Linda Parker Born:  January 18, 1912 Died:  August 12, 1935 WLS National Barn Dance WAAF Chicago, IL WIBO Gary, IN WLS Chicago, IL WWAE Hammond, IN

About The Artist The Early Years Genevieve Elizabeth Muenich was born in Covington, Indiana to a working class couple who married some seven weeks after their daughter's birth. Covington was southwest of Lafayette, Indiana along the Wabash River. Her parents were Eddie and Hazel (Vyze) Muenich. They were married in Covington on March 9, 1912. Her dad was 21 and her mom 17. Archibald McKinlay wrote in 1994 that the young couple moved with their child to Eddie's hometown of Hammond in 1914. Genevieve, or Jeanne as she was known to her friends, attended Wallace School, then started attending Hammond High School. But Linda had a streak in her that did not want to attend school; she was suspended on May 31, 1927. When September rolled around, she went back to high school, but things were not working out for on November 14 she was "...packed off to Hammond Tech, the Siberia of Hammond High incorrigible's." But her time at Tech was short as well. On January 19, 1928, the day after her 16 th birthday, she quit school. Linda Parker went through a couple of major make overs before gaining widespread fame as "the Sunbonnet Girl" on the National Barn Dance. The girl's first singing influence was the pop vocalist "Chicago's sweetheart" Ruth Etting. A bright and ambitious child she entered high school at age twelve and played clarinet in the school band. However, singing remained her first love and eventually so consumed her interest that she became a chronic truant and was suspended from school. Sent to a strict vocational center, she dropped school altogether when she turned sixteen. 1929 — Jeanne Munich - The Red-Headed Rascal The following August at seventeen, she was hired as vocalist on a popular music Sunday afternoon variety show on station WWAE, beginning on September 8, 1929. According to a radio log in The Hammond Times of September 1929, the station's studios were at the City State Bank Building located at the corner of Randolph and Wells Street in Chicago. She was known as "Jeanne Munich, the Red-Headed Rascal," with a repertoire dominated by blues numbers. That Sunday program that was on from 1:30 to 3:15 pm originated from the Hammond studios of WWAE. Hank Richards was the local studio manager and had arranged for a variety of talent. Milton Zietlin and his orchestra; Ralph and Frank, Hawaiian guitarists would do 'dreamy melodies' and a local artist by the name Al Lindbergh (The Baby Elephant with the Traveling Cigar Box) was do 'croon ukulele numbers and some hot tunes of his own origination.' The show was to inaugurate what a news article called "The Nut Sunday Club." On October 1, 1929, the owners of WWAE decided to give the local Hammond studio more time on the air. Dr. G. F. Courier authorized the studio to broadcast from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm each evening except Sundays when the local station aired its Nut-Sunday Club. The teen-aged Jeanne Muenich was said to be the 'star entertainer' of the local studio. The article stated, "...Her blues voice is unusual and several Chicago radio critics have lauded her original interpretations of "low-down" music." The "blues" angle came in handy February 1930 when the local paper reported that "...Miss Jean Muenich, popular Hammond radio singer, was singing the "blues" today because "the meanest man in the world" stole her pet bull-dog, Skippy." In February 1930, Jean and other members of the "Cameo Girl" cast that entertained over 150 during the winter were feted. Jack Hoffman was the emcee for the entertainment portion. Jean Muenich sang several blues songs that evening. Shortly after that she was part of the entertainment at the Beth El solarium that appears to have been decorated as a night club. The festivities that evening included a dance orchestra from Chicago. The leader of that band was said to have delighted audiences with his several changes of costumes and his clever antics. Solo numbers were done by Maurice White and Margaret Brander. "Gene Muenich" appeared and accompanied herself on the ukulele. In May of 1930, the local Hammond newspaper reported that Jean Muenich had entered the WJKM audition (Research seems to indicate this was a typo and probably meant to be WJKS, then in Gary, IN which later became WIND. They wrote, "she says she expects to win." 1930 — Jeanne Munich - The Red-Headed Bluebird Within a year, she was being heard on a Chicago radio station, WIBO (which would later become WIND on the 560 AM frequency). Then in August 1931, at WAAF, she became, "Jeanne Munich, The Red-Headed Bluebird" with piano accompanist Estelle Barnes. She appeared at the Cook County Fair in August of 1932 with other artists from WAAF such as Bill Barr and James Hamilton. The WLS National Barn Dance was to be the featured Saturday night attraction during the fair's run at the then fair grounds at North Avenue and River Road. Some weeks later, the popular "Red-Headed Bluebird," still only nineteen, acquired a second job on a daytime show at WLS singing vintage old songs as the "Old-Fashioned Girl." Presumably she developed a love for this kind of song. By August 1932 she dropped her connection with both WAAF and the name Jeanne Munich. 1932 — WLS Old-Fashioned Girl to Linda Parker She appears to have joined WLS in April of 1932. Research shows that she had a 15-minute program over WLS; the first listing seen was for April 27, 1932. It appears it did not take her too long to get noticed by the newspaper folks. Yank Taylor wrote in his "Reviews" column that he wished to toss Linda Parker an orchid or more likely a sunflower. Why? Last Saturday night (June 18, 1932) he heard her and said, "...we caught her singing one of those hill billies ballads about a wronged girl and in spite of the dripping sentiment we found it quite musical." Four months earlier, John Lair had made her part of his Cumberland Ridge Runner string band and transformed her magically into "Linda Parker, the Sunbonnet Girl." The first mention of Linda with the Cumberland Ridge Runners was seen in the Radio Guide of March 1932. They were sponsored by the International Heating Company from 10:30 to 10:45 pm on Saturday night during the Barn Dance slot. It was written of their portion: "...historic events of the southern hill country will be recounted with mountain songs and music by the All-Southern cast of artists on this bill." She was getting recognition for her efforts. In June, a fan wrote, "Linda Parker has just finished a number and everybody is happy." In August 1932, she was part of a contingent of WLS entertainers that went to a casino in South Haven, Michigan for a show on a boat. It was a picnic setting and it was reported over 2,000 attended. In August 1932, she was part of the group of WLS entertainers who put on a Barn Dance program at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis. On the show were WLS artists such as the Maple City Four, John Brown, the Cumberland Ridge Runners with Linda Parker, Max Terhune, Hoosier Sod Busters, the Arkansas Woodchopper, the Three Little Maids, William Vickland, Bill O'Connor, Hal O'Halloran, Hugh Cross, Bradley Kincaid, Ralph Waldo Emerson and others from station WKBF of Indianapolis. In September 1932, the local newspaper reported that she had signed a three year contract with the Cumberland Ridge Runners of WLS and was to be booked with them on all of their personal appearances '...around the country.' that same article mentions she was visiting her parents in Hammond and brought with her Mrs. Helen Patterson, wife of Pat Patterson of the Maple City Four. In 1932, we start to see evidence of her popularity. The Radio Guide was holding a contest to determine who the "IT" Girl was on radio that year. Linda Parker was the only one from WLS and she was in 25th place. The singer who influenced her, Ruth Etting was in seventh. At the end of October, Linda was in 25th place. The November 20, 1932 issue announced the final results of fan voting. Marge Damerel won with over 15,700 votes. Ruth Etting finished second with over 14,800 votes. Linda Parker finished ninth in the final polling. The local paper took the time to point out that she did not have the advantage of being heard over a network, but was heard on a single station. In December of 1932, the local hometown newspaper related a story from her mother from her daughter's childhood days. It seems, Jeanne Muenich, in her baby days was known as "Nenny". She loved her dolls, her parents and her friends. But trains frightened her a lot when the got to tooting their horns going through town. When a train would blow its horn, Nenny would do so as well. Then she would go shrieking to her nearest friend to hide her head. It took a while and some coaching, but she finally understood that trains don't come into the yards of little girls. She would take her doll, named Daphne, along with her on her walks, which made her feel safe. But when she would hear the screech of a train, she remembered what her mom told her and spoke ever so bravely to Daphne, "Don't be scared Daphne, don't be scared. The train can't hurt you, 'cause it's fastened to the track with a safety pin." The WLS public relations people now changed Linda's birthplace to Covington, Kentucky, where she grew up listening to old songs that her mother and grandmother sang to her from early childhood. She became so comfortable in her new persona that she began to make her own stage clothes and to play the dulcimer and guitar although never on stage. One of the difficulties in researching the life of Linda was her marriage to Art Janes, a member of the Maple City Four (LaPorte, Indiana is known as the "Maple City" and three of the original members were from LaPorte.). Due to the 'innocent persona' that had been created by John Lair and WLS for the Sunbonnet Girl, they kept the marriage quiet. Perhaps wanting to maintain the image of her innocence. But a small blurb in the South Bend Tribune indicates they had married on June 20, 1932 in Valparaiso, Indiana. Other news reports of the marriage did not really show up until October of 1932 and even then, it was not widely reported. Upon her passing, WLS Stand By wrote that for the couple, "..it was love at first sight. She came to WLS in early 1932, and she and Art were married that June in Valparaiso." Although her singing still reflected a lot of Ruth Etting influence, her most popular songs were old favorites such as "Bury Me Beneath the Willow," I'll Be All Smiles Tonight," and the John Lair composition "Take Me Back to Renfro Valley." Linda's only recordings consisted of two singles, one recorded in 1933 and another in 1934 with "Take Me Back to Renfro Valley" being most popular. The local paper reported that she had done some recordings for the Sears, Roebuck Co. that were so successful, she was asked by Brunswick to go to New York City to record more sides. Tony Russell's "Country Music Discography" indicates these were recorded on April 11, 1933 in Chicago. She recorded two more sides with the Cumberland Ridge Runners on March 22, 1934, also in Chicago. Those tunes were "Lonesome Valley Sally" and "My Ozark Mountain Home." The National Barn Dance seemed to generate another type of entertainment, perhaps as a way of giving local, young talent a chance to be seen and heard. Research shows several instances where the station sponsored a "WLS Home Talent Barn Dance" show. It was a call for local talent to apply to be on the show. One of the requirements was to imitate one of the famous barn dance stars such as Linda Parker. Or if they could play an instrument such as a guitar, banjo, fiddle. Or sing and yodel. One such instance was in June of 1934 that was promoted by the Tippecanoe County Boys' and Girls' 4-H Clubs. The ads implied that the 'show' would be promoted over the airwaves of WLS. She apparently may have tried songwriting as well. In March of 1933, the local newspaper reported that Jeanne Muenich (Linda Parker) had written a 'beautiful song.' It was titled "My Cabin Among The Pines." The article stated it had been copyrighted, but never sold. She said she did not intend to have her song published because "troubles would arise, concerning its radio use by its authoress." That same article mentioned she had left on March 19th for a two month tour as part of the WLS Merry-Go-Unit that included the Cumberland Ridge Runners, Spareribs (Malcolm Claire), Billy Wood (Marimba soloist) and Lulu Belle. That tour started in Streator, IL. A Chicago newspaper publication posed a question sent in by a reader, "Have you ever been forced through danger to do something that you thought you were not capable of doing? The roving reporter just happened to meet Linda Parker at the corner of Racine Avenue and Washington Boulevard in Chicago (Note: WLS offices were at 1230 Washington Boulevard between Racine and Elizabeth Streets). Linda told the reporter, "I was out canoeing one day when a sudden gust of wind capsized the canoe. I did not know how to swim and I was too far out for those on shore to hear my shouts for help. For a moment I thought I was lost but when I came to the top I began to swim for the first time in my life." That reporter also asked the question to Fleming Allan, a musical director, Nora Barret, a singer, Milt Mabie an entertainer (The Westerners), Dixie Mason (a WLS Singer). Radio Guide ran another popularity poll in 1934. The September 29, 1934 announced that Irene Beasley was selected as Queen of the Radio. Linda finished in 32nd place while a young Lulu Belle finished in 35th. Linda was part of a unique personal appearance in July 1934. The WLS Hayloft Gang were to entertain some 2,000 listeners who were also picnicking aboard the steamer ship Roosevelt en route to St. Joseph, Michigan on July 31, 1934. This was part of the centennial celebration in St. Joseph, Michigan. Arkie was the master of ceremonies. The Little Maids (Eva and Evelyn Overstake), the Hoosier Hot Shots. When they arrived in St. Joseph, the Cumberland Ridge Runners along with Linda Parker and John Lair and a young Lulu Belle were do appear on a special stage show. In April of 1935, Linda and the Cumberland Ridge Runners made an appearance in her home town. The group was appearing at the Parthenon Theater in downtown Hammond. The local newspaper, The Hammond Times, ran a promotional piece each day during the week leading up to their appearance. The theater, located at 5144 Homan Avenue, was just a block away from the Goldblatt's department store. Research shows the theater was able to seat 2,500 patrons. Research would sometimes find articles that would tell the reader the tunes that Linda sang. In the April 13, 1935 Stand By, we learned that she sang a tune by Willie Arthur. Willie was said to have written the lyrics to songs used on WLS such as "Old Shep" for Red Foley; "Trail of My Memory Lane" for Hartford Taylor and "Ain't We Crazy" for the Hoosier Sod Busters. But the problem was, Willie had not heard them over the air or in person. He arrived at the WLS studios bright and early one morning at 6:000 am He wanted to hear Linda sing, "Trail of My Memory Lane." But she had forgotten to bring the music to the studio! But that story did not tell us if she sang that tune or not. In a subsequent issue, we learn she done so. The music was written by Karl Davis. Readers learn a little bit of the things that Linda and her husband Art would do together. Jack Holden told readers they decided to go to LaPorte, Indiana one day and go hunting for mushrooms. Jack felt it was his duty to warn the mushrooms to stay in the ground a bit longer. But Check Stafford reported on the results of that trip. It had an 'unhappy ending'. The rains had flooded their favorite area for picking mushrooms. Their hopes of filling a large sack to later cook them on the stove slowly simmered in corn meal and butter went down the drain. On August 1, 1935, she was appearing with the Cumberland Ridge Runners at a show in Elkhart, Indiana when she became quite ill. She finished the show, but it was not until two days later that she was rushed to a hospital in Mishawaka. Diagnosed with a perforated appendix, she underwent an emergency operation and two blood transfusions, but went steadily downhill. She died at noon on August 12 at the age of 23 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Mishawaka, IN. Jack Holden conducted memorial services over WLS. Pall bearers were the boys from the Ridge Runners—Red Foley, Hartford Taylor, Slim Miller and Karl Davis—and Pat Patterson and Fritz Meissner of the Maple City Four. Her passing was widely mourned by thousands of radio fans. The weekly publication of Prairie Farmer, WLS Stand By, published upcoming personal appearances by their artists. Linda's appearances with the Cumberland Ridge Runners provide a glimpse of her itinerary in the weeks and days leading up to her illness and death. Of note is that one of the acts as part of this group was the Play Party Girls who were Eva Overstake (Foley) and Jean Harris (Davis - wife of Karl Davis) and a black-faced comedian named Pancake, brother of Karl Davis. Saturday, July 6, 1935 — Pekin Theatre; Pekin, IL Sunday, July 7, 1935 — Roxy Theatre; Logansport, IN Wednesday, July 10, 1935 — Capitol Theatre; Taylorville, IL Thursday, July 11, 1935 — Matton Theatre; Mattoon, IL Sunday, July 14, 1935 — Crescent Theatre; Grand Haven, MI Monday, July 15, 1935 — Palace Theatre; Charlevoix, MI Tuesday, July 16, 1935 — Temple Theatre; East Jordan, MI Wednesday, July 17, 1935 — Lyric Theatre; Evart, MI Thursday, July 18, 1935 — Bohm Theatre; Albion, MI Sunday, July 21, 1935 — Mayville Park; Mayville, MI Monday, July 22, 1935 — Royal Theatre; Ashland, WI Tuesday, July 23, 1935 — Rex Theatre; Park Falls, WI Sunday, July 28, 1935 — Club Barber; Stoughton, WI Monday, July 29, 1935 — Waupaca Theatre; Waupaca, WI Tuesday, July 30, 1935 — West Bend Theatre; West Bend, WI Wednesday, July 31, 1935 — Illinois Theatre; Chicago, IL Thursday, August 1, 1935 — Elco Theatre; Elkhart, IN Thursday, August 1, 1935 — Linda Parker suffers appendicitis attack Sunday, August 4, 1935 — Two Rivers, WI (Celebration sponsored by VFW) Monday, August 5, 1935 — Gero Theatre; Manistique, MI Tuesday, August 6, 1935 — Ispheming Theatre; Ispheming, MI Wednesday, August 7, 1935 — Princeton Theatre; Princeton, WI Thursday, August 8, 1935 — Strand Theatre; Whitewater, MI Sunday, August 11, 1935 — Magee Theatre; Evansville, WI Monday, August 12, 1935 — Brown County Fair; De Pere, WI Monday, August 12, 1935 — Death of Linda Parker (Genevieve Elizabeth Muenich Janes) Tuesday, August 13, 1935 — Kerredge Theatre; Hancock, MI Wednesday, August 14, 1935 — Delft Theatre; Iron River, MI Thursday, August 15, 1935 — Sheboygan County Fair; Plymouth, WI As one reads the numerous promotional articles in local newspapers for the upcoming appearances of the Cumberland Ridge Runners and Linda Parker, one can see the pen of John Lair behind the descriptions of this group and the music they would entertain fans with. "A breath of beauty from the blue grass might be best used to describe Linda Parker, talented feminine vocalist with the famous Cumberland Ridge Runners and featured artist in WLS traveling shows. Scarcely more than 20 years old, the auburn haired contralto has one of the biggest fan followings at the Prairie Farmer station and mailmen who carry daily correspondence to WLS will testify to Linda's popularity. AAlthoughshe weighs less than 100 pounds and is of almost watch-charm proportions, Miss Parker has a vocal volume that is something. She is a native of Covington, Kentucky, but many excursions into the Kentucky mountains have thoroughly acquainted her with the wistful ballads of the hills. She sings these folk songs with feeling and complete understanding of their origin and has to offer, in addition to her voice an unusual type of beauty. In addition to her titian hair, she is particularly white of skin and her great eexpressiveeyes are bluer than the famous grass of her native state." — July 2, 1935 "The Cumberland Ridge Runners from Radio Station WLS, Chicago who combine every type of old time playing, singing and fun making in their act, will bring a real bit of the Southern mountaineers life to the Valencia Theatre on Friday. These radio favorites sing the ballads that are the true folk songs of America, and play the hoe-downs familiar to the mountain people and the great Southland. They are colorful personalities in their costumes, typical of the setting from which their music originates. ... This versatile group of entertainers claim to have the greatest collection of American folk songs in the country, and all of the performers are genuine exponents of them. — July 3, 1935" "Miss Parker has studied the folk-lore of the Kentuck mountains and has gained prominence through her ability to interpret mountain songs. She has been with radio station WLS in Chicago for two years." — July 23, 1933 "They sing of the lonesome cowboys, songs of the old southern slaves, songs of miners of covered wagon days, and all the old heart-throb ballads of the people who pioneered the United States." —August 23, 1933 Local columnist Archibald McKinlay wrote in 1994 how John Lair had transformed Jeanne Muenich into Linda Parker. "For openers, he re-named her Linda Parker. Then he decked her out in a full cover-everything gingham dress with a huge, matching sun bonnet. At the same time, he taught her a new repertoire appropriate to her new image and added her to his Cumberland Ridge Runners group. When he was satisfied with what he had wrought, Lair introduced Linda Parker early in 1932, complete with an Appalachian biography. Whenever Linda appeared in more-than-mug-shot photographs, she was usually shown playing not only the fiddle, guitar, clarinet and piano, but the banjo and dulcimer, which were as common at Hammond High or Tech as corn pone. Overnight, Linda Parker became "The Little Sunbonnet Girl" and popularized such songs as "Single Girl," "Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Foot," as well as her logo tunes "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight," and "Take Me Back To Renfro Valley." Her gravestone bears the simple inscription "Linda Parker, wife of Arthur Janes". The Milwaukee Journal reported that the WLS Barn Dance group would be at the Wisconsin State Fair that ran from August 24 to 30, 1935. Among the entertainers listed to appear was Linda Parker. Her death was reported in newspapers far and wide. The August 24, 1935 issue of WLS Stand By included tributes from fans in the "Listener's Mike" column. From Cedar Falls, IA: "We were so sorry to hear of the passing of dear Linda Parker. She was loved by all and this seems the saddest thing that has happened there that we can remember. We are requesting that you publish the sweet song that she wrote. We hope we are not asking too much, for we keep all our copies of Stand By! From Aurora, IL: We have just heard the sad announcement of Linda Parker's death. To say we were shocked would hardly express our feeling. Our sympathy certainly goes to her husband Art (Janes) and also to all of WLS who have worked and sung with her, John Lair and the Cumberland Ridge Runners and many others. You will all have to put on "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" as the show goes on without our Little Sunbonnet Girl. From the editor who said they had this note on the desk when the news came, from Frankfort, IN: A daughter was born to friends of ours recently and was named Linda Louise. She was named for your wonderful singer, Linda Parker. WLS indicated they had received hundreds of cards and letters when her passing was announced. Radio Guide magazine was having a contest to determine who readers thought was the "IT" girl on the radio airwaves. The September 14, 1935 issue noted she was 50th in the poll and though she had passed away the month before, they would continue to count votes for her and keep her place in the rankings as a "vote of honor." At that time, WLS' Lulu Belle was 6th in the poll. Even upon her death, WLS kept up the persona the station and John Lair had created surrounding the character known as "Linda Parker." The WLS Stand By issue stated "...was born Jean Meunich in Covington, Kentucky, in 1912, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Meunich. Her family had lived in Kentucky for several generations, one branch hiving migrated there from Pennsylvania." The Stand By article mentions that in addition to the National Barn Dance, she also appeared on other WLS shows such as Mountain Memories, Coon Creek Social and others. The 1935 article went to note the popularity of her singing and how listeners would enjoy her tunes so much, they felt they were "hers" in their minds. Tunes such as "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight," "Wait For The Wagon," "Mother's Old Sunbonnet," and, many others. She was a talented musician and played the banjo, piano and the "old-fashioned dulcimer." The Stand By article noted she was also a talented arranger. Archibald McKinlay wrote of Linda's death in a 1994 column summarizing Linda's career. He said she was buried in Pine Lake Cemetery in LaPorte, IN. It was the biggest funeral the town had ever seen up to that point with over 3,000 people showing up, "...including a Who's Who of country music stars." He went on, "While her gravesite is not exactly Graceland North, more people come to see it than any other in the cemetery." Jack Holden told readers in one of his columns in April 1935 that Linda had once worked as a cashier at Swift's, where she started her radio career on the old Swift hour program. Other than Jimmie Rodgers and an unreleased song about Charlie Poole, she was probably the first country singer, and undoubtedly the first female country singer to have a song written and recorded about her passing which was "We Buried Her Beneath the Willow" by Karl and Harty. We Buried Her Beneath The Willow Written by / Credited to Cumberland Ridge Runners Copyright 1936 M. M. Cole Publishing Co.; Chicago, IL Arranged by: Mort H. Glickman One day an angel came down from heaven An envoy of our God above; From this great world to choose a token That all his throng in heav'n would love A soft song fell within His hearing He picked our girl, her soul, her voice Today our partner sings in heaven God praised the angel for His choice CHORUS We buried her beneath the willow With heads bowed low we walked away, God needed her to sing in heaven; We'll sing again on that bright day. Verse 2 Through all her pain she sang and smiled, A lovely smile of heav'nly birth And when God's angel called her homeward, She gently smiled farewell to earth. Heaven retaineth now our treasure This lonely earth her casket keeps But still the sunbeams love to linger Above the grave where Linda sleeps. CHORUS Music and Lyrics found in: Dave Minor's Collection of Karl and Harty's Fireside Songs Blue Grass Roy's Collection of Mountain and Home Songs Doc Hopkins and Karl and Harty of the Cumberland Ridge Runners Deluxe Edition WWVA World's Original Radio Jamboree Famous Songs A year after her death, WLS broadcast a tribute program to Linda Parker. It appears to have included vocals by her, whether by record or by old broadcasts. Listeners wrote to the WLS Stand By magazine in appreciation of that broadcast. "I listend to the program today in memory of Linda Parker. It surely brought back memories. And the recording was so real, it seemed like Linda was with us in real life again. Made me feel sad but the program was lovely. - From West Allis, WI" "Yesterday a program came through my loud speaker in memory of Linda Parker. This was the most beautiful broadcast that has ever entered our home and you may be sure there was a silent prayer through heavy tears as that sweet voice was heard again. - From Battle Creek, MI" Her four recordings were reissued on the BACM compact disc Memories of Renfro Valley (BACM 041) even though she died before the Renfro Valley Barn Dance even existed. Most of her brief but complex history was researched and published in a December 1995 article by Dave Samuelson. In 1954, the WLS National Barn Dance celebrated its 30th Anniversary. Part of that show included a special tribute to the stars "looking down from their reserved seats in heaven to enjoy Barn Dance night with us." Among the names mentioned in addition to Linda Parker, the Sunbonnet Girl, were Burridge D. Butler, Rube Tronson; Bill Vickland, Howard Black of the Hoosier Sod Busters, Eva Foley of the Three Little Maids, Ralph Waldo Emerson (organist), and Alan Crocket of the Prairie Ramblers. Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com would like to express its thanks to Ivan M. Tribe, author of Mountaineer Jamboree — Country Music in West Virginia and other books that can be found on Amazon.com and numerous articles in other publications for providing us with information about this artist. WWAE Sunday Program; September 7, 1929; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN WWAE Program (1200 AM); September 17, 1929; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Grant Studio More Time On The Air; October 1, 1929; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Did You Hear That?; February 15, 1930; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN "Cameo Girl" Cast Enjoyable Feted; February 18, 1930; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Green Guelph Most Successful; March 17, 1930; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Did You Hear That?; May 24, 1930; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN WLS Progams and Features - Week of March 20th - 27th; March 20, 1932; Radio Guide Mikritic; June 11, 1932; Radio Guide Woodmar; August 4, 1932; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN WLS Radio Program Will Be Fair Feature; August 30, 1932; Edinburgh Daily Courier; Edinburgh, IN WLS Barn Dance Crew To Come Here For Fair; September 1, 1932; The Indianapolis Star; Indianapolis, IN Jeanne Muenich Of Hammond Continues Radio Success; September 20, 1932; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Radio Bits; October 1, 1932; The Herald and Review; Decatur, IL Plums and Prunes; Evans E. Plummer; October 9, 1932; Radio Guide, Inc.; 423 Plymouth Court; Chicago, IL Marge Leads Poll; Connie Boswell 2nd; October 16, 1932; Radio Guide, Inc.; 423 Plymouth Court; Chicago, IL Marge Chosen Radio's 'IT' Girl; Etting Second; Irma Glen Third; Shutta Fourth; November 20, 1932; Vol. 2 No. 5; Radio Guide; Radio Guide, Inc.; 423 Plymouth Court; Chicago, IL Hammond Girl Places High In Radio Contest; November 30, 1932; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Cullings; December 1, 1932; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN LaPorte Man Weds; September 30, 1932; The South Bend Tribune; South Bend, Indiana Reviews; Yank Taylor; June 21, 1932; Daily Times; Chicago, IL Listening In; Yank Taylor; October 5, 1932; Daily Times; Chicago, IL The Times Talkies; April 6, 1934; Daily Times; Chicago, IL Listening In; Yank Taylor; July 30, 1934; Daily Times; Chicago, IL Separate Stage Shows Slated for State Fair; August 18, 1935; Milwaukee Journal; Milwaukee, WI Hail The Queen, Irene Beasley Elected Queen of Radio for 1934!; September 29, 1934; Radio Guide; Chicago, IL Sunbonnet Girl; August 24, 1935; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer Publications; Chicago, IL At Tivoli; July 23, 1933; The South Bend Tribune; South Bend, IN Cedar Grove Firemen Will Hold Picnic On Labor Day; August 23, 1933; The Sheboygan Press; Sheboygan, WI Echoes of the Radio; Tex Marks; Winter Edition 1939-1940; Vol. 2 No. 2; Song Exchange News; Song Exchange Club; Graysville, OH Local Girl To Make Records; May 30, 1933; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Linda Parker Writes Song; March 25, 1933; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Fanfare; Wyn Orr; May 11, 1935; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL Ad Lib; Jack Holden; April 27, 1935; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL Flashes; April 13, 1935; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL Queen?; September 14, 1935; Radio Guide; Ad Lib; Jack Holden; May 25, 1935; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL The Latch String; Check Stafford; May 25, 1935; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL The Listener's Mike; August 24, 1935; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL Linda Parker; July 2, 1935; The Macon Chronicle-Herald; Macon, MO Cumberland Ridge Runners; July 3, 1935; The Macon Chronicle-Herald; Macon, MO Linda Parker of WLS Barn Dance Dies At 24; August 13, 1935; The Capital Times; Madison, WI Sunbonnet Girl; August 24, 1935; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL Listener's Mike - In Memory Of Linda Parker; August 29, 1936; WLS Stand By; Prairie Farmer; Chicago, IL National Barn Dance Observes 30th Birthday; May 8, 1954; VOl. II No. 9; Pickin' and Singin' News; Nashville, TN Linda Parker made her mark in country music; Archibald McKinlay; December 11, 1994; The Hammond Times; Hammond, IN Appearance History This Month

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Conqueror Rec. No. Side Song Title   8164 A Take Me Back To Renfro Valley   8164 B I'll Be All Smiles Tonight   8311 A Lonesome Valley Sally (w/Cumberland Ridge Runners)   8311 B My Ozark Mountain Home (w/Cumberland Ridge Runners)