Typically father’s and daughter’s argue over music, nowhere near sharing the same tastes in musical genres. However, father and daughter, Lou and Phyllis Erck share the same passions, bluegrass jamborees and live broadcasts. What bridges the generation gap between them is a mutual love of the same kind of music, and their enterprising ideas to broadcast jamborees live whether in the 1950’s by broadcast radio or today streaming via the internet.
In 1956 Lou Erck started the Reilly Springs Jamboree in Northeast Texas when he was a broadcast DJ for Sulpher Springs Radio Station. He worked for the radio station starting in 1947 working with Bob and Joe Shelton at their recording studio, and then in the late 50’s running the Jamboree with the Shelton Brothers. Bob & Joe began recording back in 1935 for Decca Records and produced over 150 cuts and Lou explains, “Old timers are well aware of the success of Bob and Joe Shelton.” The song Just Because is an original by the Shelton brothers became one of their most memorable songs due to it being featured on Elvis Presley’s first album.
As partners, Lou Erck worked with Joe Shelton through KSST in Sulpher Springs, Texas to be the first to broadcast 30 minutes of live performance from the Jamboree stage in the Reilly Springs area. Lou’s job was to keep the microphones and equipment running during the performances, broadcast it out, obtaining the featured musician, and advertising for the Jamboree.
Today, sitting in his daughter’s office Lou is dressed in pressed pleated pants, a blue collar shirt, and a jacket looking like a Griz-fan Grandpa that any grandchild would admire. Lou grins and says, “Phyllis told me I had to be here to tell my story, not sure why. Did you know back then we called it Hillbilly music?”
One of the first famous musicians to play at Reilly Spring Jamboree for Lou was George Jones. Lou states, “I called information and asked them for George Jones’ phone number. They gave it to me, I dialed and he answered. I told him I was putting on a Jamboree every Saturday night and that we would love to have him on the first show. He said, ‘I think I can come up.’” Lou proceeded to tell Jones that the Jamboree was new and not a very large crowd. Lou was concerned about cost since George’s “massive hit” White Lightening was being broadcast everywhere. Lou said, “I didn’t think we could afford him, but George said, ‘I think a hundred and twenty-five dollars will do it.’”
Lou’s friends were concerned when he started advertising on the radio that George Jones was playing for the Jamboree that very Saturday. They told Lou he was crazy and that he was going to be very disappointed when the guy doesn’t show up. “No one thought he would show” says Lou with raised brows and a smile, “Well, he did!” According to Lou, the best part about the Jamboree was that it provided local artists a chance to play next to good strong musicians well on their way to ‘making it’.
Promoting live broadcast at the Reilly Springs Jamboree granted Erck an opportunity to meet a number of notable musicians. Lou says, “One young guy stopped at the radio station to promote himself. They let him into the control room just as I was going to commercial break. The guy opened the door and said, ‘Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.’ On the spot I interviewed him. Folsom Prison Blues became “jammed up hot” and I looked Johnny Cash up and booked their show. At the time it was Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two. He was great!”
Johnny Cash remembered Lou for they both named their daughters Roseanne. Years later when Cash came to Missoula to play at the University in a concert, Cash’s daughter became ill and landed in St. Patrick’s Hospital. Lou was in the hospital the same time as Cash’s daughter. Cash mentioned backstage at the concert he was sorry Lou was in the hospital. Lou Erck and Johnny Cash kept in contact over the years.
Erck joined the Nashville Country Western Music Association in 1959 and attended the Grand Ole Opry to find ‘lesser names’ to book. Back then he knew nothing about football, but entered in a football pool contest with other DJ’s around the country. The winner of the pool would win The Big Bopper to play at their Jamboree. Lou thought ‘why not’ and wrote down a random team and a random score. At that time Chantilly Lace was J.P. “Big Bopper” Richardson, Jr’s hit. Lou won the pool and “The Big Bopper” and when asked if the Big Bopper played Chantilly Lace at the Jamboree Lou grins, “Oh, yes! He sang that!”
Due to Lou Erck’s connections he heard memorable music and broadcast it live. Furthermore, opportunities came to interview other musicians. While standing by a piano Lou interviewed Jerry Lee Lewis, about that, Lou says, “The piano purred. I got to play with one finger for Jerry Lee Lewis!”
By Leisa Greene Nelson
