As we research artists on this website, we sometimes find the 'stage names' are not
the same as their 'real names'. Such is the case in this instance.
He was born John Ralph Grimes in London, KY (according to his World War II Draft
Card found on ancestry.com), toparents John L. and Flora E. (Lee) Grimes in November 1929.
He is most well known as "Billy Barton" but also used the name "Hillbilly Barton"
and "Laurel London."
He first recorded for the Abbott record label as "Hillbilly Barton," doing several
sides with Johnny Horton in 1952.
In 1953, he cut a couple of sides for the Grande Record Co. label located in
Bakersfield, CA as "Billy Barton" and was backed by the Circle O Ranch Boys.
In 1955, he recorded for Abbott records again, this time as Billy Barton. A couple
of sides were cut with a young female singer named Wanda Wayne. Promotional appearance
ads show they began working together in December 1953. Wanda was 18 years old
at the time, born in Jasper, Alabama. Her family moved west.
He signed with King records. The label did something unusual when they released
his first recordings. The DJ or promo copy of that first release
contained some biographical information, such as his date of birth, where he was
born. It also noted that his first appearance was over radio station KXLA in
Pasadena, CA. The flip side of that record noted he had studied auctioneering
and for a time was a tobacco auctioneer. One learns he had married the young Wanda Wayne.
Wanda's King release around that time noted they were married on December 17, 1954.
She was 19, he was 26. It is interesting to note that the recordings were done
at the King Studios on January 19, 1955 but Wanda's sides were released first on
April 1, 1955 and Billy's on April 4, 1955.
At some point, Wanda and John Grimes (Billy Barton) divorced.
Billboard reported in its August 21, 1954 issue that Billy was working a two hour
stint over radio station KGY in Olympia, WA.
Perhaps taking advantage of his recording contract with King, The Cash Box reported
that Billy had taken up residence in Cincinnati, OH in early 1955.
By 1958, he had left Abbott and King records. He then signed to do promotional work
for Fabor Robison's Radio record label.
Billy Barton
Record Reviews From The Billboard and The Cash Box
|
|
| Date |
Label |
Rec No. |
Review |
| 1/24/1953 (BB) |
Abbott |
117 |
You Will Always Be In My Heart b/w
Barton, a guy with a high tenor, has a good country weeper
here and he projects it with moderate appeal. (Overall Rating: 68)
Blues In The Blue Of The Night
Novelty rhythm ditty is piped in okay fashion. (Overall Rating: 60) |
| 1/24/1953 (CB) |
Abbott |
117 |
You Will Always Be In My Heart b/w
Billy Barton etches a slow paced melodic item with
a nasal type delivery. The Circle O Ranch Boys provide a solid string
backdrop. (Overall Rating: C+)
Blues In The Blue Of The Night
Barton comes through with a quick beat item which he chants with spirit.
A lively side. (Overall Rating: C+) |
| 3/6/1954 (CB) |
Abbott |
155 |
I Cried My Eyes Out Over You
(Duet with Wanday Wayne) A middle tempo feelingful
piece is fashioned in first class style by the velvety tones of Wanda Wayne.
Mid-deck recitation by Billy Barton rounds out an engaging side. Tune
could break through.. (Overall Rating: B)
What's The Matter With Me
Solo By Billy Barton. Barton, who has penned some
of the recent country successes applies his vocal talents to another original
that should garner him more laurels.
Two standout decks. (Overall Rating: B) |
| 7/10/1954 (CB) |
Abbott |
166 |
That World Called Love
(Duet with Wanday Wayne) Billy Barton and Wanda Wayne
have a terrific chance to smash through with a big one as they wax a
happy-go-lucky ditty with delectable lyrics. Vocal efforts are top calibre. (Overall Rating: B+)
You're You
Solo By Billy Barton. Barton takes the vocal spotlight as he solos
through a zestful, quick beat love
tune. Should lure a heap of coin. (Overall Rating: B) |
| 7/12/1954 (BB) |
Abbott |
166 |
That World Called Love
(Duet with Wanda Wayne) Wanda Wayne teams up with Barton for a humorous portrayal
of the troubles Ihal ensue from careless use of the word "love."
The solid-beat and pretty harmonking make for a disk with commercial
potential. (Overall Rating: 77)
You're You
Solo By Billy Barton. Barton gets carried away here as he
tries to explain to his girl why he's so in hove with her.
It's pleasing material and gels a sound from Barton
that is all his own. (Overall Rating: 76) |
| 2/26/1955 (BB) |
King |
1440 |
The Song You Just Played
Duet with Billy Barton. Barton Is joined by Wanda Wayne (Mrs. B.) In a mighty
attractive duet. Despite its weeper theme, it moves briskly and tunefully.
This could catch on and earn satisfactory loot. (Overall Rating: 76)
Why Don't They Leave Her Alone?
Solo By Billy Barton. Billy Barton, who sings this one solo,
puts the question appealingly. A weeper with a beat and a tune, this
side can pull spins and sales. (Overall Rating: 74) |
| 2/26/1955 (CB) |
King |
1440 |
The Song You Just Played
Duet with Wanda Wayne. Wanda Wayne and Billy Barton never sounded better than they
do on this quick beat weeper with tender lyrics. Deck could happen with
enough exposure. Watch it. (Overall Rating: B+)
Why Don't They Leave Her Alone?
Solo By Billy Barton. Billy Barton sounds mighty jealous of the other guys on
this fast paced piece with a tantalizing instrumental backdrop. (Overall Rating: B) |
| 4/16/1955 (BB) |
King |
1457 |
What God Has Put Together, Let No Man Tear Apart
Barton, who wrote both tunes on this disk, warbles with sincerity
and considerable feeling on weeper about a man who lakes a
girl away from his best buddy, only to have still another pal take her
from him. Clever lyrics make this a good juke bet. (Overall Rating: 76)
Pardon Me, Old Buddy
A sprightly vocal treatment of a jaunty paced novelty with bouncy
country styled backing. (Overall Rating: 75) |
| 4/23/1955 (CB) |
King |
1457 |
What God Has Put Together, Let No Man Tear Apart
Billy Barton takes hold of a powerful piece of material and delivers
it in heartrending style. Top calibre performance. (Overall Rating: B+)
Pardon Me, Old Buddy
Under deck is a fast paced cuite that has the quality, novelty and
charm to break through. Two chart contenders. (Overall Rating: B) |
| 6/11/1955 (CB) |
King |
1478 |
Do You Love Me, Do You Love Me?
Versatile Billy Barton can really be heard on this one as he belts
out a rousing, quick beat bouncer in money-making manner. (Overall Rating: B+)
I'm Turning Over A Brand New Leaf
On the flipside Barton socks out another fast paced toetapper.
Two flavorful biscuits. (Overall Rating: B) |
| 6/11/1955 (BB) |
King |
1478 |
I'm Turning Over A Brand New Leaf
As long as she's got a hears — that's the burden of Billy
Barton's chant. It's lively country material, and the chanter has an
individual style.(Overall Rating: 72)
Do You Love Me, Do You Love Me?
This reetitive query makes a routine weeper. (Overall Rating: 68) |
| 10/11/1958 (CB) |
Radio |
117 |
Doorway To Heaven
The gal’s front door is the “doorway to heaven” sez Billy Barton as
he brightly carves out this quick beat love affair. Happy wedding of melody
and lyrics on a lid that packs a sales wallop. Keep close tabs on it.
(Overall Rating: B+)
The Devil, My Conscience and I
Here’s an interesting ditty that’s gonna provide
the jocks with some good, offbeat programming. Billy engages in
a three-way-conversation about a gal who done him wrong. Intriguing, up
tempo opus. (Overall Rating: B) |
| 10/13/1958 (BB) |
Radio |
117 |
Doorway To Heaven
Country ditty is handed a nice reading by Billy Barron, as
he sings of his true love. (Overall Rating: 72)
The Devil, My Conscience and I
Country novelty receives a 1istenable rendition from Berton as he sings
of bis troubla with his girl. (Overall Rating: 72) |
| 5/16/1964 (CB) |
Sims |
176 |
Even Stevens
Barton unleashes his potent, wide-range vocal talents full-blast on this
top-notch, hard-driving, rhythmic romantic novelty which boasts a fine spinnable beat.
(Overall Rating: B+)
Remembering
This time out the songster offers a plantive, slow-moving,
chorus-backed, shuffle-beat weeper (Overall Rating: B+) |
The Songwriter
I Cried My Eyes Out Over You
I Love You
Mexico Gal
Let This Be The Last Time (w/Rose Maddox)
Forgive Me John (w/Jean Shepard)
A Dear John Letter (w/Lewis Talley and Fuzzy Owen)
Marriages
Roda Holland (Puterbaugh)(B: March 31, 1931 — D: July 3, 2015)
Married: October 2, 1948 in Cheyenne, WY. Divorced:
Betty Lou (Parvin) Harvey ("Wanda Wayne") (B: — D: )
Married: December 17, 1954. Divorced: ?
Ladonna June (Bennett) Kelly (B: April 25, 1932 &mdash: D: Aril 23, 2015)
They married on October 4, 1961 in Las Vegas, NV. Divorced May 1964, Pinnellas County, FL.
There appear to be other marriage(s); but data could not be determined.
Credits & Sources
- Folk and Talent Tunes; Joel Friedman; August 21, 1954; The Billboard; New York, NY
- Vox Jox; Charlotte Summers; October 9, 1954; The Billboard; New York, NY
- Folk Talent & Tunes; Bill Sachs; October 30, 1955; The Billboard; New York, NY
- Cincinnati Cut-Ups; April 2, 1955; The Cash Box; New York, NY
- Country Round-Up; July 19, 1958; The Cash Box; New York, NY
- Grimes, John "Hillbilly Barton"; Obituary; October 23, 2011; The Tennessean; Nashville, TN
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