« FLIP, FLOP AND FLY » WITH TIBBY EDWARDS, LOUISIANA BOP!
Once again, Bear Family records from Germany bring us a masterpiece CD packing the complete recordings Tibby Edwards cut between1953 and 1961. That CD is the perfect follow-up to them Tibby’s LP issued in 1985 and deleted since long time
« FLIP, FLOP AND FLY » WITH TIBBY EDWARDS, LOUISIANA BOP!Once again, Bear Family records from Germany bring us a masterpiece CD packing the complete recordings Tibby Edwards cut between1953 and 1961. That CD is the perfect follow-up to them Tibby’s LP issued in 1985 and deleted since long time. Since those mid 80’s, a lot of Country, Hillbilly and Rockabilly fans had understand the Louisiana Hayride’s prominent role in the raise of those styles of music and are looking by rare records by Werly Fairburn, Jimmy and Johnny, Bob Luman, Tommy Trent or Tibby Edwards records. All those performers staged the Municipal Auditorium and were bring in numerous package tours in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. For less than one dollar, you can see on the same stage Tibby Edwards, Claude King, Carolyn Bradshaw, Merle Kilgore, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash or The Brown. Many performers, from Webb Pierce to Hank Williams, left Shreveport and the KWKH radio for WSM in Nashville when they started to made it great but some made them whole career in Shreveport before being forgotten. Tibby Edwards, real name Edwin M. Thibodeaux, could have been a second Hank Williams or another Georges Jones if luck had knocked at his door. Many are the artists who for reasons that had little to do with their actual talent had no significant commercial impact. Some of them composed great songs and made excellent recordings, for small to major labels, but their names are long forgotten and rarely seen in the “Who’s Who of 50’s Country Music”. Tibby Edwards, in spite of his rich talent as a songwriter and his thirteen records for “Mercury”, fit in that basket. Let me tell you more about that small man but big performer.
Tibby was born on March 19, 1935, in Garland (Louisiana) and was raised in Louisiana and Texas as his father sought jobs as construction worker wherever he could find them. He grows up listening the country stars of the time and, of course, HankWilliams and Ernest Tubb. In 1949, he meets one of his idols, Lefty Frizzell, at a time when Ray Price was still his front man. Soon, Tibby became Lefty protege and was on tour with him as far as California and Washington States. After Tibby and Lefty parted ways, he moved to Beaumont, Texas, where he shared shows with Benny Barnes and Georges Jones.
Tibby & Elvis
In December 1952, Tibby landed membership on the Louisiana Hayride, broadcast on Shreveport’s KWKH radio station. He will be featured on the show for five solid years sharing stage with Ernest Tubb, The Maddox Brothers, Jimmy Lee Fautheree, Country Johnny Mathis, Red Sovine and many others.
In 1953, thanks to J.D Miller, Tibby and friend Jimmy C. Newman got an audition in Nashville for the “Mercury” label. The label shows no interest for Jimmy C. Newman but signed Tibby for a first session set in May 1953. Three songs, credited to Jay Miller, were recorded and a first single offering “Why Can’t You Be Mine”/”Come On Chere (Let’s Have Fun) – Mercury 701889 – was soon out. “Come on Chere” is a great up-tempo Cajun number is the style of Hank Williams “Jambalaya”. By August 1953, another session gave birth to four other songs in the pure Hank Williams style even if one song “Walking and Talking with the Blues” was borrowed to Al Terry. The band sound just like the Drifting Cowboys and “Mercury” was probably trying’ to capitalize on Hank’s growing popularity after his death. In December 1953, Tibby recorded Jimmy C. Newman song “Cry Cry Darlin’” without knowing his friend had it out as “Darlin’” on a tiny Louisiana label. If Tibby’s version goes nowhere, Jimmy version soon issued on “Dot” (1195) was going to the charts on May 1954 and stayed there for eleven weeks. Jimmy, then managed by Tillman Franks, joined the Louisiana Hayride in June 1954 and shared often the stage with his Louisiana friend.
Before Elvis even come first at the Louisiana Hayride, on October 16, 1954, Tibby was covering “That’s All Right” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” on stage. Tibby and Elvis worked quite a lot together on tours and were together at the Mint Club, in Gladewater, on November 22, 1954 where a picture of them together was taken. By December 1954, Elvis was yet singing on stage the Joe Turner’s classic “Shake, Rattle and Roll” already covered by Bill Haley for “Decca” records. In January 28, 1955, Joe Turner cut another song for “Atlantic”’ in the very same style titled “Flip, Flop and Fly” and Tibby will cover it in a great boppin’ style on April 1955. I don’t know if Elvis was yet playin’ that same song on stage but he the Memphis wonder will sang it on TV by January 28, 1956 on “Stage Show”. Tibby’s version came real fine but instead Scotty hot guitar licks we got Floyd Cramer piano and lotsa fiddle. Nice cover recorded at the same session than “Play It Cool Man, Play it cool” from George Jones pen and “C’est si Tout”, a hot spicy Cajun tune. Early 1955, Tibby and Elvis worked together on the Louisiana Hayride (March 05, 1995), in Waco with Johnny Horton and Jimmy Lee Fautheree & Wayne Walker (April 23, 1955) and at the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial day in Meridian, Mississippi (May 25 and 26, 1955). Not much is know about his activities for 1956 and 1957.
In March 1958, Tibby enlisted in the Army and was sent to Fort Chaffee in Arkansas, within just a few days of Elvis. In summer 1959, Tibby recorded two sides for Pappy Daily’s “D” label before moving on “Jin”, a Louisiana label, for two sides who fit in the swamp pop basket. In 1961, a last session for “Todd” records, will give birth to a single offering a cover of Bud Deckelman’s old song “Day Dreaming”. The whole sound is close to Ricky Nelson’s “Imperial” sound but nothing outstanding. Three unissued recordings from that session came on light on the new Bear family CD including two takes of Link Davis classic “Big Mamou”. Things were over and Tibby headed for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he died on September 21, 1999.
Until 1985, and in spite of having 13 singles issued on “Mercury”, Tibby never had an LP issued. Thanks to the work of Richard Weize, boss of Bear family Records, and with the help of Tillman Franks, Bob Allen, Bob Jones and Ian Saddler, that dream came true. That LP was the definitive one until came the new Bear Family CD “Tibby Edwards – Play it Cool Man, Play it Cool” (BFX 16557) with liner notes and discography updated by Colin Escott and Dave Sax. That CD came with perfect sound and great pictures so I just had to add …“Come On Chere (Let’s Have Fun)” and enjoy 50’s Louisiana Country Music at his best!
Interesting links: http://www.bear-family.de/www.bartemon.netDominique “Imperial” ANGLARES (France).Sound of the 50’s 
Sujet: FLIP, FLOP AND FLY » WITH TIBBY EDWARDS, LOUISIANA BOP! 
