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V to V+ both sides.

The Carolina Playboys were an informal studio group of Charlotte, North Carolina musicians, most of whom had an association with WBT radio. 

They recorded some 28 numbers between 1945 and 1947 that were released on the Sonora label with no individual artist's names attached. Some of Fred Kirby's Sonora recordings included a credit to the Carolina Playboys as backing him.

The personnel included:

  • Fred Kirby
  • Claude Casey
  • Roy "Whitey" Grant
  • Arval Hogan
  • Dewey Price
  • Garnet "Hank" Warren
  • Bill Davis

It may have included Don White (on the first Sonora recording session) and Nat Richardson. Not all of them were on every cut or even on every session. Don White went to Chicago and WLS for a time and could not have been present on many, if any, numbers. 

 

Both Fred Kirby and Whitey & Hogan were already contracted to Sonora. The others were not.

According to Grant who vaguely recalled the recordings at age ninety when the others were deceased, they gathered at a WBT engineer's house where the songs were done (although there were at least three sessions, he seemed to think there were only one). 

He seems not to have recalled them at all until the Cattle label in Germany released a compact disc containing 25 of the songs. Grant said that they wanted to call themselves by a different name and did not expect the material to be released but someone—either Kirby or Casey—sent the material to Sonora and the songs were released. 

However, the Carolina Playboys apparently never played live shows as a group by that name. Research shows that Fred Kirby did personal appearances in the mid-1940's and advertised his band as "His Carolina Playboys." This time frame would be about the time that the Sonora recordings were done. Research also indicates that there were at least two other groups known as the Carolina Playboys. One was led by Bob Hester and they were over radio station WCBT in Roanoke Rapids, NC or perhaps also in Raleigh, NC. One article caught our eye during research. It seems Hester's group was doing a show for the patients at Roanoke Rapids Hospital. Mr. Hester thought it would be a good idea to dedicate a number, any number for that matter, to the folks in the hospital. But it dawned on him after the show was off the air that he did not pick an appropriate tune to dedicate. The tune was "You Can Only Fill One Grave."

Another group by the same name were playing at radio station WTYC in Rock Hill, SC. 

Still another group named the Carolina Playboys seems to have been based in Gastonia, NC. That group included Jack Everhart, fiddle; Ravon Smith, trumpet; George Lecroy, saxophone, Bob Trevarthan, drums; Jimmy Heavner, bass; Plato Haynes on rhythm guitar; Ralph Davis did the vocals and was said to be a Sonora recording artist. They were doing square dances at the Gastonia Armory auditorium.

CAROLINA PLAYBOYS SONORA 7015 Let's Be Sweethearts Again/Forget & Forgive

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Quantity

    We Use The VJM Record Grading System

    NB 45s use the LP system as below.

     

    N (78) M (LP). As new and unplayed (there are virtually no 78s that can categorically be claimed to be unplayed).

    N- (78) M- (LP). Nearly Mint, but has been played. No visible signs of wear or damage.

    E+ (78) VG+ (LP). Plays like new, with very, very few signs of handling, such as tiny scuffs from being slipped in and out of jackets.

    E (78) VG (LP). Still very shiny, near new looking, with no visible signs of wear, but a few inaudible scuffs and scratches.

    E- (78) VG- (LP). Still shiny but without the lustre of a new record, few light scratches.  LP: Some wear, scratches and scuffs, but no skipped or repeat grooves.

    V+ (78) G+ (LP) V+ is an average condition 78 in which scuffs and general use has dulled the finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free from distortion. Surface noise not overly pronounced. LP: Below average with scuffs and scratches on fewer than half the tracks. No skips or repeat grooves.

    V (78) G (LP). Moderate, even wear throughout, but still very playable. Surface noise and scratches audible but not intrusive.

    V- (78) G- (LP). Quite playable still, but distortion and heavy greying in loud passages. Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches well below music level. LP: Lowest Grade. Audible scratches, etc. on more than half the tracks. Listening uncomfortable.

    G+ (78). Grey throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled. Heavy scratches.

    G (78). Quite seriously worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise.

    G- (78). Music still prominent, but wear and scratch damage extensive.

    F (78). Most of music remains audible over surface noise, but listening now uncomfortable.

    P (78). Unplayable.

    NB: Damage to labels and jackets (LP) should be noted whenever present.

     

    Abbreviations: sfc = surface; lbl = label; nap = not affecting play; scr/scrs = scratch/scratches; lc = lamination crack; cr = crack; hlc/hc = hairline crack; wol = writing on label; sol = sticker on label; fade = faded label; gr/grs = groove/grooves; eb = edge bite; ec = edge chip; ef = edge flake; rc = rim chip.

     

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