John Simpson - Turn Of the 20th Century Shreveport Musician

 John (AKA "Johnnie" or "Johnny") Simpson was an African-American guitar player who resided in Shreveport in the 1890s and 1900s. He was listed in the city directory living at 1028 Wood Street in 1902, and 707 Caddo Street in 1906 and 1907. Both addresses were walking distance from the infamous St. Paul Bottoms vice district with its saloons and brothels. 

Without specific mention, there is no way to prove, however he and his colleagues mentioned below were certainly the type of musicians who could have been seen by and possibly impressed a young Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter; who later told of going to Fannin Street, which runs through the Bottoms, instead of to the state fair as instructed by his father. 

The articles below identify Simpson et al playing for Shreveport Times employees on various occasions. Nothing additional about the others has turned up, however updates to this blog will occur should more information become available. 

1892

Playing with Stevenson's String Band:  David Stevenson (mandolin), Walter McCoy, Isaac Paul, Johnny Simpson (presumably guitar). Two songs are mentioned - "Warble Oris" (?) by Paul, and "Cora Lee" by Simpson.

Shreveport Times 10-Aug-1892, Page 4

1893

Simpson and harpist Willie Bell.

Times 11-Apr-1893, Page 4

Again with Willie Bell, dubbed "exquisite master of the guitar" and "king of the harmonica" respectively.

Times 19-May-1893, Page 4

With Alfred Walker.

Times 03-Aug-1893, Page 4

1894

With Tony Walters on mandolin.

Times 11-Jul-1894, Page 4

With Pinkney Clark, also on guitar.

Times 10-Sep-1895, Page 3

ABOUT JOHN

1880

The U.S. Census  listed an 11 year-old John Simpson, the oldest of four sons of Dan (age 50) and Eddie (30) Simpson; living in Shreveport. The father's occupation was "laborer," while the mother's was "keeping house." 

1883

Young Simpson, now approximately 14 years of age, was summoned to appear in municipal court for being "disorderly & obscene." It is implied he had already received corporal punishment at the hand of arresting police.

Times 16-Jan-1883, Page 4

1885

Report of an altercation with another boy, John Lawrence, whose blow to Simpson's head with a brick left him seriously injured. 

Times 27-Jun-1885,, Page 4

1895

Notice of the marriage of John Simpson and Addie Wilson.....

Times 29-Dec-1895, Page 3

1896

.....and of the death of John Simpson, Jr.; age 20 months.

Shreveport Journal 06-Sep-1896, Page 1

1902

John Simpson and "A." (presumably Addie) living at 1028 Wood Street.

1902 Shreveport City Directory, Page 269

1904

Notice of a judgement in favor of Addie against Johnnie, possibly for divorce.

Times 05-May-1904, Page 7

1906 & 1907

Simpson living at 707 Caddo Street. He and Addie had apparently split as she's not listed.

1906 Shreveport City Directory, Page 284

1907 Shreveport City Directory,, Page 425

Afterward, Simpson just drops off the page, as no information about his later life could be found.

OTHER MUSICIANS OF THE PERIOD FOUND WHILE RESEARCHING JOHN

1893

Jordan and Brooks string band

Times 28-Jun-1893, Page 4

1894

A return engagement by the Brooks string band, with or without Jordan.

Times 20-Sep-1894, Page 4

1898

Isaac Johnson (bass) with Charley Hampter (mandolin) and Willie Bell (this time on guitar).

Times 03-Mar-1898, Page 8

1909

Eddie Thompson, AKA "Nookey" died of a gunshot received from an unknown assailant while leaving a woman's home. 

Times 02-Apr-1909, Page 3

The Corral

A Shreveport night spot that lasted only a few months in 1952 nonetheless played host to future members of various music-related halls of fame, as well as to several Louisiana Hayride and Grand Ole Opry performers; and other area musicians. 

Opened in April 1952, "The Corral" was named for co-owner Thomas C. "T. Tommy" Cutrer's then current radio program on KCIJ. A disk jockey, performer, promoter, and recording artist, he later moved to Nashville to work for WSM and eventually became announcer for the Grand Ole Opry and host of its television program.

Shreveport Journal 31-Dec-1952,
Page 4-A

Journal 04-Apr-1952, Page B-9

In addition to Cutrer, over the next four months, the following entertainers (listed in alphabetical order) were advertised to appear:

Zane Beck, with the Silver Saddle Boys (Louisiana Hayride, Grand Ole Opry) - An innovator who added knee levers to the pedal steel guitar. He is a member of the Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame 

Zane Beck (seated)

Journal 12-Jul-1952, Page 3

Jimmy Lee Fautheree (LH)  appeared with Faron Young (see below).

Jimmy Lee Fautheree

Ernie Hawkins & His Rhythm Hawks, featuring Bill Bradley. No additional information about this group was found other than advertisements for other performances at Club Pelican, the Log Cabin Club, and Kool Point (in Oil City, LA). The one below was the last published for the club.

Journal 02-Aug-1952, Page 5

Al Hobson, appearing with Paul Howard's Arkansas Cotton Pickers - Paul appears to have taken a few months hiatus in 1952, as Al was advertised several times fronting the Cotton Pickers. Later he headed his own group the Skyliners that performed in area venues including the Skyway Club in Bossier City and at Kool Point.

Journal 10-May-1952

Journal 21-Apr-1952, Page 21

Joe Linder with the Sons Of The Golden West - A Barksdale airman from Texas who with another band, the Rainbow Valley Boys, had played other local clubs including the Lake Cliff, Club Pelican, and the Carousel Cafe & Bar (in Bossier City, not the later Shreveport lounge with rotating bar).

Journal 20-Jun-1952, Page X

"Country" Johnny Mathis was, like musical partner Jimmy Lee Fautheree, also billed with Faron (obviously misspelled) Young on another occasion. 

"Country" Johnny Mathis

Journal 29-Apr-1952, Page 11

Hoot & Curley (LH) - Thomas "Hoot" Rains and Carnell "Curley" Herndon were staff musicians on the Hayride who also performed at numerous area clubs during this era. Shown below, Curley is actually pictured on the left and Hoot on the right.

Journal 21-Jun-1952, Page 5

Leon Payne (LH, GOO) - Inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame 

Journal 30-Apr-1952, Page 4-D

Pee Wee & Howard - No additional information was found about these musicians.

Ted Rains (real name Ted Faith), AKA the "Mystery Singer" (LH) deejay and country singer appeared with Hoot & Curley. 

Red Sovine  (LH, GOO) Around the time of The Corral, Red was elsewhere advertised to be playing with former members of the "Sunshine Boys" so it is possible some or all of these musicians were at this gig.

Journal 29-Feb-1952,
Page 8

Journal 23-Apr-1952, Page 11

Tommy Trent & His Dixie Mountaineers (LH)

Shreveport Times 22-Feb-1952, Page 15

Journal 14-Apr-1952, Page 8-C

"Jazz Bo" Williams - No additional information about this musician was found. This ad does however show that the club's offerings were not strictly limited to country & western music. There was later a local black disk jockey who went by "Jazzmo" but no connection could be established. 

Journal 08-May 1952, Page D-3

Faron Young (LH, GOO, Country Music Hall of Fame)

Journal 02-May-1952, Page 7

Journal 01-May-1952, Page 4-B

BACKGROUND

The earliest advertisement found for a club at the site promoted the grand opening of the "Tally-Ho," though it also referenced an earlier business, "The Old Tom Lewis Place." However details of that operation are not known.

Journal 31-May-1939, Page 12

Entertainment for opening night was Carl Jones and the Southern Serenaders. Of note, two members (Jack Burns and Jack Davis) had earlier been in future Louisiana governor and Country Music Hall of Fame member Jimmie Davis's band.

Journal 24-Feb-1939, Page 15

The announcement of the chartering of the private Belvedere Club, a "fellowship and recreational organization" was published in March 1946. In 1948 it became public as the "1-2-3 Club" and in 1949 was rebranded "The Flamingo Club."

Journal 14-Apr-1949, Page 10

Tommy's partner, Lester "Blue" Boliew was a local businessman who operated other establishments over the years including the Skyway Club, Blue's Red Devil Lounge, the Fountain Lounge, Blue's Lounge, the Top Hat Lounge, and Orbit Lounge; all across the Red River in Bossier City.

Times 29-Mar-1952, Page 11

CLOSURE AND AFTERMATH

There was apparently no formal announcement of the club's closing, however two factors were surely in play to cut its tenure short:  (1) Tommy's serious automobile accident and (2) a vote by area residents to go "dry."  .

One month after the club's opening, Tommy abruptly resigned from KCIJ. A few days later, while en route to Tennessee, he was involved in an accident east of Little Rock, Arkansas that incapacitated him for an extended time and resulted in the loss of a leg. Note the article below stated he his destination was Memphis, however in a later interview Tommy said he was headed to Nashville to audition for WSM, home of the Opry.

Journal 12-May-1952, Page 7

The following month, (then) future Country Music Hall-of-Famers Webb Pierce and Jimmie Davis, along with other notable musicians performed a benefit show at Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium (then home of the Hayride)  to assist with expenses incurred.

Times 12-Jun-1952, Page 8

In this 1953 air conditioner advertisement, Tommy was pictured working from home, likely still suffering lingering effects from the auto accident. He would later move on to WSM in Nashville a couple of years later.

Times 17-Jun-1953, Page 6-D

On 05-August 1952, voters in Caddo Parish Ward 4 voted to go dry. This impacted numerous establishments within its footprint, including The Corral. Its last advertisement was published the prior Saturday and featured Ernie Hawkins, previously mentioned above.

   

Times 06-Aug-1952, Pages 1 & 4

Interestingly the legendary Lake Cliff Club, also within the impacted area, somehow managed to survive and likely even benefited from the The Corral's demise; given that both drew from the same customer base and talent featured. While never stated, Tommy was likely providing a name while Boliew provided the financial backing. Given these issues it was likely a call by the latter to close shop and focus on enterprises in alcohol-friendly Bossier.

Throughout the 1950s the site was home to other restaurants and bars including the Town & Country Sandwich Shop (1953), Bill & Lucy's Drive-In (1954), the Pastime Lounge (1955-1956, that at least once hosted Hoot & Curley), the Idle Hour Lounge (1957), and finally Mom's Chili Bowl (1959). In 1960 it was the site of  W. C. Barnwell's water well drilling operation.

Journal 26-Jul-1956, Page D-3

In April 1973 the Diesel Driving Academy began offering big rig driver training at the location, and continued to do so for many years.

Times 30-Apr-1973, Page 6-C

Google Street View from 2008 shows a building with an art deco-esque facade that likely was standing during "The Corral" era. It does however appear too small to have been a bar and dancehall, so perhaps there was an addition later demolished, or some other structure where the music and dancing took place.

Google Street View (Jan-2008)

Below is the site per the most current Google Street View. It is identified as the "Schneider Drop Lot," and is currently owned by A & L Energy.

Current Google Street View (Apr-2019)