Editor’s Corner: ? A little music history

In the heyday of rock n’ roll, rockabilly, and the blues, small recording studios began popping up all over Memphis. And, numerous musicians from Mississippi County had their finger in the pie, including Wayne McGinnis.

Santo Records was one of these small companies that popped up after Sun hit with Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and other rockabilly singers. It was started in the early 1960s by singer Wayne McGinnis who was originally from Mississippi County.

He moved to Memphis around 1953. There, he performed in a band with guitarist Billy Joe Miller, playing a mixture between jazz and country. He later joined Slim Wallace's Dixie Ramblers along with Billy Lee Riley, Jack Clement, Bob Deckelman, and Ramon Maupin.

When Wallace set up his label Fernwood Records in 1956, McGinnis was amongst those who recorded a couple of songs in Wallace's garage studio, which remained unissued.

He then unsuccessfully auditioned at Sun Records before finally signing with Lester Bihari's Meteor record label, also based in Memphis. There he formed the Swing Teens with Billy Joe Miller on lead guitar and Curley Wilson on bass, recording "Rock, Roll and Rhythm" and "Lonesome Rhythm Blues."

He continued to play with the Swing Teens for a while, before he moved into record production and promotion. The first record on his Santo label came out in the summer of 1961 by the Holidays with Darrell Tatum on guitar.

Anita Wood, who was at some point Elvis Presley's girl friend, recorded at least two records for Santo. Harold Dorman, who had a hit with "Mountain of Love" on Billy Lee Riley's Rita Records, also recorded for the label as well as Thomas Wayne.

Bobby Lee Trammell, a Jonesboro native, famous for his wild stage appearances and songs like "Shirley Lee," "You Mostest Girl" or "Arkansas Twist," had one release on the label.

Santo had also a sub-label called San Wayne Records. McGinnis also bought Fernwood Records after the label's home on North Main Street was destroyed in 1968.

Wayne McGinnis also had other business interests and eventually concentrated on his work as a business man, retiring from performing.

The last known release on Santo was by David Wilson and the Characters. The record featured “Jamie” and “With All My Love”. “Jamie” was written by William Stevenson and Barrett Strong.

Though little is known about David Wilson, he was a native of Osceola.

Sandra Brand is the editor of the NEA Town Courier and The Osceola Times. She may be reached by phone at 870-763-4461 or 870-563-2615 or by email at brand@osceolatimes.com.