He toured with and played rhythm guitar for Cliffie Stone and his Hometown Jamboree. Lucky went on tour with Les Paul and Mary Ford in the 1950's. He learned how to overdub from Les, with which you can hear in his songs; Soft Doll (1963), Ten Million Tears and If We Pretend (1965) both recorded and engineered at Les Paul studios in California. Regarding the Elvis Presley Experience: The song TEDDY BEAR was written and recorded by outlaw country western recording star Lucky White of the Dude Ranch Playboys in 1946. Featuring the legendary Leodie Jackson on Steel Guitar. The song was sent by Lucky to Sun records in 1955 for Elvis to cover. Lucky never heard a word back from Sun records or Elvis. Only to discover that Elvis jumped ship from Sun to RCA and had a group of writers re-write the body of Lucky's song, kept the title and released his own version which included Lucky's signature song tittle/brand being rebooted by Elvis using the same title: TEDDY BEAR. Re-Written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe in 1957. Red Sovine released his TEDDY BEAR version in 1976. A different song of course under the original title by Lucky White. The positive: Lucky White's TEDDY BEAR recorded 77 years ago, was a terrible story with a beautiful melodie a great inspiration for both Elvis Presley, and Red Sovine within the American Music timeline. Are some forms of plagiarism are the finest forms of flattery? Tom Waits took up Lucky's skill three decades later. What’s the take away? Elvis Presley and Sun records screwed over Lucky White, his brand, a well established song title, band and his fan base twenty years before the copyright act of 1978. Elvis didn't buy Lucky a Cadillac, a mink coat or a diamond ring to give to his wife either. In protest and disgust Lucky went and got a mohawk in 1958 and was banned from everything everywhere. He changed the way bands toured in the 1940's when he purchased an old Greyhound bus and converted it into a tour bus for his band in 1947. Lucky's touring style and music Influenced the way Country, Rockabilly and Rock n Roll bands toured for generations to come. Speaking of Influence, Lucky wrote and recorded a song with his band the Dude Ranch Playboys called: "Mommy What Happened to Daddy" a post Korean War tune. Released November 14, 1953. (Four Star/Sony/ATV/Acuff-Rose) In 1984 the Red Hot Chili Peppers released a song called: "Mommy Where's Daddy" . Taking it a step further Alice Cooper released the Ballad of Dwight Fry in 1971. The first three words in this ballad: "Mommy, where's daddy"? Did Cliffie Stone Steal Lucky's shirt? Did Bing Crosby steal Leodie Jackson? Did Elvis Presley take Lucky's Teddy Bear? —No one ever told his story, but his songs of heartbreak and tragedy sure did... ATTENTION: Music Supervisors Lucky's entire catalog is available for "Sync Rights" in radio, commercials, television, and motion pictures: From his No Music, No Betties, No Lucky album released in 2021. Publishers:Slip<>Disc Records/R.L.White Sony/ATV/Acuff-Rose Licensed with the Harry Fox Agency.