Playlist 6/23/2013 - Gordon Pike & Darlene Champagne and Early New England Bluegrass and Country Music

The first hour of the show was mostly classic country music from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

We learned much about early New England bluegrass and country music from Gordon Pike and Darlene Champagne during the second half of the show.

Gordon Pike and Darlene Champagne today

Gordon is the son of Earl Pike -- one of the Pike Brothers, Earl and Fred, whose band the Pine Hill Ranchers included many of the Pike family members including Gordon on drums, and Gordon's sister Earlene on vocals.  Earlene died in 1971 at 19 from cancer bringing the end of the family band.  Fred went on to Maine to create the Kennebec Valley Boys with Sam Tidwell.

Earl, Earlene, and Fred Pike on the front row.
Sam Tidwell, Gordon Pike, Dave Papuga back row.

Darlene was a family friend of the Pikes and grew up with the Pikes.  She was a friend of Earlene and performed and recorded with the Pikes.  She now lives in South Carolina and has a band called Darlene and Reflections of Bluegrass with great SC banjo picker Johnny Fenlayson.

Earl Pike, Darlene Champagne, Connie Smith, Fred Pike.
Gordon and Darlene described the circumstances of this photo on the show.

L-R:  Bill Thibodeau, Gail Pike, Darlene Champagne, Gordon Pike
performance at Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival, May 31, 2013

We will probably replay this interview in the fall on Bluegrass Cafe.

Thanks for listening.  Marti will be back next Sunday.

Jim

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Rock My Soul / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 2 / Document
• You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey (When You Grow Old) / Hank Penny & His California Cowhands / The Penny Opus #1 / Jasmine
• I'm My Own Grandpa (1948) / Lonzo and Oscar with the Winston County Pea Pickers / Crazy Country Hits / Time Life
• Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) (1947) / Tex Williams and his Western Caravan / Crazy Country Hits / Time Life
• Jealous Lies (1950) / Ray Price / The Essential Ray Price / Columbia
• I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know / The Davis Sisters / Hard To Find Hits / Time Life
• Hangman's Boogie (1949) / Cowboy Copas / Tragic Tales of Love & Life / Gusto
• Drivin' Nails In My Coffin (1957) / Hank Thompson / Vintage Collection / Capitol
• So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed (1946) / Merle Travis / The Best of Merle Travis / Rhino
• Lonesome 7-7203 (1962) / Hawkshaw Hawkins / Best Of The Best / Federal
• Once A Day (1964) / Connie Smith / Queens Of Country / Time Life
• Catfish, Take A Look At That Worm / Smiley Burnette / ...is Frog Millhouse / King
• I'm An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) / Roy Rogers / Country Music Hall Of Fame Series / MCA
• Cross The Brazos At Waco (1964) / Billy Walker / Great Story Songs / Time Life
• Rainbow At Midnight (1946) / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA

• Pickin' On Asheville Pike (1970) / The Pike Brothers and the Pine Hill Ranchers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)

Interview with Gordon Pike and Darlene Champagne, including the following songs:

• Dream Dream Dream (1969) / The Bluegrass Travelers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
• To Warm And Comfort You (1970) / The Pike Family and The Pine Hill Ranchers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
• Washington and Lee Fling (1970) / The Pike Brothers and the Pine Hill Ranchers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
• Image Of A Living Doll (1970) / The Pike Brothers and Earlene / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
• You Left Your Mark On Me / Darlene Marie / 45 RPM Single / Zap (45)
• Wild Side Of Life / Darlene Marie / 45 RPM Single / Zap (45)
• Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends (2013) / Gorden Pike and the Dixie Darlins / Self-titled / Self-produced