A real photo post card of Rem Wall and his Green Valley Boys. How my little sister found it for me, I have no idea. When I was a child growing up in Michigan, the Green Valley Jamboree was televised once a week and I never missed it. (There was only one station, and I vaguely remember the boys sandwiched between Sky King and some other moral play disguised as a cowboy story) They were great though, and while the show aired out of Kalamazoo for thirty years (yes, that's right, thirty years) It appears NO TAPE or FILM exists, at least none that I can find. It seems such a shame. Not only because I would love to re-evaluate the music imprinted on my tender brain, but because there is a dynamic at work here which you might find interesting. Note the microphone. ONE. As a soloist performed, he would maneuver his way towards the center. If harmony was called for, several would squeeze in. Emotional highs and lows were expertly created by the team leader moving close or further away. This is why you will see authentic musicians, who have earned their chops playing dives for decades, move their hand mike depending on their vocal skills, the message they would like to impart, the sound they hear in their own head and wish to share. Bass Solo? Get out of the way! Fiddle break? C'mon in Bob! (his real name) The stationary steel guitar was amplified, he's fine in the back. Remard and his boys had a single or two, they've been uploaded on youtube. But I sure wish we had the visuals. If someone finds some, I'll let y'all know.
Rembert Wall and his Green Valley Boys RPPC c. 1960 Collection Jim Linderman
great stuff. I watched the GVJ as a kid growing up in W. Mich in the 50s and 60s.
ReplyDeleteRem's son Rendal is a great musician too. He builds guitars for Heritage Guitars, in Kazoo.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
ReplyDeleteWho were the girls that sang with REM Wall?
DeleteAnd it would be so sweet while all alone I'm dreaming just to know that you remember me.
ReplyDeleteJohn Fetzer's WKZO-TV did a great service by putting on this live and local show. While I was never a great fan, I was aware of the show. Years later, I heard that RW&GVJ had its fans in Germany. This might indicate that recordings exist. Now, how to track this down. You might try using an on line English to Deutsch translator to post a plea on a German language blog devoted to home grown 1950's C&W.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the menory and the old picture postcard! - Doxy Dan in Grand Rapids, MI
And thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeing from Battle Creek and my Dad being a local musician from the late 40's till moving down to Florida in 1974 one of my fondest memories was when we all sat around the T.V. and watch Rem and his GVJ boys would get going in there great country Music. My dad would later on play rather skillfully what he heard and saw and in later years I too pick up the passion for music and continue to this day owe ing a debt a gratitude to Mr. Walls. Does anyone remember the song they sang at the end of the show?. All I can remember is " Oh remember me" oh well it was a catchy tune and yes I do remember Rem Wall from so many years ago.
ReplyDelete"Oh remember me,
DeleteWhen the candle lights are gleaming
Oh remember me
At the close of a long long day
It would be so sweet
If all the while I'm dreaming
Just to know that you remember me."
Our house was just down the road from Rem's in Kalamazoo back in the 50's. Rem would ride his horse past the house once in while, to the delight of my brother and me. My folks never missed the Green Valley Jamboree on Saturdays at 5pm on WKZO-TV. I guess that's why I still remember the lyrics to "Oh Remember Me." And Hubie Blake, of course.
Hi I was wondering if anyone has any info on the green valley jamboree my mother was a reg. on there yvonne(vonnie) pope heres my email walkerkht@aol.com thank u kelly walker
ReplyDeleteI consider myself to have a somewhat sophisticated appreciation for good music and I think that the GVJ guys were as good as musicians as anybody around then or now! I'm trying to remember the names of some of the boys: I think they were: Billy Van (Guitar), Hubie (Bass), Rem and Rendal of course, I can't remember the others. Please help me with the others.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous: the names you seek are Rem Wall/ Rythm G. Billy Vann/ lead G. & Steel G. Hubie Frier Bass G. & Banjo Jim Bradford/ Fiddle Rendal Wall/ Drums & lead G. & Rod Wall Drums.
Deleteand Howard "Howie" Quibell on steel guitar late 50's and 60's. (my dad)
DeleteDefinitely Chink Soule in there.
DeleteChink soule was my great uncle .and he was the best guitarist I have ever seen. Pure talent.my wifes grand parents hired chink when he was 7 years old to play his guitar while on a date.
DeleteRemember riding past his house on my bike as a child and knowing a big star lived just around the corner from me. What a beautiful and innocent life back then. Once in a great while he would ride his horse past the house - talk about a thrill!
Deletemy wife's father appeared and performed a few times, sometime in the early to middle 1970's.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone has any information on any of the shows where a Franklin "Wayne" Blanchard performed, my wife Lori would be very very happy to hear about it!
Please contact me by email:
pcorganics@gmail.com
or at,
jdumas54@hotmail.com
thank you very much!!!
Joe Dumas
Manistee, MI
The story as I was told is that Rem voiced Guitars for Gibson when they were in Kazoo. These guys played at lunchtime long before WKZO put them on Saturday night. And, of course, Sunday Nights, They played at the Dickens inn between Comstocka and Galesburg well into the late 60s at least - I heard them there in 68.
ReplyDeleteMy parents met at the dance hall in Leonadas, MI where Rem Wall played regularly in the 50s & 60s. I remember when he'd come and perform at the Burlington Homecomeing in the 70s. We'd watch the Green Valley Jamboree Saturday evening while mom & dad got cleaned up to go dancing.
ReplyDeleteI used to watch RW&GVJ as a child in Oakwood in Kalamazoo. Never realizing my dad was working at Gibson in the 60's, possibly with Rem Wall. Now my sister works at Heritage Guitar in the old Gibson building with Rem's son Rendall. I sure liked Rems music. Are there recordings on cd anywhere? I'd sure like to here him again.
ReplyDeleteYes. I have CDs of Rem and the boys.
DeleteCan you tell me how plesse I can purchase their cds?
DeleteThe others were: Howard Quibell (steel & my Dad) and Jim Bradford (fiddle)
ReplyDeleteAs Howie's son, I have converted and rebalanced for quality the Green Valley Boys main LP onto CD. It turned out real nice.
email me: quibell [@] gmail dot. com
Sorry for the confused email above, but it is to help keep the spammers away. (last name at gmail.com)
I can also stop by Heritage sometime as well.
I remember living in Mattawan Michigan and Rem and the boys would come to the Rush Inn Bar to play Saturday nights. He was always the gentleman. The fiddle player was named Jim and my dad worked with him at Fuller Transmission in Kalamazoo. Ah what memories.
ReplyDeleteLarry Kelly
Indianapolis, formerly from Mattawan Michigan
I grew up in a little town of Olivet. My Dad never missed the weekly show on WKZO. I'm 50 now and never gave it much thought until tonight. My Dad passed away the other day. The funeral director told us that he could play some music that Dad would have liked for the viewing, and my first thoughts were of Rem Wall and the valley boys. Tonight I searched Rem Wall and found that thanks to the world of internet this great legacy of their music is still alive. God Bless Rem and the valley boys for all the joy they gave over the years.
ReplyDeleteLike all the other posters, I grew up listening to Rem and the GVB on WKZO ( I was their paper boy for a spell in the early 60's), and remember riding with my parents down Burdick St. (before the mall), screeching to a halt next to the State Theater at the sight of Rem walking down the street, and practically climbing out of the car window to tell him how much we loved his music. I don't remember what he said, but I'm sure, considering how courtly he was, that he was as gracious to us as he was on the silver tube. I don't remember the verses but the chorus of the song at the end of the show was:
ReplyDeleteWell, remember me
when the twilight glow is gleaming,
Remember me
At the close of a long, long day
It would be so sweet
If all alone I'm dreaming
Just to know that you remember me.
Oh remember me when the candle lights are gleaming, remember me at the close of a long long day. It'll be so sweet when all alone i'm dreammin, just to know that you Remember me.
DeleteSorry, my poor old memory is not what it should be...the first lineof the chorus should be:
ReplyDeleteWell remember me
when the candlelights are gleaming....
I have the mono GVB LP also. My mother is in the picture on the album cover (Patsy), but does not sing on the album. I would love to have some recordings of here from those days.
ReplyDeletemusio@charter.net
Ah the good old days. Remember Me
ReplyDeleteAs the Daughter of Rendal and Grand-daughter of Rem (God rest his soul)this touches my heart to see so many comments and fond memories. I love the post card you have posted above, this was a great pic' of the group. ~ Thank you. ~ Sheri
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure entirely. Increasingly, I realize Rem and the Boys taught me many things as a young boy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great comments his music will always live in us. Jeff Wall ( Grand son of Rem Wall )
ReplyDeleteWho can forget the female singer, Wandy Bee
ReplyDeleteWhat can you tell me about Wanda? Was Bee her last name or was it short for something else? Do you know if she is still alive? Thanks
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI used to watch his show when I was growing up with my grandparents! I remember asking you, Jeff when I first met you back in 1984 if you were related to him! I thought it was awesome that he was your grandpa!!!
DeleteRem Wall is in the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame, and rightfully so. He had a semi-hit record on the national charts and was on the cusp, but his wife at the time became ill and he elected to tend to her rather than pursue national stardom.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear the Rendall is still alive. Heard a vicious rumor a few years back. Although I have seen no video of the show, I have seen video of Rem and Rendall out entertaining at nursing homes. The boys as I remember them were Jim on Fiddle, Billy on guitar, (saw his obit about 4 years ago), Hubey on banjo and later bass, unknown on pedal steel, and of course Rendall came along later on the drums, and then guitar. On the video I spoke of Rendall is a very fine guitarist.
Finally, way before the lovely Wanda Bee, there were three sisters who appeared many many times. Eventually losing the youngest. The remaining two - a blonde and black-haired, went on to keep appearing. I think they were billed as the Beverly Sisters (as a take off on the Everly Brothers). I was fortunate enough to work with the black haired one in a sketch comedy show on cable TV in the 70's. Her name was Virginia Herr, and she told me many great stories about her days appearing on the Green Valley Jamboree. She thought I was a great talent and encouraged me to go and be on, but I never did.
I'd watched the show from as early as I can remember until it ended, and I was saddened a few years back when my mom sent me a newspaper clipping from a Florida newspaper about Rem Wall's death. He spent his last years in Florida. It said that at the end he was still singing for the people in his retirement village....
"Well, remember me,
when the candlelights are gleamin'
remember me,
at the end of a long long day,
it'll be so sweet
when all alone I'm dreaming
Just knowin' that you remember me."
I am hoping someone here might have some info. During the mid 70's, my neighbor took guitar lessons from a gentleman and sadly I can't recall his name. I was allowed to quietly watch. At the time I would guess he was in his 60's maybe early 70's and I remember him saying he had a lot of involvement on the show, possibly a regular, as well as a long history in country music and had played with many of the greats. He was a thin man in good shape and always wore a suit and I think a string tie, and of course his hat until he entered the home. He always brought two incredible Gibson hummingbird guitars with him which I could stare at forever. The detail on them was amazing. He was very direct and to the point, but warmed up to me when he saw my passion and interest for music. He gave me such valuable advice and pointed me in the right direction. I just wish I wouldn't have been a typical kid not paying attention to detail... like remembering his name. I know this is very vague, but if you have any ideas I would appreciate it, thanks.
ReplyDeleteSorry to post on this so late - I just ran across this. I believe most of the Green Valley Boys have been identified, but I just had to comment on the picture. This picture must be pre-1955; the fiddle player from 1955 until the show ended in the 80's was my dad, Jim Bradford. The fiddle player in this picture is not him. I asked my mom (she worked at Gibson's with Rem & Rendell) and she said there was a fiddle player before my dad but just for a year or two. So, the GVB for most of their time on TV were: Rem, Jim Bradford on Fiddle, Hubie Friar on bass (and sometimes banjo) and Billy Van on guitar. Howie (can't remember the last name) played pedal steel until the early 60's and Rendell came on in the 70's. Rem's youger son Rodney played drums for a while too. And my uncle, Don Bradford, played guitar a few times when Billy Van was away.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandpa played fiddle with Rem before the GVB . Roy Rishel.
DeleteNot sure how long it all details
My Mom (Darlene Foster) worked at Gibson starting in the early 60’s. I have such fond memories going to Buck Lake Ranch a lot with my parents and grandparents growing up. Mom knew the band members at the time. I remember going to Jim Bradford’s house (fiddle player) for a party … I remember playing with their son. Also watching Rem Wall and the Green Valley boys on TV. Great childhood memories.
Deletedebhnilo@gmail.com
Thank you so much everyone...over the years since I posted this, to have brought out so many memories and contributions from others really makes it all more than worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteJim Linderman
My folks always watch the show. Not much out there on ol' Rem, but Amazon.com does have his rendition of Oh Remember Me available for download, http://www.amazon.com/Oh-Remember-Me/dp/B001E6QYJK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326403358&sr=8-1
ReplyDeletei grew up watching rem wall,My mom appeared as a guest on the show many times,my moms name is patsy randolph (waldrop)she is in hospice care and only has a week or two to live . If anyone has any footage of her it whould be greatly appreciated ,she was on the show from about 1970-1974 ? my e-mail is dennisrndlph@yahoo.com please if you have anything it whould be greatly appreciated
ReplyDeleteWe'll remember you, Rem, and God rest your soul.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone. I am very blessed and proud to call Rem Wall, my dad . . . and that's because he was my dad. September 4, 2012 was 18 years since he passed away. He remains strong in my heart and precious memories, so many to mention. I love listening to his music, even today. Of course, I sing along with all his songs . . . and I find it's quite healing. You know when we've had a beautiful relationship with our loved ones, nothing or no one can take that away. Dad will always be an important part of my life. I thank God for him. As my sweet niece Sheri mentioned earlier, it also does my heart good to hear so many special comments written about their friend, Rem Wall, and their dear memories of him. Dad was a friend to many and I know he always deeply appreciated his fans. For me, I will always be, "My Daddy's Little Girl." Thank you all and God Bless You!
ReplyDeleteWell wishes to Rem's family from
Deletecousin Gayle Melvin's family.
Was their any episodes of the green valley jamboree record, my mom (Leona Perry) was a guest singer on his tv show back in the sixties
DeleteWas their any episodes of the green valley jamboree record, my mom (Leona Perry) was a guest singer on his tv show back in the sixties
DeleteIn the photo, the steel player is Ben Taylor, and Matt Ogren in playing the accordion. The fiddler is, I believe, Bob Gilman. The guitarist (on the left) might be Bob Smith. The was one of Rem's earlier bands, probably about 1950 or even a bit before. I played with him in the late 50s. I did an article about him for MICHIGAN HISTORY MAGAZINE:
ReplyDeleteWoody, R. H. (1992). Michigan profiles: Rembert "Rem" Wall. Michigan History, 76(5), 46-47.
Check out the article about Rem in Kalamazoo's Encore magazine along about 1988 or so. I don't remember exactly when, but it is a rather comprehensive look at his life and career based on an interview with Rem himself.
ReplyDeleteRem and the boys also played for many years at Buck Lake Ranch near Angola, Indiana. There is a video available from Newshound Productions about Buck Lake Ranch and includes interview comments from Hubie Friar of the GV Boys.
ReplyDeleteRem was a nice man who always seemed to have a kind word to say to those he encountered. I really liked his Columbia record from the early 1960s. One side was "Home Is Where the Hurt Is" and the flip side is "Keep On Lovin' You." Great songs delivered by a great voice. I've been told he had perfect pitch.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember that Gibson Guitar owned "employee housing" near Parson St. plant?
ReplyDeleteMy mom was friends with a woman who sang on there, Wanda Bee. I named my stuffed rabbit after her daughter, Lori.
ReplyDeleteGo to YouTube and search: REM WALL.
ReplyDeleteThere is a video.
I used to watch the show in the early '60's and loved it. My big question is how did Bob Dylan know "Oh Remember Me?" I know he knew it as early as April of 1965.
ReplyDeleteI did a little more research and discovered Bob Dylan knew "Oh Remember Me" by 1961 or earlier.
ReplyDeleteMany good memories of Rem and the band, the TV show was great and turned on every time it aired. My Mama and her sisters sang on the show when they were teenager's many years ago. My Mama Laura (Clippinger) is now in a nursing home. My Mama use to play the guitar with a little amp beside her and my Dad the harmonica. My Mama had a beautiful voice and her sister's also. My Mama and her sister's where so beautiful with there long black hair down to their ankles when younger. When Rem Wall came on my Mama and Dad would get up and sing and dance with the music and us five kids lining up behind them dancing and trying to sing along having so much fun together. Those long ago days were great times...
ReplyDeleteDustin Sirrine formerly from Mattawan and Almena.
My Mom (Leona Perry) sang on the t.v. series of The Green Valley Jamboree back in the early sixties. If anyone has a copy of the show when she was on it, please message me @ grandmanaydeshano@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy mom was Billy Vann’s (the steel guitarist) first guitar student. When I was a young child, we would travel down to Angola, Indiana to watch Rem Wall and the Green Valley Boys play at Buck Lake Ranch.
DeleteThe steel guitar player for the Green Valley Boys was Billy Vann. My mom was his first student. He taught her to play the Hawaiian guitar. As a young child, I remember we traveled many times down to Angola, Indiana to hear them play at Buck Lake Ranch.
ReplyDeleteThey played for a long time still in nursing homes
ReplyDeleteI remember living in Parchment in1960-61.Rodney Wall and I were 5th graders.We would walk home from school messing around on the way.He said his dad was on TV. Sure enough Rem Wall. Also saw Rodney on that show with a cowboy hat holding a guitar and I thought wow! 3 years later I would get a guitar and eventually turned pro. Still going at 72 years old.John Greer.Taos,NM.
ReplyDeleteThe Russell twins appeared on the show several times throughout the late 60’s while still in school also on the radio show always had fun with Hueby
ReplyDeleteAny one remember a guitar player actual name George Smith went by stage name of happy hank. My grand mother ran the truck stop in leonadis back in the 60s it was her brother
ReplyDelete