Liner Notes
- This episode aired on Saturday, October 30th, 2021 at 2:00 PM (PDT), streaming on KUTZ FM, Sacramento Free Form radio, and broadcasting at 103.1 FM in Sacramento, California. To replay this episode, scroll to the bottom of this page, or visit the Local Gold YouTube channel.
The Mystery of the Moore’s and Their Wild Ravens
It’s not exactly an Agatha Christie tale, but maybe the story of Sacramento’s Raven Records is something like one—albeit with most of the introductory chapters and conclusion missing. How do you tell a story about people you don’t know?
We know a few hard facts, and a few unconfirmed anecdotes about Bill and Ruth Moore, the owners and operators of Raven Records, which seems to have been actively releasing music between 1963 and 1976. The Moores’ appear to have come to Sacramento in the late 1950s or early 1960s, having moved from Nashville, Tennessee where they had some connections with the blossoming industry of Music City. In addition to recording and promoting local acts like Jerry McClendon, Perry Jones, and Mick Martin, the Moore’s also cultivated acts from Connecticut, Idaho, and Colorado to feature on their Raven label.
Obviously, we know very little about the Moores’. Ruth was reportedly at least part Native American, and apparently completely deaf. The Moores’ had at least one child, a son who was of adult age around 1970 or so. Raven Records had as many as three local addresses (two in Sacramento, one in Folsom), all of which seem to have been their home, indicating that Raven was likely a very small, husband/wife run operation. Both Jerry McClendon and The Perry Sisters report that the Moore’s were exceptionally kind and supportive during their time working with Raven. Bill, ostensibly leveraging his industry connections in Nashville, seems to have been a relatively adept promoter, landing many among their stable of artists mentions and adverts in trade publications and industry standards like Billboard magazine. In sum, the truth is that we don’t know much about the Moores’, save the legacy of sound they left behind on Raven Records.
We’ve already introduced you Raven Records marquee artists Jerry McClendon (Episode 1) and The Perry Sisters (Episodes 3 and 4), but there many more—most of which we have not found much historical or biographical information about. What follows is essentially everything we know about the people who appeared on the Raven label when it was actively releasing records between c. 1963 and 1976. If you know something about any of these recording artists—anything at all—please reach out to us here at Local Gold.
Marc Raven (1963)
As far as we know, this rocker only cut four tracks for Raven. The side Tough Enough later appeared on an LP compilation entitled It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got The Beat! Vol.1, from Thunder Records (1999, France) and Rip it Up, a German CD compilation from Buffalo Bop (1997). Marc Raven also recorded two Christmas songs for Raven (R-81066), which we have not yet secured for the KHEX Archives: I Remember When Christmas Trees Were Green and Old Fashion Christmas. If you find a copy of this 45 rpm record, you’d better let us know.
Arthur Thomas (1963)
This guy also recorded for various small record labels in the 1960s, including Brite Star (Nashville), Musicor, Ka$h, Capa, and Jamie Records.
Art Jones (1968-1970)
As noted in the Perry Sisters episodes, Jones was the initial connection between the Perry Sisters and the Moores’, so we assume he was also from the east coast (or at least a frequenter of the same scene as the Perry’s in the northeast and Canada). He seems to have some connection of association with Johnny Henks, who collaborated with the Perry Sisters in Hartford, Connecticut.
It was Jones pitched the sister act to Raven producer Bill Moore, who agreed to fly them out to Sacramento, put them up in the Moore’s home, and arranged for the recording session at Brandt Studios in Sacramento with local musicians. We don’t know where Jones’ Raven sides were recorded.
Raven released at least six Jones sides, two of which (Raven R-81071) are not yet in the KHEX Archive: I Know You’re The One and Am I Losing You.
Jimmy & Billie Byrd, with Rene
We know what some of you might be thinking: Could this be the Billy Byrd, famed guitarist who performed with Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter, Jimmy Dickens and others? No, it’s pretty clear to us these are different birds altogether. In fact, this Billie is female so you can probably rule it out. The truth is that we don’t know jack about any of these people. No really. Nothing, save that these three people (in one combination or another) cut at least four tracks that were released on the Raven label. We’re not even sure when, but their sequence in the known Raven catalog suggests that their sides were likely released in the mid to late 1960s.
Ray Weiman / Starfires (1971-1972)
Near as we can tell, Ray Weiman seems to have hailed from Aurora, Colorado (or at least did when he came under the purview of Raven Records). Indications suggest that the Raven tracks were probably recorded in the Denver, Colorado area. It’s not clear the extent to which Weiman was a member of the Starfires, as he really only does one side with them for Raven. The only other Starfires track is an instrumental you don’t want to miss–trust us on this.
The Starfires might be the Mid-1960s garage band from Los Angeles, composed of Chuck Butler, Dave Anderson, Freddie Fields, Jack Emerick, and Sonny Lathro. At least one non-definitive source seems to think so, but we’re not really convinced. Check out the L.A. Starfires, and tell us that’s the same band that plays the scorching country instrumental on Raven S-81076.
George Arnold (1970)
Once again, we know virtually nothing about George Arnold. Was he a Sacramento local, or did the Moores’ harvest him from another region of California, or some other part of the county entirely. Here’s what we can tell you, for certain: Arnold’s Raven track Jose The One-Eyed Bandit won the award for ‘Best Song’ at at the Eastern States Country Music, Inc. meeting in 1970.
Johnny Martin
Born in Ellisville, Missouri on September 9th, 1941 into a musical family, Martin began playing and performing at the age of six. We don’t know the how or the why of it, but Martin found himself in Sacramento in the 1970s. Like Raven alum Jerry McClendon, he seems to have made regular appearances on Lloyd Hickey’s 40 Grand Country Jamboree, a weekly television show that aired on KTXL Channel 40.
Post-Raven, Johnny went on to work with notables like Freddie Hart, Eddie Dean, and The Collins Kids. Some of his Raven output was re-recorded for a 1979 album (LP) entitled Talk About Lonesome, which was recorded at Studio Eight in Boise, Idaho for Marlew Records. In 1983, he recorded a second LP, Johnny Martin’s Lay-Back Easy-Feelin’ for Audioloft Studios that was released in 1983.
Wayne Allen
As you’ve likely figured out, the Moore’s seemed to have had a knack for signing artists to their label with names that would later confound modern internet search engines. We haven’t learned much about Allen, but he seems to have been managed by someone named Ray Stewart (who tried to get Allen signed to Brite Star Records in Nashville in the early 1970s). Stewart appears to have been from Los Angeles, so maybe Allen was too? We have no idea. If you do, please tell us.
Sandy Hughes /Texas Street Grand Jury
Here’s what we know: Zip. Nada. Zilch. These folks recorded two more side for Raven not yet in the KHEX Archive: Good Times and Close The Door Softly. If you see this record out there somewhere, grab it for us. Collectively, they recorded at least four sides for Raven, and given their sequence in the catalog, we infer that this must have been sometime in the mid-1970s.
Mick Martin and The Orient Express
If you’re from the Sacramento area, you know damn well who Mick Martin is. If you don’t and you’ve ever driven through the region for more than an hour or two with your radio on, you’ve probably heard him.
As leader and member several local bands since the late 1960s, Martin has been one of the most durable and dependable forces in the West Coast blues scene. Starting his first band when he discovered late 60s blues/rock fusion groups like the Rolling Stones, Martin remained in the Sacramento area, hosts a popular blues hour program on local public radio, and still performs to this day. Mick Martin and The Orient Express recorded two tracks for Raven Records.
Gerald Counts and The Nite Hawks
Despite his slightly more unusual name, we still know next to nothing about Gerald Counts and his Nite Hawks (among the more common names adopted by countless jazz bands around the country and world). Suffice it to say, we couldn’t find anything substantive about Counts or the band, so if you’ve got some insight Local Gold would be much obliged to hear from you.
Perry Jones and the Cannonball Express
Jones, a local Sacramento country crooner deeply entrenched in the Sacramento music scene of the 1960s and 1970s, will be covered in greater detail in an upcoming season of Local Gold. For know, suffice it to say that we know Jones recorded at least two sides for Raven but we still have not been lucky enough to find a copy of the record (though we’ve recovered some of his other work for other labels). If you find a copy of Jones on Raven, please know that we will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Contact us immediately.
Discography
We’ve put together the most comprehensive discography of the Raven Records label in the known universe. Still, it’s incomplete. We know there are more Raven 45s floating around out there, haunting attics and basements, laying in wait at some yard sale. Keep your eyes peeled. If you find a Raven, WE WILL BUY IT FROM YOU for preservation in our vaunted KHEX archive, housing probably the single largest collection of Raven records anywhere in the world—the result of years and years of dedicated searching. Even if you won’t sell a Raven to us, we’d be honored to just make a transfer. Who could really blame you for wanting to hold on to one?
Whoever they were, we here at Local Gold are grateful for the efforts of Bill and Ruth Moore. They didn’t leave behind much in the way of breadcrumbs for us to follow, but one day—perhaps with the help of listeners and followers like you—we can learn more about them and their work here in Sacramento, California. Until that time we’re left with the wealth of music from a decidedly solid batch of recording artists that they curated on Raven Records–and that’s no small prize.
Music Featured In This Episode
(in order of appearance)
Marc Raven:
I Don’t Like You But I Love You
Tough Enough
Arthur Thomas:
Hey Mabel
Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young
Art Jones:
I Was Just A Fool
My World of Blue
Off My Mind
She Loves Me
Jimmy, Billie Byrd, Rene:
Crazy Feet (Jimmy Byrd w/ Billie & Rene)
Truck Driver’s Homecoming (Jimmy Byrd w/ Billie & Rene)
Pain Doesn’t Love Here Anymore (Billie Byrd w/ Jimmy & Rene)
Prove Your Point (Billie Byrd w/ Jimmy & Rene)
Ray Weiman / Starfires:
Big, Big World
For You
If You Play With Fire
There’s Something About A Highway
Jeannie In The Bottle (w/ the Starfires)
Starfire (The Starfires)
George Arnold:
Joes The One-Eyed Bandit
Your Love Passed Away
Johnny Martin:
Talk About Lonesome
Toy Heart
Wayne Allen:
Don’t Let It Change
Local Club
Sandy Hughes /Texas Street Grand Jury:
Two Different Dreams
Your Love Passed Away
Mick Martin and The Orient Express:
Hey Mama
Down The Rail
Gerald Counts and The Nite Hawks:
Heart Of Ice
Love In My Soul
Local Gold 