Thursday 6 June 2019

Asher Sizemore born 6 June 1906


Asher Sizemore (b. 6 June 1906, Manchester, Kentucky, USA, d. 24 November 1975, De Queen, Arkansas, USA) and his eldest son Jimmy (b. 29 January 1928, Paintsville, Kentucky, USA) were very popular radio personalities, broadcasting mostly from Louisville KY.

Sizemore initially worked as a bookkeeper for a mining company in Pike County but aspired to be a singer. In 1931, singing old-time and cowboy songs, he appeared on radio in Huntington, West Virginia, before moving to WCKY Cincinnati and then WHAS Louisville, where he was first joined on air by his five-year-old son. In 1933, the duo were hired by the Grand Ole Opry, where they remained a popular act for about 10 years. 

Jimmy, at the age of five, allegedly had a repertoire of over 200 songs and understandably because of his extreme youth, his Opry and radio performances gained him a considerable following. He sang duets with his father but is remembered for his youthful renditions of numbers such as ‘Chewing Gum’ and ‘The Booger Bear’. In 1934, he achieved recording success with a maudlin rendition of ‘Little Jimmy’s Goodbye to Jimmie Rodgers’.


                              

Asher and Little Jimmie's first Opry appearance was on September 24, 1932. It was said by many that Asher and Little Jimmie are the best-remembered figures from the 1930s show. After joining the 
Opry, they were on almost every week in 1933, about three months in 1934 and from January to April in 1935. After a series of appearances on the NBC Network, they were back on the Opry for eight weeks in 1936 and 1937, and for about four months in 1939. After that, they appearances decreased until they left the show.

The Sizemores toured regularly but to augment their income, Asher established a very successful mail-order service for their annual books of Health & Home Songs and they also made transcription disc recordings that Asher syndicated to stations throughout the south and Midwest.

By the late 30s, the act also included Jimmy’s younger brother Buddy. Drawing mainly on sentimental numbers that contained regular references to mother, home, death, heaven and righteousness, with some interruption for part of World War II, they maintained a successful career throughout the 40s, mainly in the Midwest.

In 1950, now joined by daughter Nancy Louise, Asher returned to WKLO Louisville. Jimmy and Buddy both served in the US Forces in Korea, Buddy being killed in action in November 1950. Asher and Jimmy later moved to Arkansas where they both worked on radio. Asher Sizemore died in 1975 but Jimmy moved to Oklahoma and continued to work on radio in an executive capacity. 


He died on 14 October 2014, at the age of 86.

(Edited from Wikipedia & All Music)

4 comments:

boppinbob said...

For “Asher Sizemore & Little Jimmie – Mountain Ballads & Old Hymns” go here:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ljnimmmt2mm/asher_little_jimmie.zip

1. Sweethearts Or Strangers
2. The Last Letter
3. Wildwood Flower
4. I Dreamed Of A Hillbilly Heaven
5. How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
6. Home In Tennessee
7. By The Grave Of Nobody's Darling
8. Don't Wait Till Mother's Hair Has Turned To Silver
9. Give Me That Old Time Religion
10. Our Indiana Home
11. Jesus Loves Me
12. My Tennessee Home

Here’s some hard to find old time music, in the form of a 1966 Decca LP from '30's radio transcriptions by Asher and Little Jimmie Sizemore. Asher Sizemore began featuring his son on his depression era radio shows over Nashville's WSM and as a duo they proceeded to become a phenomenon.

A big thank you to Lonesome lefty’s Scratchy attic for active link.

For “Asher Sizemore and Little Jimmie - Songs Of The Soil” go here:

https://jumpshare.com/v/MIC9IatAVxpMAL1OkuMJ?b=nQ57iue5kjyUz001F6iJ

Segment one. Intro/theme. I ride an old paint. Chewing gum. That tumbled down cabin. Buffalo gals. Shake hands with mother again. Close
Segment two. Intro/theme. When the sun goes down today. Little cowboy Jim. Free from the walls of grey. Booger bear. I'll build my castle in Heaven. Close
Segment three. Intro/theme. My Tennessee Rose. Has anybody seen my Kitty. The range is heaven to me. My pony. From Jerusalem to Jericho. Close
Segment four. Intro/theme. Horse and buggy days. I only want a buddy. The prisoners lament. What'll I do with a baby-o. How beautiful heaven must be. Close

Here`s some more pretty uncommon material. Taken from radio transcriptions circa 1936. ¬What we have here musically, as far as the dad`s solos, is pretty standard cowboy material from the 1920`s & 1930`s. Much of it was made popular in the early western movies. Most of the material that Little Jimmie sings is either western cowboy type stuff, but also some children`s songs. I think the most remarkable thing about them is the duet singing. Little Jimmie is an excellent duet singer, singing pretty much perfect high harmony with his dad.

A big thank you to Allen`s archive of early and old country music blog for active link.

Jacdaw said...

Very entertaining. Duets are excellent. Thanks Bob.

Unknown said...

Hi,
I've been doing a bit of Asher Sizemore and Little Jimmie, Buddy Boy, Nancy Louise, Little Cowboy Joe and Odessa.

I cannot find anything on Nancy Louise - I believe she got married and her married name was Graham.

Berea has quite a few of the old transcribed programs online for your listening pleasure. Buddy Boy had quite a slow, southern drawl in one 'joke' he did about his watch.

https://berea.access.preservica.com/index.php?name=SO_d9f6baf9-728f-47a1-8d66-3972208f3370

The playlists for those shows can be found at:
https://berea.access.preservica.com/index.php?name=SO_b60b993f-1752-47f9-88da-20e44ed7acea

And my research of Asher at:
https://www.hillbilly-music.com/artists/story/index.php?id=11484

Nice to see others remembering someone like Asher who was an Opry star of an older generation.

boppinbob said...

Hi Mr.Unknown. I visited your research page. Looks like a labor of love. Very comprehensive and informative. Also thanks for the other links. Regards, Bob