SLIM CLARK AUTOGRAPHED LP + LETTER & PHOTO Cowboy and Yodel Songs

$

65

THIS LP IS AUTOGRAPHED ON THE FRONT COVER BY SLIM CLARK. ALSO ENCLOSED IS A SIGNED, PERSONAL LETTER FROM SLIM TO A FRIEND TO WHOM HE GAVE THIS RECORD, ALONG WITH AN 8 X 10 PHOTO. Yodeling Slim Clark - Cowboy and Yodel Songs. Continental Records CLP-1505 monoraul 12" LP record album. Released circa 1961-1962. Condition: Record is VG+. Cover is VG+ with some edge and corner wear including 2" top center split seam. Comments: The album cover is personally autographed on the front, "Sincerely Slim Clark." An 8x10 black and white lithograph of Slim is also included A typewritten letter signed by Mr. Clark to a friend was enclosed inside the album cover. The letter which is dated March 12, 1962 reads in part, "I have included in the package my latest album release. This is out on stereo also, and should be in music stores across the country now. It is soon to be put out in a new jacket, with my name on it, don't ask me why, it didn't come out that way in the first place, cause I sure couldn't tell you. It is of songs I cut last Sept. so entirely new. Previously Continental (all these other labels are subsidiary of theirs) has released on albums, songs that I had out on single 78's years ago. They keep juggling them around, but they were cut back at least nine years ago, so this new one I'd like to push a little. I honestly have so many albums out I couldn't tell you how many...Sincerely, Slim." Tracks: Sweet Betsy from Pike, Git Along to the Big Corral, The Gal I Left Behind, I"m Ridin' ol Paint, Yellow Rose of Texas, Trail Drive to Missoula, My Country Home in Heaven, Cowboy's Lament, The Bum Song, The Old Rugged Cross, Ol Zebra Dun, I'd Like to Be in Texas, Rocky Mountain Yodeler, I Got No Use for the Woman.

Biography: Raymond LeRoy Clark (December 11, 1917 - July 5, 2000) was an American musician known for his yodeling. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clark. Slim completed two years of high school, at which time he became a professional musician at the age of 15 in 1932 - however, he was performing at grange halls and fairs as early as 1930. His early days included performances at WHAI in Greenfield, Massachusetts and WKNE in Keene, New Hampshire. In 1936, he went on the air as "Wyoming Buck" and a few months later the radio station manager re-named him "Yodeling Slim Clark" - which was his trademark throughout his career. His performances at WKNE starting in 1938 included a memorable weekly show with legendary Keene announcer Ozzie Wade. Later, he moved to Maine, where he starred in the 1960s on the Bangor radio program, "RFD Dinnerbell". From 1952-1967 he was featured in both radio and television programs at WABI in Bangor. Though primarily known as a single act, Slim's bands included the "Red River Rangers", "The Trailriders" and "The Trailsmen". Country music favorites Kenny Roberts and Dick Curless (The Tumbleweed Kid) were members of the Red River Rangers and the Trailriders, respectively. In 1946, Slim signed with Continental Records in New York City, at the urging of yodeler Elton Britt. He made his first 78 rpm recording that same year. The songs he recorded at Continental were largely traditional cowboy and folk tunes, along with a few Wilf Carter songs and some originals, often co-written with Pete Roy. Clark stayed with the label until 1957, followed by associations with several independent labels. He cut four singles for Doc Williams' Wheeling label in 1953 and later made an album for the Canadian Arc label. In 1965, Clark recorded a few excellent albums for Palomino records. During his very active career, Slim recorded over 50 78s, 40 45s and over 25 albums. Copies of his old 78s are in the Library at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and have become collector's items. Slim also appeared coast-to-coast on both the NBC network and the ABC network on different jamborees. He was featured on Folk Music USA. Slim performed western music for 70 years. He gained popularity throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe with only a handful of appearances outside his life-long New England base. After a partial retirement in the early 1970s, he recorded for Palomino Records, and played many festivals during the summertime. Slim won the World Yodeling Championship in 1947 and was inducted into the Yodeler's Hall of Fame, along with Jimmie Rodgers, Elton Britt, and Wilf Carter. He was a member of the Western Music Association's Hall of Fame. He is represented in the Walkway of Stars at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. In November 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame, Massachusetts Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rhode Island Country Music Hall of Fame.