VIN BRUCE – PART V: A SPECIAL TELEPHONE CALL

Allea Benoit
March 30, 2018
Egg-Cellent EASTER CRAFTS
March 30, 2018
Allea Benoit
March 30, 2018
Egg-Cellent EASTER CRAFTS
March 30, 2018

By 1952. Ervin “Vin Bruce was ruling high Having lot school at Id be learned to sing and play his first guitar;* (*now in a glass case in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee.) playing music in area dubs and an radio station W.J.B.W.to New Orleans. This landed him a recording contract with Columbia. the biggest recording Label in the U.S. A He was only 18 years old

With money coming in, single and overwhelmed. Vim sometimes listed to well-meaning friends telling him ‘^you’re big time now so act it” That fraught parties with loving fans following him around, new cars and a few drinks to negate his shyness This all led to his driving three new automobiles & into Bayou Lafourche. Being raised on the bayous and swamps Vin survived, but the cars, built in Detroit did not There was always a new ore in a show case however. waiting for a Columbia Recording artist to drive it.

I’m not disparaging my good friend. Yin was still a good ole boy and loved by everybody. Born poor and now having money. Came and adoration meant that temptation followed He was net doing anything illegal or unusual for someone in his position, just fun, frolic and invitations to everything. “Hey we got Vin Bruce here everybody


A pretty girl named Aline Adams would soon enter has life and improve it which led to marriage and raising a respectable family of three girls and two boys, hut that’s another story.

We kept in touch. One night in 1952 i gut a long distant call from Vin. HE and manager Johnny Schouest were attending a Cohimbla Artist and Execute’ convention in St. Louis, Missouri A fancy dinner aided. the bar closed and Johnny announced “Everybody’s invited lo our room….There’s a case of Sectch and Bourbon wailing to be opened.” According to Vin about ten artist and executives followed them. They had bought the liquor for the session musician, Chet Atkins. Grady Martin and others. They had to buy another case.

He said “Hi Lee, I’m in St. Louis Missouri and someone wants to talk to you. “This was all new and exciting to him.) n Hello Law Martin, this is Franks Laine and 1 just want to tell you that your good friend Vin Bruce is generous with his liquor and 1 know he will make some hit records” was stunted and asked a stupid question. “THE Frankie Laine”He was the top Cohimbia artist of the day, “Jezebel, “Mule Train”- “Jealousy and others”).


(F.L) That’s what’s on my records. My real name is too long and too Italian and the record company changed it. Vin just wanted me to tell you hello”. (LM.) “Thank you. this is a great hour, sir” F Evaluation Night” and Vin came back on I heard him say ” Hey Tony, come say hello to yam cousin Leroy Martin.”

“Leroy. this is Tony Martin (Long time M.G.M. Studio Movie star and Columbia recording artist). We might not be cousins but I just wanted to tell you that Van is a good host.” (LM) “Wow, Tony Martin. I just saw you in an old movie on TV with the Marx Brothers. I cant believe this” (.T.M.) ‘Thanks for reminding me it was an old movie (and he laughed) I” ve been around awhile” (LM.) “I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to”….(TM:) “Just kidding. I am drinking Vin’s booze so I owe him this phone Call I said “Say hello to my cousin-in-law Cyd”. (Cyd Charise. his movie star wile. Dumb wisercraeld)

I asked Vin “Any girls there?” (V.R 🙂 ^Rosemary Clooney and Teresa Brewer, but they were surrounded. We saw Little Jimmie Dickins Lefty Frizzell and Ray Price hit our table was not too dose and they left early. Mitch Miller came up to have a drink hit I couldn’t get him to talk to you.”


Still hard to believe today (The St. Louis Arch as shown was not built for ten mere years but it identifies the city and I have a column about it soon.) BYE NOW

‘With money coming in, single and overwhelmed, Vin sometimes listened to well-meaning friends telling him ‘you’re big time now, so act like it/That brought parties with loving fans following him around, new cars and a few drinks to negate his shyness.’

In this week’s piece, historical columnist Ieery Martin continues to sell the take of his long-standing friend ship with Vin Bruce. Both men are well-known loca! musicians in the arm.


SUMITTED

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