Mervin James Shiner (February 20th, 1921 (Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania) is a Country singer and guitar player (mostly Honky-Tonk style). Like
so many talented country performers, Shiner never got the breaks to make the
big time.
Martin guitars have held a special place in Merv's heart
ever since his father bought him his first one in 1937. What a sacrifice it was
in the middle of the Depression for Merv's father to purchase his 16-year-old
son a Martin guitar for $37.50 so he could pursue his dreams of being a
musician. He and his mom began singing on the radio every Sunday night out of
WEST in Easton. The duo known as "Mervin Shiner and his Mother" sang
country and gospel songs for the program "Western Roundup." The mother
and son duo soon gained widespread popularity in Pennsyvania .
For a period during high school, Mervin hitchhiked to
Easton once a week to perform an additional 15-minute program by himself. Back
then, country was considered 'hick' and known as hillbilly music. Following his
high school graduation Mervin headed for Hollywood, intent upon continuing his
career in the entertainment world. He sang and played in several shows then moved
back east where he remained busy singing weekly radio spots on WEST and WSAN in
Allentown. He even became a part of a local cowboy band, the Circle J. Range
Riders from Quakertown. Mervin
recalled.
The Range Riders played with Roy Rogers and was the Dorney Park house band.
After a successful audition in 1949, Mervin and his mother
sang on a television program called the "Hometown Frolic" out of WATV
in Newark, N.J. As a result Mervin came to the attention of Vaughn Horton, a
famous songwriter, who helped the young singer secure a Decca recording
contract. His songs made the Top 10, including "Why Don't You Haul Off and
Love Me," "Little Liza Lou," "Anticipation Blues,"
"An Old Christmas Card," "I Overlooked an Orchid" and
"If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time." Some fans called him
"the singer with a tear in his voice," perhaps a trait he gained from
his mother's advice that he should always, "Sing the way the song makes
you feel."
But it was the children’s song “Peter Cottontail” that really
opened all the doors for Mervin. "Peter Cottontail" was hoppin' on
the airwaves by Easter 1950 and Mervin soon was singing the Opry with Hank
Williams and Minnie Pearl and went on to sing with or
write songs for Dolly
Parton and Charlie Pride.
After recording
"Cottontail," Shiner went on to become immensely popular below the
Mason-Dixon line as a standard on the Nashville circuit. Much of his career was
spent touring the United States and living in Nashville. Shiner has recorded
with the famous gospel quartet, the Jordanaires, and was even the star
attraction of the Camel Caravan. He recorded for various labeles throughout his career including Coral, RCA Victor, Coffee House, MGM, Little Darlin' and Cetron and used the name Mervin, Merv or Murv Shiner.
During the 70’s Shiner lived in Tampa, Florida and
worked booking bands until he "retired". He stopped performing regularly in 2004 but during
2014 at the age of 93 he performed most of his favourite songs at a Homecoming Anniversary
concert in Bethlehem captivating his audience with precious memories and
anecdotal stories which he weaved throughout his 18-song set. With a musical
career that has spanned more than seven decades, much of it spent in Nashville,
he had lots to draw from.
As of 2016 Shiner was still singing and playing his
Martin Guitar.
(Edited from Country Picker & Decca album liner
notes)
