BOBBY LOLLAR – THE “BAD BAD BOY” IS BACK GOOD 
The 50’s were the time of legendary records cut by young cats full of energy and talent who stepped only once in recording studios, sometime in radio stations, before vanishing. Too often one shoot deal, custom pressings without publicity support, managers without experience or contact made them only able to sell those records on tiny venues after concerts.
BOBBY LOLLAR – THE “BAD BAD BOY” IS BACK GOOD 
The 50’s were the time of legendary records cut by young cats full of energy and talent who stepped only once in recording studios, sometime in radio stations, before vanishing. Too often one shoot deal, custom pressings without publicity support, managers without experience or contact made them only able to sell those records on tiny venues after concerts. A 500 copies pressing was not a bad start then and can be handled without too much financial risks. Even with only 500 records cut, there was sometime stock left and some singers throw away those records or used it as Frisbees for fun. Ask to Mister Hayden Thompson, a Rockabilly legend from Mississippi. Some other kept it in boxes, somewhere in the house with any special care for years, until collectors came knocking on them front door offering a few bucks for those “oldies”. Ask to Mister Art Adams, another Rockabilly legend but from Indiana. Some were left with nothing and don’t even own them records today.
Among those legendary records and mysterious performers is Bobby Lollar who cut “Bad Bad Boy”, in 1959, for “Benton” a tiny custom label from Tennessee. That record stand among the rarest records from the 50’s and nothing was known about Bobby until recently. Thanks to the Internet wonder, Bobby was able to get back on saddle again and to promote himself with a few friends help. All that worked right for that “Good Good Boy” and we are glad to support his forthcoming performance in Jackson, Tennessee, on Friday August 8, 2008. That festival set in Carl Perkins hometown will last from August 7 to Saturday 9, 2008. An international crowd will enjoy classic cars show, dances and 50’s music and will welcome 50’s performers like Smoochie Smith, C.W Gatlin, Ace Cannon, Narvel Felts, Sonny Burgess, Bobby Lollar and a younger cast with Stan Perkins (Carl’s son), Jason D. Williams, Larry Cole or Sandy Hardin.
Bobby Lollar, a long time friend of W.S “Fluke” Holland (Carl Perkins & Johnny Cash drummer) and a Carl Perkins friend, now reside in South Covington, Georgia, and was not seen on stage since decades. His recent home made recordings like “I’m Goin’ to Play with Carl Again”, “6 Strings and a Rockabilly Song” or “I’m reliving the 50’s With You” talk by themselves. Bobby, now an ordained minister, is a prolific song writer who can offer you “Rock-a-Billy Church” or “From a Rock’n’Roller to a Holly Roller” with lyrics keeping the true Rockabilly style and feeling from his youth. “Rock-a-Billy Church” reminds those days when the Grand Ole Opry allowed the drums kit only if hidden behind a curtain and “If The Lord Wills” brings us the famous Hank Williams trade mark link “If good Lord will and the creeks don’t rise”. “6 Strings and A Rockabilly Song” find its roots on a letter from one of his overseas friend. Bobby had also recorded some Gospel Blues and eight songs dedicated to his wife of 36 years.
Bobby Lollar was born July 25, 1941 in Trenton (Tennessee) starting to sing at church and cafeteria classic country songs like “ Mansion Over the Hilltop”. When Rock-a-Billy was born, Bobby jumped on it and used to “sit in” with Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Mann, Sonny Burgess, Warren Smith or Little Jimmy Dickens to name a few. In 1958, Sam Phillips offered him a contract but things failed. Bobby was a great fan of Carl Perkins and rate “Matchbox” as is favourite rockin’ song by Carl. On the ballad side his “top pick” is “YOU” because it was a favourite of Jay Buck Perkins. Jay passed away from a brain tumour in October 20, 1958 and soon Carl was on studio to record that song for his older brother. Issued on Columbia 4-41296, in November 1958, in that song you can feel Carl deep emotion as he struggled to sing chorus. Bobby used to “hang out” at Carl Perkins house in 308 Park Avenue in Jackson (Tennessee) and just loved that man. He told Carl was the kindest man in the industry he ever knew and keep wonderful memories about Carl at home enjoying and paying attention to childrens as well as adults. Carl passed away on January 19, 1998 aged only 65 years old, staying deep in heart a Country boy.
In 1958, Bobby recorded two songs for a tiny records label from Dyersburg (Ten). That label was associate to Starday records and was a custom product. “Bad Bad Boy” b/w “If It Was Not For You” (Benton 101/2) is probably one of the rarest Rockabilly records in the world. Only another single was issued by that label offering two songs by Charles Dean “Train Whistle Boogie” b/w “Itchy” (Benton 103/4). “Bad Bad Boy” and its fabulous intro can be identified from the first notes. Fabulous lyrics and vocal on top made that record a master piece and one of the best waxing from Tennessee. The record was pressed in Memphis and when Bobby came to the pressing plant they were also manufacturing Chuck Berry’s album “A Dozen Berrys” (Chess 1432).
Then Bobby was rather wild and his rock and rock attitude raise some hollers in his religious family especially when he came from shows. Around late 1959, when he joined the US Navy for a three years stunt, his folks threw away everything he had from his five Elvis Sun 78 rpm’s to cat clothes, phonograph and Carl Perkins pictures. Bobby is still looking for a picture of him at home standing in front of a Carl Perkins picture framed. That picture seen only once on the web mean much for Bobby and any help will be welcome to bring him a quality copy of that one. Bobby was affected to destroyer USS Preston during the Cuban missiles crisis (October 1962) and “guested” winter arctic operations with participation in nuclear tests the milder climes of the Pacific.
Bobby, maybe true to his song, goes to drug addiction, drinking problem and rebellion for years. Those choices and addictions bring him sorrow, pain and shame until he repented to God in 1985. If not, walking with death, he will probably never have the time to tell his story.
Since he was ordained minister and had wrote over 300 songs in three years. He still made home recordings using a Shure mike 57 and making re-recording on his four track recorder. Bobby offer for sale “Bad Bad Boy”/”If It Was Not For You” on single CD with a rare picture on cover. Another CD accurately titled “Rock-A-Billy Church” and pictures are available from him. If the lyrics had changed, the music hasn’t! He recently recorded “I’m Suck in the 50’s With You” for his die hard rockabilly fans in Europe. Some songs like “When Will We Learn” or “You Don’t Have To Wear The Chains” talk about his own experience of self destruction through the years. Some of them were well received by my friends Bobby Crown and Dick Penner, both 50’s rock’n’roller. “Bad Bad Boy” was recently covered by one of the best British band named Jack Rabbit Slim and we just hope they could back Bobby someday in a major Rockabilly festival. How about it Misters Tom Ingram and Jerry Chatabox?
50 years later Bobby will be back on stage in Jackson, being no more a “Bad Bad Boy” but a “God Boy” … But still rockin’ in style, he’s really proud to say “I’m goin’ to Jackson” were you could enjoy the performance and the music of the “Holly Roller” … Be there or be square ‘cause you “Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”.
Bobby Lollar, the rockin’ Rev, can be reach at
southrivermusic56@msn.com.
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Dominique “Imperial” ANGLARES (France)
www.soundofthefifties.org
LINK TO THE SITE
http://bartemon.net/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=279&PHPSESSID=059c9aa60e2be89db10f9f860726c1c4
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