The Delmore Brothers
Alton (b. 25 December 1908, Elkmont, Limestone County, Alabama, USA, d. 9 June 1964, Huntsville, USA; guitar) and Rabon (b. 3 December 1916, also Elkmont, d. 4 December 1952, Athens, Alabama, USA; fiddle/four-string tenor guitar) were two of the many children born to Charles and Mary Delmore, who, like many others of their day, struggled to make a living from a little dirt farm. The boys developed an interest in gospel music, and by 1926 they were singing harmonies and playing instruments. In 1931, they recorded for US (Columbia). Two years later they secured a regular 15-minute slot on the Grand Ole Opry and played ragtime guitar in a style similar to Blind Boy Fuller's. Between 1933 and 1940, they recorded over 100 tracks for (RCA) (Victor) and also accompanied Arthur Smith and Uncle Dave Macon. Brown's Ferry Blues from the first session was so popular that they recorded Brown's Ferry Blues, Part 2. Alton sang lead to Rabon's harmony but sometimes they switched parts in mid-song. Their constant touring took its toll as both brothers drank heavily and Alton suffered from depression. They left the Opry in 1938 and moved to North Carolina and then Birmingham, Alabama, but they kept touring. The Delmore Brothers recorded for US (Decca) during 1940-41 including When It's Time For The Whipoorwill To Sing. They stopped touring as a result of petrol rationing during the war, and teamed up with Grandpa Jones and Merle Travis for radio appearances and later records as the Brown's Ferry Four. In 1944 the Delmore Brothers recorded Prisoner's Farewell/Sweet Sweet Thing, both written by Jim Scott, one of Alton's pseudonyms, for the new (King) label, and then had major successes with Hillbilly Boogie, Freight Train Boogie and, in particular, Blues Stay Away From Me. Their lonesome sound, helped by Wayne Raney and Lonnie Glossom's harmonicas, created both a classic blues and a classic country record. The Delmore Brothers hit a stormy patch in Houston in the early '50s as Alton suffered a heart attack, lost his daughter and drank even more heavily; their father died; and Rabon's marriage fell apart. He moved to Detroit, while Alton stayed in Houston—managing a bar. In August 1952, with Rabon suffering from cancer, the Delmore Brothers made their final recordings for (King) in Cincinnati. Rabon died at his home in December 1952 and Alton, overcome by grief, moved to Huntsville and became a postman. He started teaching guitar and made his last record in 1956. In the early '60s, however, he worked with his son, Lionel, replacing Rabon and also wrote short stories. Alton died of liver disease in June 1964. The Delmore Brothers were elected to the Nashville Songwriters' Hall Of Fame in 1971, although, in actuality, Alton wrote 10 songs to each of Rabon's. Their close harmony work has been copied by numerous performers, notably Johnny and Dorsey Burnette and the The Everly Brothers. Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook, maintains, ‘The Delmore Brothers were the first country-rockers. The licks in Blues Stay Away From Me are the same as those in Ain't That A Shame.’