Luke Simmons (September 15, 1927*) was a Canadian Country singer.
Luke was born in Vancouver, Canada. He enjoyed the country music he heard at barn dances and on the radio and took an active interest in music by the time he was 4 years old. By the age of 7 he was playing his first guitar.
At the age of 14. he and a long time friend Vic Crane explored Canada, working in the lumber and fishing industries, cowboying and even a spell as hobo's, but returned to Vancouver two years later. After joining the Merchant Navy, his ship docked at New Zealand which impressed the young Luke.
In late 1952, now married to Lois, Luke with Vic Crane and his wife boarded a ship bound for Auckland in new Zealand, with Luke determined to make a name as an entertainer. The boys soon joined Noel Peach of Astor Records.
It was Peach who formed a band with Luke and Vic plus steel guitarist Bill Sevesi and rhtyhm guitarist Joe Marvin, who he named The Blue Mountain Boys. Before long the band were releasing records on the Tanza label with radio stations giving them extensive airplay. A few more musicians were added by Peach and very soon Luke and the boys were making personal radio appearances. Simmons also later signed to His Master's Voice (NZ) Limited who recorded him on their EMI Columbia label.
By this time Luke and his wife Louis had a baby daughter which they named Jeanie. The Simmons decided to return to Canada to visit family and the band soon dissolved. Luke spent no time in forming his own Blue Mountain Boys and was soon signed by the Canadian Rodeo label with which he cut some superb tracks in 1957.
Little is known of Luke beyond that point. Whether or not he became disillusioned with the music business is unclear, but he appears to have dropped out of the industry and moved from Canada to Seattle in the USA.
(Edited from Jasmine liner notes) (* other sources give 27th September as birth-date)
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For “Luke Simmons - Pure Down Home Raw 1950s Country Singin' & Pickin'
(2012 Reconstructed Jasmine)” go here:
https://www.imagenetz.de/kx8PU
1. Wabash Cannonball (2:29)
2. Mind Your Own Business (2:57)
3. My Shoes Keep Walkin' Back To You (2:29)
4. Deep Sea Jamboree (2:40)
5. Your Cheating Heart (2:41)
6. Night Train To Memphis (3:00)
7. Old Shep (2:41)
8. Waitin' On A Siding (2:48)
9. Geisha Girl (2:22)
10. Hummingbird Special (2:45)
11. Cup Of Joy (2:44)
12. Jambalaya (2:43)
13. Down In Quebec (2:25)
14. It's A Long Way Back To Your Heart (3:00)
15. Fraser River Valley Blues (1:58)
16. Take These Chains From My Heart (2:47)
17. Lady's Man (2:18)
18. Days That Used To Be (3:00)
19. Howlin' At The Moon (2:59)
20. Oh, Lonesome Me (2:22)
21. Just Waitin' (2:58)
22. Hobo Joe's Boogie (2:02)
23. I Miss My Swiss (2:36)
24. Honkytonk Man (2:03)
25. Waiting At The Gate For Katie (2:15)
26. Rainy Day Blues (2:51)
27. The Gal Who Invented Kissing (2:46)
28. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (3:01)
29. Christmas Carols By The Old Corral (2:05)
30. I Like My Music Country Style (2:16)
'Pure', 'Down Home' and 'Raw' are three words that aptly describe the driving rhythms and no-holds-barred sounds of fiddle and steel packed into the 30 tracks from the Canadian country artist, Luke Simmons. Combining influences of Hank Williams, Jimmy Rodgers and the country and rockabilly greats of his day in the early 1950s, yes siree this is without doubt as pure, raw and down home as you can get!
Many of the tracks are on CD for the first time, previously just available on scarce 78s and heard only by the most ardent of collectors - now all beautifully remastered. back the pages of time and listen to the authentic vocals of this great country singer who was a key link in developing the '50s country style even in places as far-fetched as New Zealand and Australia. Yee Haw! (Jasmine notes)
All tracks taken from digital download albums.
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