Luther Roundtree

He might have already been a Town Slicker at one stage, but this Texan really was more of a nation boy. A specialist since the age group of 19, he selected guitar with a number of bands throughout the South, especially the combo of Gene “Blue” Steele from 1929 through 1932. Through a lot of the ’30s he previously his own present on the Memphis radio place, then going to Hollywood at the start from the ’40s. Fellow program guitarist Perry Botkin handed down off the work with Jones to Roundtree, though it needed playing banjo instead of guitar. At that time the Jones music group had a normal dance membership gig and was starting to evolve from a Dixieland clothing into something totally uncommon. Roundtree remained through 1944 so when the town Slickers began becoming presented on radio in the Bob Burns up Show, a particular part was made for the folksy Roundtree as hillbilly Cousin Luther. He also made an appearance within the music group in the MGM film Meet up with the People. non-etheless, his romantic relationship with Jones became terribly strained when it proved the touring existence didn’t match Roundtree whatsoever. As Roundtree’s feeling soured, Jones made the decision he would have to be performing more and attempted to pressure him to accomplish a standup humor routine within the display. When Roundtree couldn’t have the ability to become funny, Jones trim his income. Next, the always-aggressive bandleader found a so-called “friend” of Roundtree’s in Kansas Town who also occurred to try out banjo and held him sitting on the sidelines until a justification could be discovered to fireplace Roundtree. The reason was the Roundtree informing Jones to “head to hell” several nights afterwards. When this occurred, Roundtree recalled Jones forcing him to indication papers proclaiming that he’d never require a nickel in royalties in the Jones property, an innovative plan at that time, but one which would continue being widely employed in the music business by bandleaders such as for example Frank Zappa. Roundtree acquired his own programs, however, which didn’t involve laying back again and living from the Jones property. He became well-established being a low-key program participant for middle of the street nation music, his program credits including Tennessee Ernie Ford, Tex Ritter and Bobby Bare. He performed on banjo with satirist Stan Freberg and his group the Banjo Kings. Roundtree was among several Jones sidemen that got associated with Crimson Ingles when this talented reed participant and goof vamoosed the town Slickers and started his own music group. Roundtree was highlighted on Ingles’ record Timtayshun. Another ex-Slicker, Nation Washburne, brought Roundtree in within the home music group for the Curt Massey Present. Roundtree retired in the first ’80s.