[We play the Blue Sky Boys' song It's G.L.O.R.Y. to Know I'm S.A.V.E.D.. They first recorded it in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday 5 February 1940]
THE BLUE SKY BOYS were Earl Bolick (1919 - 1998) and Bill Bolick (1917 - 2008) from the town of East Hickory, North Carolina. Their ancestors had emigrated from Germany to America and the family was of Lutheran heritage, but were members of a Church of God (Anderson, Indiana branch) congregation. The brothers learned hymns from their father from hymnals such as "Reformation Glory".
• Signed to RCA Victor records in 1936
• First recording 16 June 1936 (10 tracks, the first of which was I'm Just Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail)
• Recorded 100 tracks from 1936 - 1941
• They served in the US Army from 1941 - 1946
• Stopped recording in 1948 and retired from music in 1951
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REFERENCES:
“…we did practically all the numbers with the mandolin and guitar…” (ref. Bluegrass p 34)
“…intricate yet simple harmonies, their perfectly matching voices, and their unadorned mandolin and guitar instrumental backing set them off from the competition, so much so that two generations of subsequent duet singers echo them, some without realizing it…”
(Ref. Answers.com entry)
“…This hillbilly brother act was a major influence on both the Louvins and the Everly Brothers, playing guitar and mandolin-backed mountain songs with simple harmonies. Their perfectly matched voices blended together with seamless beauty, creating a gut-wrenchingly forlorn sound…” (Ref. www.Real.com entry)
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DISCOGRAPHY:
Partial Blue Sky Boys discography available in Country Music Records, a Discography 1921 - 1942 by Tony Russell, p 113-114
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BUY:
• The Sunny Side of Life 5 CD box set with book (123 tracks)
• Blue Sky Boys music on Amazon.co.uk
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VISIT:
• Slipcue.com article and discography
• Independent newspaper obituary for Bill Bolick
• Wikipedia entry
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WATCH:
Two Youtube clips: Down on the Banks of the Ohio and No Disappointment in Heaven:
