Having A Break.

                             

         Going to re-charge my batteries. Back in September.

Buell Kazee born 29 August 1900

Buell Kazee (August 29, 1900 - August 31, 1976) was an American country and folk singer. He is considered one of the most successful folk musicians of the 1920s and experienced a career comeback during the American folk music revival of the 1960s due in part to his inclusion on the Anthology of American Folk Music. 

A native of the Mash Fork community in rugged Magoffin County, Kentucky, Kazee's parents were mountain hymn singers and numerous neighbours played fiddle and banjo. While young Buell knew from his early teens that he wanted to become a minister, he still often played banjo and attended local entertainments with his high school principal. After graduation he went to Georgetown College (in Kentucky). He studied English, Latin, Greek, and took voice lessons. When he obtained his degree, Buell worked briefly in Oklahoma, then took a position in Ashland, Kentucky, and later held a faculty position at Cumberland College.It was there that he began to understand the significance of his family and friends' traditional songs. 

Kazee formally studied singing and music in order to transcribe the old songs and make them more contemporary. Following his graduation in 1925, he gave a "folk music" concert at the University of Kentucky. He wore a tie and tails while playing the banjo and piano, sang in his specially trained "formal" voice, and gave lectures about the history of the songs. The show was a great success, so he repeated it several times over the following years. 

In 1927, he was asked to record the songs for Brunswick in New York, and he was signed to the label on the condition that he sing using his high, tight "mountain" voice and forego his formal vocal training. Over the next two years, he recorded over 50 songs backed by New York musicians. Many were religious, but others ranged from traditional to popular ballads, including "Lady Gay," "The Sporting Bachelors," and "The Orphan Girl." His biggest hit was a version of "On Top of Old Smoky" called "Little Mohee," which sold over 15,000 copies. 

                             

Kazee engaged in some small businesses during his recording days but with the economy declining and his recording career ending after 1929, he took the pastorate of a Baptist church in Morehead, Kentucky, where he remained for twenty-two years. Following that sojourn he taught at Lexington Baptist Bible College for seven years.

For another twelve years he ministered at Devondale Baptist Church in Lexington, retiring in 1969. He only sang publicly at revival meetings. Much later, he began using folk themes to compose formal music, such as a cantata-based on the old Sacred Harp piece "The White Pilgrim." 

During the folk revival of the early '60s, he made a comeback and made joint appearances with other former folk stars like Dock Boggs and Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson at the Newport Folk Festival. In addition to preaching and singing, Kazee also wrote three religious books and a book on banjo playing. Back in 1958, Buell had made some informal tapes that were released on a Folkways long play album. After retirement he played, sang and picked his banjo at numerous folk festivals and colleges some as far from his Winchester, Kentucky home as Los Angeles and Seattle. He died on 31 August 1976 at age 76. Two years later some recordings he made were assembled and released on the June Appal label. 

Buell Kazee was nothing if not complex. Despite the fervour of his calling, nearly his entire life was marked by the struggle to reconcile his love and talent for music with his faith and devotion to his ministry. He disagreed with the assertion that the old mountain ballads should be exempt from sophisticated musical interpretation, as he considered them among the world’s great poetry. And though, rediscoverywas not a totally happy experience for Buell, it gave him the opportunity to tell the story of his music, to create a spell and to enjoy the ovations of audiences edified and entertained by his performances. These complexities, illustrative of a thoughtful and sensitive man, helped to make Buell Kazee the profound musician he was. 

Records show that he married the former Jennie E. Turnnyre on October 27, 1950 in Cumberland, NC. Both of his two sons were also pastors, Rev. Allan J. Kazee and Rev. Philip Ray Kazee. 

(Edited from AllMusic, ,Wikipedia Old Time Party and Hillbilly Music)

Willie Winfield born 24 August 1929

Willie Winfield (24 August 1929 - July 27, 2021) was the lead vocalist with the 1950s doo-wop group the Harptones. 

Willie Lee Elijah Winfield was born on August 24, 1929 in Surry, Virginia. He sang in a church group in Norfolk and with his brothers Clyde and Jimmy. After moving to New York in 1950, he and his brothers sang with two other men on street corners and practiced under the Manhattan Bridge. 

The Harptones were formed in New York City's Harlem district. Its members came from several other local vocal groups, none of which had any success. Originally called The Harps, the group consisted of Raoul J. Cita, Willie Winfield, William Dempsey James, Clyde Winfield, William "Dicey" Galloway and Curtis Chrebin. In November of 1953 the group performed at the world-famous Apollo Theatre on its Amateur Night and took first prize, singing an old Louis Prima number called "A Sunday Kind of Love".

A scout for MGM Records was at the show, liked their performance and asked the group to audition for him at his office. When they showed up at the office, however, they found that it hadn't opened yet. While waiting in the hall they began singing together, and were heard by a team of music producers in a nearby office. They grabbed the group and took them to a nearby rehearsal studio to their partner, a man named Monte Bruce. Bruce was so impressed with the group that he decided to sign them to a contract and form his own label for them, Bruce Records. Their first record for Bruce also turned out to be their biggest: "A Sunday Kind of Love". Before the record was released the group had to change its name from The Harps to The Harptones, in order to avoid confusion with a gospel group called The Harps of Music. 

The record was a hit and resulted in the group touring major East Coast cities, such as New York, Baltimore and Washington. They recorded several follow-up records that sold well on the East Coast, but Bruce Records was still only a small company and couldn't get the national distribution the group needed to become really well known. IN 1955 the label went bankrupt, and the group was signed by Old Town Records, which in turn placed the group on its subsidiary, Paradise Records. 

                              

For that label they recorded "Life Is But a Dream". The record hit #4 on the New York charts. After touring with pioneering rock DJ Alan Freed, the group left Old Town Records and signed with Andrea Records. After recording one record with that label the group left and signed with veteran producer George Goldner, who put them on his Rama label. They continued appearing in Freed's rock shows and even put in an appearance in a rock film, Rockin' the Blues (1956). Although they continued to record, they went through several personnel changes and their records didn't perform as well as they and their label wanted. In 1959 the group disbanded. 

In 1959 one of their old producers, Morty Craft, began a new label--Warwick Records--and persuaded the group to re-form and sign with him. However, after two years the group left Warwick for Coed Records. Their stay at Coed was distinguished by their recording of "What Will I Tell My Heart", which reached #96 on the national Top 100 charts--their only song to do so. They soon left Coed for Cub Records, a subsidiary of MGM Records (the label that originally wanted to sign them). After Cub they signed with a newly formed label, KT Records. In 1964 they renamed themselves The Soothers and without Wiullie Winfield released their version of the old Johnnie Ray weeper "The Little White Cloud That Cried". Releasd on the small Port Records label, it was not successful, and the group disbanded. Winfield began delivering prayer cards to funeral homes. 

In 1969 the group's manager received a call from a producer who wanted to know if the group would be interested in re-forming. They were, and began appearing at rock revival shows and their own concerts. The group, although often with personnel changes, continued to perform and record. In 1992 they were inducted into the Brooklyn Hall of Fame and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1999 they performed on the PBS "oldies" special Doo Wop 50 (1999). 

Winfield toured with various incarnations of the Harptones until he retired in 2019 at the age of 89. On Winfield’s last appearance, at a doo-wop weekend in April 2019 at Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, NY, he ended his career with another signature ballad, “Life Is But a Dream.” He sat on a stool until the end of the song and after the group sang “Will you part in” he stood up, leaned on his cane and finished the line and song in his familiar tenor – “my life… mine Love? This is my dream.” And he hit the high notes. 

Willie Winfield died from a heart attack on July 27^th 2021 in a Brooklyn hospital. He was 91.

(Edited mainly from IMDb, Daily ZBusiness Press & various sources)

Rocky Roberts born 23 August 1940

Rocky Roberts (August 23, 1940 – January 13, 2005) was an American-born Italian rhythm and blues singer. He was known for always wearing dark sunglasses. He is said to have introduced soul music to Italy, and set fashion trends for Italian youths in the 1960s. 

Born Charles Roberts in Tanner, a small town in Alabama, he was the fourth child of a modest family. He was fatherless at the age of eight; He began to work very young, practicing various trades. Moving to Miami, Florida, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Independence in Boca Chica Key West. Here he had some success in boxing , to the point of winning four championships in the welterweight category, in the various stages of US naval missions abroad. However, during a match, a blow to the jaw and left eye seriously injured him, forcing him to abandon boxing and to wear dark glasses which, in addition to covering the scar, gave him the artistic look that distinguished him in the following years. 

At the same time he frequented the musical band of drummer Doug Fowlkes, who performed on the ship, and who immediately noticed his innate talent as a bluesman made him sing under the name of " Rocker Roberts". The band was called Doug Fowlkes & The Airdales, the name of the US dialect used by US soldiers. In the late 1950s  Roberts continued to sing as the Airdales front man, performing both on ships and in some South Florida venues . The band, much appreciated above all for the typically soul and rhythm and blues sound, ended their naval career in 1962, to devote themselves to some tours on the Côte d'Azur ( France). 

During a French concert, they were noticed by a Barclay executive, who offered them a contract at the ATCO studios in New York City where they recorded a series of 45s and EPs. Which were published since 1960 (in Italy by Vis Radio ) under the name Rocker Roberts with Doug Fowlkes and the Airedales . The band then reorganized in 1963 under the name of Rocky Roberts and The Airedales with Doug Fowlkes as producer and manager. Roberts became quite popular in France, playing classics such as Stax and Motown, eventually winning the international Rock 'n' Roll championship in Cannes in 1964. 

                    

Rocky Roberts was noticed by Renzo Arbore and Gianni Boncompagni in 1965, who called him to Rome to entrust him with the theme song of the Bandiera Gialla radio program, with his song, in English, "T-Bird", at the time known and published only in France. Meanwhile, Roberts recorded two more 45s for Barclay,

before moving on to Durium Records. Between various appearances on TV and live events, Rocky sang the theme song from the 1966 film, Django. Quentin Tarantino reused the recording as the opening theme for his 2012 film Django Unchained. In 1967, Roberts had a major Italian hit, "Stasera Mi Butto", which sold 3.7 million copies and won the Festivalbar. The song stayed on the hit parade for five months and its success led to a 1967 motion picture of the same title, starring Roberts. He appeared subsequently in several other Italian films. 

He also appeared on the state run television network almost weekly as one of the highest paid singers in the country. His American accent didn't stop him from having hits and he was well known for his energetic Italian language cover versions of Motown & Atlantic soul hits, live and on record. In 1968 Rocky left the Airdales and formed the Pyranas. In 1969 Rocky participated in the Sanremo Festival, paired with the singer Robertino, with the song Le belle donne. Also the following year he took part in the important singing event proposing the song "Accidenti" together with The Supergroup.

In the period between 1970 and 1973 he made European tours, especially in France and Spain. In the same period he married Katia, an Italian girl who gave him a son, Randy, born in 1974. Rocky settled in Rome and in the late seventies, despite being very busy with live appearances, tours abroad and participation in television programs, he often returned to the recording studio to revisit timeless hits and also to make some soul covers inspired by the great Otis Redding . He then released some 45s for various labels ( Decca , Riviera , Barclay , Ariston Records ), but without reaching the success of the late sixties. 

In the eighties he returned to live in America. Here, after a long period of musical inactivity, he recorded Dedicated, released in 1990, an album that was once again successful in Italy and Europe. Returning to Italy in 1997, he saw his son Randy perform at the Sanremo Festival with the song No Stop. Rocky continued his shows until the early 2000’s when, with a perfect role for him, he took part in the second edition of the musical Saturday Night Fever. He died of lung cancer in Rome in 2005 at the age of 64. 

(Edited from Wikipedia. IMDb, Discogs, Beaver County Times & Surfinbird @ Center Blog)

Consuelo Velazquez born 21 August 1916

Consuelo Velázquez Torres ( August 21, 1916 - January 22, 2005) (popularly also known as Consuelito Velázquez) was a Mexican concert pianist and songwriter. Although a prolific recording artist and composer in her native Mexico, to the rest of the world Consuelo Velázquez is known almost exclusively for one song -- but what a song: "Besame Mucho," recorded over the years by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Elvis Presley to the Beatles.

Born August 29, 1916, in Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico, she was the fourth of five daughters. Velázquez began teaching herself piano at the age of four, two years later making her public debut at the Academy in Serratos. After studying at the National Conservatory, in 1938 she was received as a concert pianist at Mexico City's Palace of Fine Arts, that same year making her film debut in Noches de Carnaval. Velázquez also began performing on radio, then considered a scandalous prospect for any young Mexican woman of virtuous standing. As a result, she worked under a series of male pseudonyms, often playing the original songs she composed at night. 

Working in the idiom of the Cuban bolero, she wrote "Besame Mucho" in 1941. First recorded that same year by Emilio Tuero, the heartfelt and sweetly innocent ode to the kiss became a hit on Mexican radio but earned its shot at immortality thanks to a dispute between American broadcasters and the performing rights association ASCAP, which was demanding higher royalty fees for its members. Rival organization BMI sought to fill the gap with songs written outside the U.S., handing "Besame Mucho" to lyricist Sunny Skylar for an English-language rewrite.

Although the first American recording was by Andy Russell, "Besame Mucho" truly entered the popular consciousness in 1943, when it was a million-selling chart-topper for Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra along with featured vocalists Kitty Kallen and Bob Eberle. 

                             

Following the success of "Besame Mucho," Velázquez began a recording career of her own, writing a series of Latin American favourites including "Pecado," "La Que Se Fue," "Corazon," "Amar y Vivar," and "Que Divino." Some were also recorded by English-language acts, but all failed to repeat her initial flurry of success. In addition to music, she occasionally acted, appearing as a pianist in the 1959 film Mis Padres Se Divorcian. 

In August 1962, the city of Guadalajara celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Besame Mucho" with a festival featuring appearances by many of the artists who recorded the song over the years. In the decades since, that list has grown exponentially and now includes Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis, Jr., José Carreras, Celine Dion, and Artie Shaw. 

According to Velázquez herself, she was strongly influenced by Spanish composer Enrique Granados. Velázquez also was elected to the Mexican Congress, she served as president for SACM (Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico), and she was vice-president of CISAC (International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies). She was member of Mexican Parliament from 1979 to 1982. 

In 1999 a Spanish television network named "Besame Mucho" the song of the century, and in 2003 Velázquez was immortalized with a Mexico City statue sculpted by the renowned artist Sergio Peraza. Velázquez was 88 years old when she died in Mexico City, of respiratory problems, on January 22, 2005.Velázquez had been in hospital since she suffered a fall in November 2004. 

(edited from AllMusic, Wikipedia & IMDb) 

Jack Teagarden born 20 August 1905

Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905–January 15, 1964) was an influential jazz trombonist and vocalist. One of the classic giants of jazz, Jack Teagarden was not only the top pre-bop trombonist (playing his instrument with the ease of a trumpeter) but one of the best jazz singers too. He was such a fine musician that younger brother Charlie (an excellent trumpeter) was always overshadowed. 

Jack started on piano at age five (his mother Helen was a ragtime pianist), switched to baritone horn, and finally took up trombone when he was ten. By 1920 when he turned 15, he was performing with his mother in local theaters. Teagarden played throughout the South for the next eight years. Among the many groups that he worked with were Peck Kelley’s Bad Boys (1921-23), Doc Ross’ Jazz Bandits (1925-27) and Johnny Johnson’s Staler Pennsylvanians. 

He made his recording debut (two obscure titles) with the latter in late 1927 when they came to New York.  Staying in New York, Teagarden worked with Wingy Manone’s group for a week, toured with a variety show, and performed with Billy Lustig’s Scranton Sirens at the Roseland Ballroom in Feb. 1928. Word quickly spread about the exciting young trombonist. He was on a record date with songwriter Willard Robison but really gained attention for his playing on two versions of “She’s A Great Great Girl” with Roger Wolfe Kahn’s orchestra. His virtuosic statements showed what the trombone was capable of.  

After working with trumpeter Tommy Gott for two months, Teagarden joined the Ben Pollack Orchestra, a major jazz band also featuring a 19-year old clarinetist (Benny Goodman) and cornetist Jimmy McPartland. the late-1920s "Mr. T." recorded frequently with many groups including units headed by Eddie Condon, Red Nichols, and Louis Armstrong ("Knockin' a Jug"). 

                              

His versions of "Basin Street Blues" and "Beale Street Blues" (songs that would remain in his repertoire for the remainder of his career) were definitive. Teagarden, who was greatly admired by Tommy Dorsey, would have been a logical candidate for fame in the swing era but he made a strategic error. In late 1933, when it looked as if jazz would never catch on commercially, he signed a five-year

contract with Paul Whiteman. Although Whiteman's Orchestra did feature Teagarden now and then (and he had a brief period in 1936 playing with a small group from the band, the Three T's, with his brother Charlie and Frankie Trumbauer), the contract effectively kept Teagarden from going out on his own and becoming a star. It certainly prevented him from leading what would eventually became the Bob Crosby Orchestra. 

In 1939, Jack Teagarden was finally "free" and he soon put together a big band that would last until 1946. However, it was rather late to be organizing a new orchestra (the competition was fierce) and, although there were some good musical moments, none of the sidemen became famous, the arrangements lacked their own musical personality, and by the time it broke up Teagarden was facing bankruptcy. The trombonist, however, was still a big name (he had fared quite well in the 1940 Bing Crosby film The Birth of the Blues) and he had many friends.

Crosby helped Teagarden straighten out his financial problems, and from 1947-1951 he was a star sideman with Louis Armstrong's All-Stars; their collaborations on "Rocking Chair" are classic. After leaving Armstrong, Teagarden stayed active during his last 13 years. Highpoints included recordings with Bobby Hackett, a 1955 reunion with Paul Whiteman, an album with Bud Freeman, singing “Rockin’ Chair” with Louis Armstrong in the 1958 film Jazz On A Summer’s Day, an extensive tour of Asia during 1958-59, his appearance on the television special Chicago And All That Jazz with Eddie Condon in 1961, and his 1962 album of wistful Willard Robison pieces called Think Well Of Me. 

With Don Goldie as his trumpeter, Teagarden had a strong Dixieland group for a few years in the 1960s, but his decades of excessive drinking and a general world weariness (which had made him perfect for the Willard Robison album) were taking its toll. There would be one more highpoint. At the Monterey Jazz Festival on Sept. 20-21, 1963, Teagarden was featured on two sets. While the first had him in a hot group with clarinetist Pee Wee Russell, baritonist Gerry Mulligan, pianist Joe Sullivan and trumpeter Charlie Teagarden, it was the second appearance that was most poignant. Jack was joined not only by Charlie but his mother Helen (for two songs) on piano and sister Norma. Fortunately the family reunion was recorded and it was released by the Memphis Archives label as A Hundred Years From Today. 

Less than four months later, on Jan. 15, 1964, Jack Teagarden died in a New Orleans motel from a heart attack at the age of 58 years old and had reportedly been suffering from pneumonia.  After all these years he is still remembered as being one of the greatest of all jazz trombonists, a fine singer and a lovable personality. 

(Edited from AllMusic & Syncopated Times)

Doc Bagby born 19 August 1929

Harry "Doc" Bagby (19 August 1917* – 3 September 1970 Manhattan) also known as Hank Bagly was an American studio musician who played piano and organ, and backed many artists in pop and jazz. He played a major part in the music scene from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. He was also a bandleader and solo artist in his own right. He released many singles throughout his career. He is also the co-composer of the hit song "Rock the Joint" which has been recorded by Jimmy Preston and Bill Haley. 

Bagby was born Harry Camilus Bagby in Philadelphia. A name like Doc Bagby has the ring of an insider and the keyboardist who is sometimes credited as the less-distinctive sounding Hank Bagby was the perfect studio insider, the session man's session man. A detailed account of his comings and goings would eventually have the dramatic impact of an elevator inspection certificate, but rock & roll would have never made it to the top floor creatively without him. He was the type of superb session player who makes early rock & roll and rhythm & blues oddities such a delight and he also had strong roots in country blues, even playing on some of the best records of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. 

If the subject is recording any of this type of genre material in New York City in the '60s, Gotham studios would have been one of the doors opening, with the imposing figure of Bagby no doubt standing behind it. He learned the basics of his trade at numerous house parties in the 30s where he was in demand as a young teenager. He created his own orchestra in the early 40s but that died a death as Babgy was drafted and then demobed in 1945. 

From there, he ran a record shop and quickly became the music director for Gotham Records where he produced many records ranging from gospel, R&B and blues. He then co-wrote, with guitarist Harry Crafton, Rock the Joint which was a Top 10 R&B hit while also backing numerous other artists with a Gotham orchestra he fronted. A standout Gotham session with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee in 1954 resulted in titles such as the engaging "Baby Let's Have Some Fun," the timely "Four O'Clock Blues," and a disturbing "Harmonica Rumble." 

                             

Bagby’s own records began to appear in 1951 and he has a discography that would curl a hipster's hair, earning himself a place on exotica websites thanks to his appearances on groovy organ records such as the tasty 1957 "Dumplin's" or the 1959 "Doctor Rock." Other record collectors swear by the Doc Bagby Trio's 1953 single of "I Surrender Dear" coupled with “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" on the Gotham label, of course, available in red vinyl, naturally, while jazz fans will want his sides with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis with whose combo he joined on the Bethlehem label. 

From 1959, he worked for a host of small independent labels as he came into contact and worked with the likes of Harold Melvin (getting him a place in The Bluenotes. Bagby produced their early hit, My Hero), Garnett Mimms, Donnie Elbert, Big Al Sears and more. Among the recordings he produced were "I Got A Gal" and "Bewitched" for The Mowhawks which was released on Val-Ue 211 in 1960, and Davenport Sisters with their single, "I Was Teasin'" bw "Our Summer Vacation Is Over", released on Vida DV 0108 in 1963. 

In 1964, he was regularly at this 46th Street recording facility with accompanying players such as guitarist Larry Lucie and the fine bassist Doles Dickens. In 1964, his single "Rubberneck" bw "Cornbread" was released on the Vim label, cat#519. He released many other singles on an assortment of labels. 

He was married to Barbara Kemp (née; Barbara Ward; 1919–2009), who collaborated with him in songwriting. Bagby died in Manhattan on September 3, 1970 following a short illness. 

(Edited from AllMusic. Wikipedia & The Audiophile Man) (* other sources give 1st August as birthdate)

Hank Penny born 18 August 1918

Herbert Clayton Penny (August 18, 1918* – April 17, 1992) was an accomplished banjo player and one of the foremost practitioners of the Western swing sound. 

Born Herbert Clayton Penny on September 18, 1918, in Birmingham, AL, his father was a disabled coal miner who inspired young Hank with his skills as a guitarist, poet, and magician before his death in 1928. By the age of 15, Penny was performing professionally on local radio; in 1936, he moved to New Orleans, where he first fell under the sway of Western swing pioneers like Wills and Milton Brown. A friendship with steel virtuoso Noel Boggs only served to further his enthusiasm for the swing form. 

After a few years with New Orleans' WWL as a solo performer, Penny returned to Birmingham, where he formed the group the Radio Cowboys. In 1938, the group first entered the studio under the guidance of legendary producer Art Satherly to record numbers like "When I Take My Sugar to Tea" and Penny's own "Flamin' Mamie." After the Radio Cowboys joined the cast of the Atlanta-based program Crossroad Follies, with new band member Noel Boggs; at the same time, they also welcomed a new fiddle player by the name of Boudleaux Bryant. 

After turning down offers to take over vocal chores for both Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys and the Light Crust Doughboys, Penny moved the group to Nashville in 1939, where they again recorded with Satherley. Shortly after, Boggs left the group to join Jimmy Wakely and was replaced by Eddie Duncan. After recording songs like "Tobacco State Swing" and "Peach Tree Shuffle" in Chicago in mid-1940, the band was forced to dissolve after most of its members were drafted. Penny remained in Chicago working as a disc jockey before assembling a new group for a 1941 session in North Carolina, which generated the songs "Why Did I Cry" and "Lonesome Train Blues." 

The Plantation Boys

After signing on with the Cincinnati station WLW's programs Boone Country Jamboree and the Midwestern Hayride, Penny formed a new band called the Plantation Boys. In addition to work with the Delmore Brothers, Merle Travis, Bradley Kincaid, and Grandpa Jones, they also backed WLW's pop singer Doris Day. In 1944 the band toured with the USO before Penny traveled to California at the urging of Travis. There, he became enamoured with the music of Spade Cooley and met Cooley's onetime manager Foreman Phillips, who offered Penny work as a bandleader. After a brief return to Cincinnati which led to a brief recording date, Penny returned to California to assemble another band which included Boggs; however, when Phillips began ordering Penny how to play, the bandleader balked and the group promptly disbanded. 

                             

Soon, he was fronting an all-girl band at a Los Angeles club but was quickly approached by Bobbie Bennett, Cooley's then-manager, to lead one of several groups formed to play at the bookings Cooley and his orchestra were themselves too busy to fulfill. While Tex Ritter led one band and Travis led another, Penny fronted the Painted Post Rangers, which scored a pair of significant chart hits with "Steel Guitar Stomp" and "Get Yourself a Redhead." When the Painted Post Club went bankrupt, he moved to lead the large house band at the Riverside Rancho. 

In 1946, he joined Slim Duncan's ABC network show Roundup Time as a comedian. After moving first back to Cincinnati and then to Arlington, VA, he returned to California and took a disc jockey position. He also formed yet another new band, the Penny Serenaders, which included guitarist Speedy West as well as accordion player Bud Sievert, fiddler Billy Hill, and bassist Hank Caldwell. Together with club owner Amand Gautier, Penny also opened his own dancehall, which featured Bob Wills on its opening night. 

In June 1948, Penny joined Cooley's massively popular television program, where he performed as a comedian best known for his backwoods character "That Plain Ol' Country Boy." A year later, he entered the studio to record a number of songs, among them "Hillbilly Bebop," the first known bop effort cut by a country act, and the 1950 hit "Bloodshot Eyes." After he and Gautier opened another club, the legendary Palomino, he reformed the Penny Serenaders, which included singer Mary Morgan, later known as Jaye P. Morgan. In 1952, Penny left Cooley to join Dude Martin's program; after first stealing Martin's wife, singer Sue Thompson, he began hosting his own series, The Hank Penny Show, which was cancelled after only seven weeks. 

By 1954, Penny had moved to Las Vegas, where he began a seven-year run as a performer at the Golden Nugget Casino, fronting a band which included the likes of Roy Clark. He also continued to record, even cutting a jazz record in 1961. After divorcing Thompson, he also recorded a comedy album before moving to Carson City, NV, in 1970 to begin performing with his protégé, Thom Bresh, the son of Merle Travis. After leaving his band to Bresh, Penny moved to Nashville. After a tenure on radio in Wichita, KS, he and fifth wife Shari returned to California in the mid-'70s, and for the most part he retired. Penny died of a heart attack on April 17, 1992 at his Southern California home.  (Edited from AllMusic) (*some give September as birth month)