GIB GUILBEAU (Part 1)

"Gib, Darrell & Ernie"

Note: Gib is singing lead vocals on "I goofed".

Darrell, Gib & Ernie also recorded a single under the name "The Hi-Flyers" also for the Shasta label.

The song " I heard an angel cry" was written by Gib Guilbeau and Willie Cotton, "They call you the lover" was written by Darrell Cotton, Floyd (Gib) Guilbeau, Ernie Williams & Charles Tucker.

Note: Roy Nichols (Merle Haggard's guitarist) plays on "I heard an angel cry"

"The Hi-Flyers"

Gib wrote songs for a Darrell Cotton single on Manmor label:

Gib, Darrell and Ernie were looking for a lead guitarist. Wayne Moore joined the group as lead guitarist. Wayne's addition meant a name change for the band. The FOUR YOUNG MEN was decided upon and the group played "variety music, folk, sort of pop". This type of music was far removed from the hard core country and bluegrass backgrounds of Wayne and Gib. Folk and pop were the type of music that was commercially profitable during the early 1960's, so the Four Young Men, on the advice of their manager, continued to record and perform in that musical direction.

Some singles were released:

Four Young Men singles

1960: - BOBBY EDWARDS & FOUR YOUNG MEN: You're the reason/I'm a fool for loving you (Crest 1075) - FOUR YOUNG MEN: You been torturing me / See them laugh (Crest 1076) 1961: - FOUR YOUNG MEN: Sweetheart of senior high / Just for tonight (Crest 1083) - FOUR YOUNG MEN: That man Paul / Garden in the rain (Dore 621) 1962 (Released as "YOUNG MEN FOUR"): - YOUNG MEN FOUR: Don't be bashful, little girl/Goodbye, bye, bye, bye (Crest 1109) - YOUNG MEN FOUR: Davey Jones / Once there was love (Star Delta SDR-1002) - YOUNG MEN FOUR: The walk/Still walkin (Star Delta SDR-1003)

Note: Wayne Moore is playing lead guitar on "The walk" and "Still walkin". Glen Campbell is playing lead guitar on "Sweetheart of senior high".

"The walk" is also available on the German rockabilly compilation CD "Party Date" released on the "Buffalo Bop" label.

"See them laugh" and "You been torturing me" is available on a 3 CD-set with the title "Midnight Cryin' Time" (PBXCD356).

"You're The Reason" with Bobby Edwards has hit the country chart. It gave Bobby Edwards his only top ten country hit when he took it to No. 4 in 1961 (and also to No. 11 on the pop chart). The Bobby Edwards version, originally on the "Crest" label just became available again on the Time/Life 2-CD set "Classic Country- The 60's Treasures" (R808-17). The Bobby Edwards song and "Don't be bashful, little girl" by the Four Young Men was released on a various artists CD with the title "Talk About A Party! - The Crest Records Story" (RockStar RSRCD 017). "You're the reason" is also on the album "The best of Crest Records Vol. 2 - Rockin' & Rollin'" (Rockstar LP 1003) released 1981 and also on the CD "The golden age of american rock'n'roll - Special country edition (CDCHD 845) released by Ace Records . "I'm a fool for loving you" is on the album "The best of Crest Records Vol. 1 - Can you bob" (Rockstar LP 1002) released 1980.

Note: The song " Goodbye bye bye" was later re-recorded by Gib with "THE DUDES" under the title "Let's not pretend anymore" with different arrangement and tempo!

Note: Picture (above in the middle) of the Four Young Men was taken on stage in Frescno, Calif. for an audience of 5.000 people.

The group's last singles as The Young Men Four introduced them to Gary Paxton, formerly half of the Skip & Flip (Skip Battin and Gary Paxton) recording duo. Paxton was just starting his producing career and recorded the band for the Star Delta label - this label was owned by Dale Davis. This time the results had a strong folk flavor,"Once There Was Love" and "Davey Jones".

Note: "The walk" was written by Darrell Cotton in response to the call from president JFK for everyone to walk for health. (Single says "The walk" was written by Mary A. Guilbeau, because the Four Young Men were signed to another publishing company at that time).

Five of those songs (You been torturing me/See them laugh/Just for tonight/Don't be bashful little girl/Goodbye, bye bye) were written by Darrell Cotton, Floyd (Gib) Guilbeau, Wayne Moore & Ernie Williams. There are two more songs written by the same foursome which are all published by the same company (Presley Special Account / Unichappel Music Inc.):

Note: Jack Reeves played a song in his live shows named "Hold on to your dreams" written by Darrell Cotton, Floyd (Gib) Guilbeau, Wayne Moore & Ernie Williams.
Jack Reeves also recorded the Four Young Men song "You been torturing me" written by Gib, Wayne, Darrell & Ernie. Flip side of that single was the song "Pleasure" written by Alin Miller.
Also Clarence White played on one of Jack Reeves' singles!!!

The Four Young Men did sessions with other people like Jimmy Bowen, Jody Reynolds etc..., that Glen Campbell was lead guitar player. They were on the same label at one time - Crest Records.

The Jimmy Bowen (yes, the famous Nashville producer!!!) single with The Four Young Men was released 1961 and recorded at "Gold Star":

Note: "Don't drop it" is also on the album "The best of Crest Records Vol. 2 - Rockin' & Rollin'" (Rockstar LP 1003) released 1981. "Somebody to love" is on the album "The best of Crest Records Vol. 1 - Can you bob" (Rockstar LP 1002) released 1980.

Note: It's been listed that Eddie Cochran played guitar on several Crest sides by "The Four Young Men", he was a busy session guitarist at the time, so it may well be true. Several of those sides have also appeared on Cochran bootleg albums like French "Crest Sessions".

Soon after the last single release the FOUR YOUNG MEN were looking for a more contemporary name and became the CASTAWAYS (1963-1966) a country type band who played the Nevada Casino circuit and the Pacific North - West. They had to play some show music like "Around the world" and "Pennies from heaven" and "That old black magic", but when the owners weren't looking, they used to play a lot of cajun music. They played bluegrass, some country stuff and even a little jazz.

Bassist Ernie Williams decided to leave the music business in 1963, and returned to Salt Lake City. Gib Guilbeau immediately called an aquaintance of his, Gene Parsons, a part-time banjo player from Yucca Valley,CA. who was working in a machine shop. Gib met Gene one year before Gene became the bass player of the Castaways. Gib explained to his friend that the Castaways required another musician, but Gene didn't realize he was to become the group's bassist until he showed up at Gib's house. With Gib's encouragement, Gene managed to pick up the bass in time to do a series of gigs in Nevada.

Here is Gib's story how he met Gene Parsons one year earlier:

"When I first met Gene I was still with the Castaways, and we had a recording contract with GNP Crescendo Records, sort of a funky label. I was buying guitar strings prior to going in to record. I walked in this music store and there's this kid sitting on the floor picking a 5 string banjo. I told this friend of mine, "Hey, this guy plays pretty good". I walked up to him and said, "Are you interested in doing recording sessions?". He says, "Sure, I've never done one, but I'll do anything. I'd love to". I said, "Why don't you give me your phone number? If we need you I'll call you". He gave me his phone number and I never called him! The producer got an other banjo player."

The Castaways recorded another folk single with Paxton for Star Delta the lable, "Poor Boy's Dream", "Run Charlie Run". This record attracted the attention of Gene Norman's GNP Crescendo label and the Castaways were subsequently signed by the company. Jackie DeShannon produced the first single for GNP by the Castaways,"Wild Boy" a Phil Everly composition backed with a Guilbeau - Moore novelty tune, "Tarzan". This release was followed by a second single, the oft-recorded, "Mack The Knife" with Phil Knuckles' "Pass It Around" on the B side.

The band members were: Gib Guilbeau, Wayne Moore, Darrell Cotton (and in the beginning Ernie Williams, he left soon).
Boyd Bilbo and Michael Cannon - both drummers from California - worked off and on with the Castaways on the road, mostly in the Nevada area but did not record with the band. Sometimes Gene Parsons played on the road with the Castaways and recorded one single with the band.

The band cut several singles. On some songs GIB played drums, Wayne lead guitar and Darrell rhythm guitar (Gene Parsons plays banjo on the "Mack the knife" single produced by Lee Hazelwood!):

Castaways singles
1963: - CASTAWAYS: Poor boy's dream / Run Charlie run (Star Delta 1004) - CASTAWAYS: Wild boy / Tarzan (GNP 302) 1964: - CASTAWAYS: Mack the knife / Pass it around (GNP 320)

Note: James Burton played on "Tarzan" and Glen D. Hardin played on a couple of things too.

Note: "Poor boy's dream/Run Charlie run" was also released in Canada on "London Records".

Note: "Mack the knife/Pass it around" was produced by Lee Hazelwood.

Eddy Akridge

Note: Only side B was produced by Gary Paxton and the Castaways, side A was produced only by Gary Paxton.

The CASTAWAYS also played on the Eddy Akridge single:

This single reached the top 50 list in the "National Charts" 1963.

Note: Eddy Akridge began a rodeo career at the age of 16 and was inducted into the "National Cowboy Hall of Fame" in Oklahoma City 1999. 1955 Eddy Akridge won the bareback championchip infront of 106.000 people!

During this period the Castaways also recorded as THE DUDES for the Gaiety label because some members just wanted to record under a different name. The single was produced by Gary Paxton, the masters were leased from Gary Paxton by Don Grashey for his Gaiety label. Gaiety was a North American operation that had releases in both the US and in Canada. It was based in Southern Califorina where Don Grashey lived at the time.
The results were little more country sounding despite the electric twelve-string present.

One single was released 1966:

Note: The Gaiety label belonged to Don Grashey. Don is a Canadian from Thunder Bay, Ontario. He also owned the Zero label among others. One of his claims to fame is discovering Loretta Lynn singing in Vancouver, British Columbia. He worked a lot in Hollywood, at Gold Star Studios in particular.

This single was also released on the Belgian "Franky FR 111" label with a picture sleeve. It was also released on "South Africa Continental" (PD.9154) and on the Australian "W&G" label (WG-S-2612).

Note: On the Dudes single is written "The Dudes - Music by The Hudson Hornets". Gary Paxton lived on Hudson Street in Hollywood, that's where he came up with the name "Hudson Hornets" as a name for the band.

Gib Guilbeau and Darrell Cotton recorded a single which was also released on the Gaiety label. This single was not released under their names, it was released under the name Duncan and Fife.

Note: On the single is written "Duncan and Fife (formerly The Dudes).

Note: 1969 the Canadian label "Birchmount" released an album with the title "Striclty Canadian" which includes the "Duncan and Fife single". (Catalogue number BM 523).

Note: "Winds of yesterday" was later re-recorded by Gib under the name "What kind of flower (should I send)".

Gib and Darrell recorded a demo "If it's me I'm a fool" which was released 2002 on the Big Beat label as Guilbeau/Parsons: Louisiana Rain.

While playing in Alaska, the Castaways parted company. Folk and pop music had run its course by the mid-1960's and groups like the Castaways were finding fewer gigs for their style of music.

Gib said in an interview:

"The group wasn't happening, it wasn't going anywhere, and I wanted to branch out. I wanted to do things quite differently, and they wanted to play the Nevada bit like Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, and I didn't want to do that. I told Gene Parsons, "I'm gonna quit this group, and I have a pretty good feeling that when I quit you'll probably get fired, so do yourself a favour and quit when I do". So I quit the group, and Gene quit and went back home to Yucca Valley."

Gib and Wayne Moore returned to their rock and country roots when they recored as a duo for Starfire in 1965.

Note: "World of dreams" is also available on the "Guilbeau & Parsons" CD "Louisiana Rain"!

Like the other members of the Castaways, however, Wayne and Gib soon put music aside for a time during 1965-66. Gib returned to Louisiana, Wayne went in a shipyard, Gene Parsons returned to working as a machinist and Darrell Cotton drifted away from the music scene.

Note: A song with the title "Private Investigator" written by Wayne Moore, Gib Guilbeau and Darrell Cotton was sung by Donnie (Dean) Hinson and was recorded by Gary Paxton in his studio in Hollywood. Writer credits on the single are Gib and Darrell Cotton, Wayne's writer credits are not on the single! This record was released on "Gaiety 119". Flip side is "Clap Happy" an instrumental written by Paxton and credited to The Sounds Spectorious.

Note: "The Four Young Men" recorded that song "Private Investigator"under the title "The FBI" but was never released.

Shortly after Gib returned to southern California he was working in a night club and needed a drummer. Again he called Gene Parsons! Here is Gib's story:

"I called Gene New Year's Day and said, "Are you interested in playing music again"? He said, "Sure, I'm getting pretty tired of this machine work business. I'd like to play". I said, "Why don't you come up to Palmdale tonight? We'll go to work and it's steady". He says, "OK". He immediately put his house up for sale, moved back to Palmdale and got there only a couple of hours before the gig. He said, "I've got my bass out in the car". I said, "Oh, no, man, you're not playing bass, you're playing drums":. "But I've never .......". "Don't worry, it's a loose gig, I'll teach you whatever little I know ab out drums and you'll get by". That's how he became a drummer, and we've worked together off and on ever since.".

Gib formed with Gene Parsons CAJUN GIB & GENE and played 6 - 7 nights a week at the "Jack of Diamonds" club in Palmdale. Clarence White sat in with the band many times as a part-time member. Gib received an offer to cut a solo album for Gary Paxton's newly formed Bakersfield International label. With the help of Gene Parsons on banjo and harmonica and Clarence White, Gib recorded an engaging set of country and cajun songs, most of them original. Two singles were issued during this period on the Bakersfield International label owned by Gary Paxton.

Cajun Gib & Gene singles
- (Gib) GUILBEAU & (Gene) PARSONS: Louisiana rain / Sweet Suzannah (BIP 1001) - (Gib) GUILBEAU & (Gene) PARSONS: Sweet Rosie / Your gentle ways of loving me (BIP 1007)

Gib Guilbeau & Gene Parsons promo-flyer (special thanks to Alec Palao)

"Jack of Diamonds" Article 2013

Note: The songs "Sweet Suzannah" and "Louisiana rain" are on the Ariola LP "Cosmic American Music" released 1974.

This "Cajun Gib & Gene" album was released by the Big Beat label in 2002 with a lot of bonus tracks. Outtakes from the "Cajun Gib & Gene" sessions, demos, Gib Guilbeau singles, Gib & Wayne single, Gib Guilbeau and Darrell Cotton demo and a Bruce E. Oakes single.

During 1966 and 1967 Gib and Gene did demos at their "Auto Repair Garage Studio" at Q Street in Palmdale. One of those demos ("Woman's discgrace" - which was later recorded by The Gosdin Bros for their "Sounds Of Goodbye" album) was released on the Big Beat "Louisiana Rain" CD. Another song from the "Q Street studio" ("No matter where you go") was released 1979 on an album credited to the Flying Burrito Brothers "Burrito Country".
Other demos not released:

Stage of "JACK of DIAMONDS" club in Palmdale (Note: picture of other band - NOT Gib's)

A group was formed around Gib and Gene Parsons with Wayne Moore and would be strictly country. Gib explained Wayne's and his own switch from pop oriented folk to straight country music: "We'd been trying all that stuff but actually we were both country guitarists and we started playing country". Gib was also a good Cajun style fiddler as he amply demonstrated on his Paxton produced solo album but was playing mostly rhythm guitar in the new band. Gene Parsons was asked to learn how to play drums and Wayne the bass guitar for the group. Both musicians must have learned their new instruments quickly for within a brief time the band was playing in Palmdale at the Jack O' Diamond club and doing session work for Gary Paxton.

Dale Davis (Shiloh Records) writes about this time in his liner notes to the Kentucky Colonels album "1966". (Released 1978 on Shiloh Records SLP-4084):

"I (Dale Davis) was running a small recording studio in Paramount, California, mostly cutting demos for aspiring musicians trying to get a recording contract. Russ Kunkel (now the worlds greatest drummer) was my assistant everything, sideman, engineer, producer etc. Gib Guilbeau and I had been working together for about three years along with Gene Parsons, Rex and Vern (The Gosdin Bros.). Our main Hollywood contact for our demo tapes was Gary Paxton (producer of several multimillion selling records: Alley-oop, Monster Mash etc.) and we presented most everything to Gary. At the time of the Colonels session there was little, if any, commercial interst in Bluegrass music, expecially in the Hollywood record business, so the Colonels tapes were never presented to Gary. Gib Guilbeau and Gene Parsons were doing a lot of session work and were good friends with Clarence White. Clarence was just beginning to make a name for himself as a session guitarist, as well as performing with the Kentucky Colonels. In less than two years Clarence would bring thousands of fans screaming to their feet as lead guitarist with the Byrds. Gene Parsons, too would join the Byrds as drummer and perfect the Parsons-White String Bender, which helped Clarence get those amazing sounds on the guitar. Gib Guilbeau was our main source of business, as he would, through his session contacts, bring in the individuals and groups to record and it was Gib, through his friendship with Clarence White, who brought in the Kentucky Colonels. Later Gib, Clarence White, Gene Parsons, Rex and Vern Gosdin got together to work as studio sideman or house band for Gary Paxton and played on literally hundreds of sessions. Roland White joined Lester Flatt. Gib formed a group called Swampwater to back up Linda Ronstadt, our main man, Gary Paxton, moved on to Nashville, won a Grammy and more than ten years later would, as producer make Vern Gosdin a major recording artist."

1967 Gib recorded demos at Gary Paxtons studio in Hollywood which are unreleased:

Note: In June 1967 Rick Nelson had a country hit with Gib's song "Take a city bride". It went to peak pos. 58 on the "Billboard Country Charts" and stayed on the charts for 5 weeks. It appeared on Rick Nelson's "Country Fever" album (Decca 32120, released April 1967) which is now available on CD.