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Well, here is a record from my neck of the woods. Recorded at the Sacred Records recording studio in Los Angeles, CA in 1956, this gospel gem is as golden as the wax it was pressed on. I had the good fortune to track down Mr. Buford Dowell, Jr. (first name is mis-spelled on the record) and gather some more details.
First off, as stated, it was cut in 1956. I had guessed a bit later then that, which goes to show dating some of these records can be tricky. At the time, Mr. Dowell was 16 years old. The record was sold at his father's revival meetings for $1 each. Mr. Dowell believes there were four pressings, with a total of 10,000 total records being sold. As noted on the label, his father played drums. He started out as a western swing drummer in the early 1930's before moving to New Orleans where he started playing with Dixieland Jazz bands, including a time with Harry James. Around 1940, he was converted and from then on he worked as an evangelist, holding revivals throughout the country. He finally settled back in the San Diego area and his son, Buford Dowell, Jr. recorded this record.
The other aspect of interest is that a 21 year old Semie Moseley is playing the hot rockabilly guitar licks during the first break....and perhaps the shouts of encouragement throughout the record. Buford Dowell, Sr. was friends with Reverend Ray Boatright, the partner and investor who helped Semie Moseley get Mosrite (Mos-Rite....get it?) guitars started in 1956. Well, this connection brought a young Semie into the studio for this session.
It was a real treat to speak with Mr. Dowell about this record and I hope to add more to this story in the future. In the meantime, enjoy this great gospel record. It has great energy and great performances by all involved. Feel the spirit indeed!
THANKS PAL...FOR THE STORY! BY GOD'S GRACE, I TRAVELED OVER 6,000,000 MILES IN REVIVALS & INT. MISSIONARY CRUSADES..IN 56 NATIONS. GO FOR GOD! -BUFORDOWELL@GMAIL.COM
ReplyDeleteTHANKS PAL...FOR THE STORY! BY GOD'S GRACE, I TRAVELED OVER 6,000,000 MILES IN REVIVALS & INT. MISSIONARY CRUSADES..IN 56 NATIONS. GO FOR GOD! -BUFORDOWELL@GMAIL.COM
ReplyDeleteJAMES, I FORGOT TO MENTION; " THAT DAD (WHILE IN N.O., PLAYED WITH RED NICHOLS, LOUIE ARM- STRONG, OTHERS, THEN STARTED HIS OWN DIXIELAND BAND.."BOOTS DOWELL & THE D.L. BAND". ON THIER WAY TO SAN DIEGO, THEY DID A FEW NIGHTS IN BEAUMONT TEXAS & MET & HIRED "HARRY JAMES!" (JUST OUT OF HIGH SCH). ON TO S.D., SOON THE DEL CORNADO RESORT HOTEL!(WORLD FAMOUS)
ReplyDeleteIN ABOUT 38, BECAME A CHRISTIAN, DEVOLVED THE BAND.. & IN ABOUT 42, HIT THE GOSPEL TRAIL AS A NATIONAL EVANGELIST FOR 25 YRS! I WENT ON AS A REVIVAL CRUSADE ORGANIST, FOR 28 YRS, THEN PREACHING INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY CRUSADES IN 58 NATIONS! GOD HAS BEEN GOOD! >BRODOWELL@GMAIL.COM<
I don't believe Semie would have been 21 in 1956. I would say 18 at the most and more likely age 16.
ReplyDeleteI believe Semie would have been 16-18 in 1956.
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