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Dolph was a member of the famed WLS National Barn Dance back around
1947 or so.
His son was born while he was performing with the Sage Riders in
the Prairie Farmer tent at the Wisconsion State Fair. Needless to say,
they did without him after that as he drove to St. Louis where his wife
and new-born son were at the time.
Dolph's father was a farmer and also an old-time fiddler and Dolph first
got exposed to music at the old square dances. He learned to sing
while working in the fields as well as clearing timber. He also served
in World War II for 26 months in the Pacific as a Marine.
Early on his career, Dolph was on the east coast. From an old souvenir
brochure by Shorty Fincher and his Cotton Pickers, we found a few more
details that Dolph shared with the fans then. He was born on a farm
near the town of West Alexander, Pennsylvania and lived there until he
made the move to the WWVA Jamboree. He started off playing with Frankie
More's Log Cabin Gang over WWVA. He stayed with them for about ten months
before becoming a part of Shorty Fincher's group. Dolph said his hobbies
were hunting, fishing and horseback riding.
His wife was Ruth Johnson, one of the Johnson sisters who used
to be on the radio. One of her sisters was a "Hormel Girl". And
another sister was married to Jimmy Hutchinson of the Sage Riders.
Trivia / Timeline Notes
- Married to Ruth Arlene Johnson, a part of the Johnson Sisters,
who appeared on the radio elsewhere in the USA
- Had a son, Charles Allen or "Chucky" as they called him when he was about so high
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