Luke McDaniel
Encyclopedia
Luke McDaniel who also recorded under the stage name
Jeff Daniels, was an American
country
and rockabilly music singer and songwriter
.
and raised on a farm. He learned to play mandolin
in high school
, playing in local churches and public events. In 1945, he formed his own band, which opened for Hank Williams at a show in New Orleans later in the decade. His first recording was the song "Whoa Boy", issued on Trumpet Records
in 1952.
He then moved to Mobile, Alabama
and played with Jack Cardwell, a star on local radio and television station WKAB. He became a regular on the "Tom 'N Jack" show, and in 1953 Cardwell's label, King Records
, signed him. He recorded several singles for King but none of them were hits, and he moved to New Orleans in 1954. While there, he recorded for Mel-A-Dee Records and played on the Louisiana Hayride
.
In 1956, he was persuaded by friends Elvis Presley
and Carl Perkins
to send a demo recording to Sam Phillips
, who signed him to his label Sun Records
. McDaniel recorded two sessions with Sun, but left the label over a contract dispute. None of the Sun sides were released until Charly Records
compiled them decades later.
Following this, he signed with Big Howdy Records and released records under the name Jeff Daniel, but was unable to score a hit record under this name, either. He continued recording into the 1970s.
Buddy Holly
performed his song "Midnight Shift" (written under the pseudonym
Earl Lee), and The Byrds
covered his "You're Still on My Mind" on their album Sweetheart of the Rodeo
. George Jones
and Jim Reeves
also covered McDaniel's songs.
as Jeff Daniels
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Jeff Daniels, was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and rockabilly music singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Biography
McDaniel was born in Ellisville, MississippiEllisville, Mississippi
Ellisville is a city in Jones County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,465 at the time of the 2000 census.-History:The city is named for Powhatan Ellis, a former U.S. Senator for Mississippi and descendant of Chief Powhatan, father of Pocahontas...
and raised on a farm. He learned to play mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, playing in local churches and public events. In 1945, he formed his own band, which opened for Hank Williams at a show in New Orleans later in the decade. His first recording was the song "Whoa Boy", issued on Trumpet Records
Trumpet Records
Trumpet Records was a recording company started by Henry and Lillian McMurry in Jackson, Mississippi in 1951.-History of Trumpet Records:The goal of Trumpet Records was to provide a means of recording some of the most popular combos in the Mississippi Delta region that were going unrecorded because...
in 1952.
He then moved to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
and played with Jack Cardwell, a star on local radio and television station WKAB. He became a regular on the "Tom 'N Jack" show, and in 1953 Cardwell's label, King Records
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
, signed him. He recorded several singles for King but none of them were hits, and he moved to New Orleans in 1954. While there, he recorded for Mel-A-Dee Records and played on the Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
.
In 1956, he was persuaded by friends Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
to send a demo recording to Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
, who signed him to his label Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
. McDaniel recorded two sessions with Sun, but left the label over a contract dispute. None of the Sun sides were released until Charly Records
Charly Records
Charly Records is a British record label which specialises in reissued material.-History:Among the labels whose original releases are reissued by Charly are Vee-Jay, Sun, Immediate, BYG, Tomato, and Fania. Charly Records was founded in France in 1974 by Jean-Luc Young, who had been a promoter of...
compiled them decades later.
Following this, he signed with Big Howdy Records and released records under the name Jeff Daniel, but was unable to score a hit record under this name, either. He continued recording into the 1970s.
Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
performed his song "Midnight Shift" (written under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Earl Lee), and The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
covered his "You're Still on My Mind" on their album Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Sweetheart of the Rodeo is the sixth album by American rock band The Byrds and was released on August 30, 1968 on Columbia Records...
. George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
and Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
also covered McDaniel's songs.
Discography
as Luke McDaniel| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Whoa Boy / Tribute To Hank Williams | Trumpet Records |
| 1953 | A Tribute To Hank Williams, My Buddy / This Cryin’ Heart | Trumpet Records |
| 1953 | Drive On / Let Me Be A Souvenir | King Records |
| 1953 | I Can’t Go / For Old Times Sake | King Records |
| 1954 | The Automobile Song / I Can’t Steal Another’s Bridge | King Records |
| 1954 | Honey Won’t You Please Come Home / Crying My Heart Out For You | King Records |
| 1954 | Money Bag Woman / Hurts Me So | King Records |
| 1955 | One More Heart / Living In A House Of Sin | King Records |
as Jeff Daniels
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Daddy-O Rock / Hey Woman! | Meladee Records |
| 1959 | Switch Blade Sam / You’re Still On My Mind | Big Howdy Records |
| 1959 | Uh-Huh-Huh / Table For Two | Big B Records |
| 1960 | Foxy Dan / Some Day You’ll Remember | Astro Records |
| 197? | Uh-Huh-Huh / Table For Two | Big Howdy Records |
| 197? | Foxy Dan / Bye Bye Baby | Big Howdy Records |
| 197? | Hard Luck / Johnny’s | Big Howdy Records |
| 197? | I Tried / I’m Tired Of These Country Ways | Big Howdy Records |
| 197? | Switch Blade Sam / You’re Still On My Mind | Big Howdy Records |
|
Sun Records (not issued) | |
|
|
Sun Records (not issued) |
External links
- Luke McDaniel at Hillbilly-Music.com
- LUKE McDANIEL a.k.a. JEFF DANIELS (By Shaun Mather)