Recently identified Vance Terry tracks from 1957

[Charles Mohnike]

In 1955, Vance left Bob Wills' band and moved from Sacramento to my current hometown of Chico, CA to pursue a business degree at the university. He did get that degree in 1958, but while a student he continued to gig around town. Most notably, he joined Moriss Taylor and His Sierra Melody Gang, fronted by a local country star with long-running programs on both radio and early television (In fact, Taylor's TV show would continue into the late '90s, making it possibly the longest continuously running country music program in television history).

Moriss signed to the small Hollywood-based label Key in 1956, so Vance accompanied the band on a trip to an unknown L.A. recording studio, where they cut the two singles linked below.

As far as I know, this is new info on Vance. The online catalogs (Discogs, 45cat, etc.) don't credit him on these singles. I learned of his inclusion while interviewing local guitarist Charlie Robinson, who plays on these sessions and spent many years in Moriss' band. Charlie is an incredible country and jazz guitarist in his own right. He's played with many greats, starting as a teenager in Jelly Sanders' band in Porterville, CA.

Pic: Charlie Robinson (right) with Moriss Taylor (left). Vance was not yet in the band at the time of this pic.



REQUEST: I'm looking for a tape of Vance (and probably Charlie Robinson) jamming at Chico's KPAY in the late 1950's. Mylos Sonka lists it on his Vance page, however I contacted him and he's not sure he still has a copy. Charlie is now 90 and many of his local students are planning a musical tribute to him later this year. It would be great to include some of that audio, as it would be some of Charlie's earliest on record.

These tracks were recorded in 1956 or 57, and released in 1957 and 58. All tracks include Vance Terry and Charlie Robinson.

Moriss Taylor "Look-A-What" (1957)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUslUylTCb0

B-Side: "Sweetie Pie Punkin"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=netlaS19dHE

Moriss Taylor "Out-Late Blues" (1958)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjVl-Y0lOWk

B-Side: "Hey Gramps!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRvfk72q1xU

[Tim Toberer]

Sounds like Merle Travis on Out Late Blues and Hey Gramps, many imitated this style however so who knows. Definitely sounds like Vance Terry. Thanks for posting these! The rarest gems... If you find these recordings, I would love to hear them.

[Greg Vincent]

You had me at “Vance Terry”. These are terrific —thank you, Charles!