Werly Fairburn
Encyclopedia
Werley Fairburn was an American rockabilly
musician.
Fairburn listened to the Grand Ole Opry
and played guitar as a youngster, learning to play from a local blues musician alongside the hillbilly music he heard on the radio. With the outbreak of World War II
, he took a job at a New Orleans shipyard
, and then served in the Navy in Hawaii
.
Upon his return to New Orleans he trained as a barber
and attempted to start a singing career simultaneously. Known as the "Singing Barber" on local radio stations such as WJBW and WWEZ, he became a local country music
star. In the early 1950s he also began recording, starting with Trumpet Records
, and following this, Columbia
, Capitol
, and Savoy
(often with his backing group called The Delta Boys). Fairburn also owned a label called Milestone Records
in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Fairburn's style blended elements of country, blues, and New Orleans-style R&B. He became well-known throughout the South, and appeared on the Big D Jamboree
in Dallas without ever having scored a regional hit in the area. As rockabilly became more popular, he adapted to the style, and remained a regional favorite, though he never made the national charts.
In 1964, Fairburn sang his tune "I Guess I'm Crazy" on Louisiana Hayride
, and Jim Reeves
decided to cover
the tune. This version was the single in current rotation when Reeves was killed in a plane crash in July of that year.
Fairburn continued to perform after moving to California
in the 1960s, nearly up until he died of lung cancer
in 1985. Nine years later, Bear Family Records
collected his singles and released them on CD as Everybody's Rockin.
All singles prior to Milestone 2013 were issued as 78rpm and 45rpm records with the same issue numbers and Milestone 2013 onwards are 45rpm only issues.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
musician.
Fairburn listened to the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
and played guitar as a youngster, learning to play from a local blues musician alongside the hillbilly music he heard on the radio. With the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he took a job at a New Orleans shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
, and then served in the Navy in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Upon his return to New Orleans he trained as a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
and attempted to start a singing career simultaneously. Known as the "Singing Barber" on local radio stations such as WJBW and WWEZ, he became a local country music
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...
star. In the early 1950s he also began recording, starting with 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...
, and following this, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, and Savoy
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
(often with his backing group called The Delta Boys). Fairburn also owned a label called Milestone Records
Milestone Records
Milestone Records is a United States based jazz record label, founded in 1966 by Orrin Keepnews and Dick Katz in New York City. The company was incorporated into Fantasy Records in 1972, since then it has been used for reissues as well as for new recordings....
in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Fairburn's style blended elements of country, blues, and New Orleans-style R&B. He became well-known throughout the South, and appeared on the Big D Jamboree
Big D Jamboree
Big D Jamboree was an American radio program broadcast by KRLD-AM in Dallas, Texas. The show consisted of appearances by famous country musicians as well as sketch comedy and jokes. It was also carried by KRLD-TV during the 1950s.-History:...
in Dallas without ever having scored a regional hit in the area. As rockabilly became more popular, he adapted to the style, and remained a regional favorite, though he never made the national charts.
In 1964, Fairburn sang his tune "I Guess I'm Crazy" on 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...
, 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...
decided to cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
the tune. This version was the single in current rotation when Reeves was killed in a plane crash in July of that year.
Fairburn continued to perform after moving to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the 1960s, nearly up until he died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in 1985. Nine years later, Bear Family Records
Bear Family Records
Bear Family Records is a Germany-based independent record label that specializes in reissues of archival material ranging from country music to 1950s rock and roll to old German movie soundtracks.-History:...
collected his singles and released them on CD as Everybody's Rockin.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Camping with Marie / Let’s Live It Over | Trumpet Records #195 |
| 1953 | I Feel Like Cryin’ / Baby, Call on Me | Trumpet Records #196 |
| 1954 | Good Deal, Lucille / Baby He’s a Wolf | Capitol Records #F2270 |
| 1954 | Love Spelled Backwards Is Evol / Nothin’ But Lovin’ | Capitol Records #F2844 |
| 1954 | Prison Cell of Love / I Feel Like Cryin’ | Capitol Records #F2963 |
| 1955 | It’s A Cold, Weary World / Spiteful Heart | Capitol Records #F3101 |
| 1955 | I Guess I’m Crazy (For Loving You) / That Sweet Love Of Mine | Columbia Records Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... #21432 |
| 1956 | Broken Hearted Me / Stay Close To Me | Columbia Records #21483 |
| 1956 | Everybody’s Rockin’ / It’s Heaven | Columbia Records #21528 |
| 1956 | All The Time / I’m A Fool About Your Love | Savoy Records Savoy Records Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part... #1503 |
| 1957 | My Heart’s On Fire / Speak To Me Baby | Savoy Records #1509 |
| 1957 | Telephone Baby / No Blues Tomorrow | Savoy Records #1521 |
| 1962 | You Are My Sunshine / Doggone That Moon | Milestone Records #2013 |
| 1968 | My Crazy World / There’s Something On | Paula Records #295 |
|
Capitol Records (not issued) | |
|
|
Columbia Records (not issued) | |
|
|
not issued |
All singles prior to Milestone 2013 were issued as 78rpm and 45rpm records with the same issue numbers and Milestone 2013 onwards are 45rpm only issues.