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The Down Homers
WLW Midwestern Hayride

About The Group

A group with quite a legacy of a career, The Down Homers, had some eventual individual stars, too. The group was organized in 1935 by Shorty COok and Guy Campbell.

First, there was Everett "Shorty" Cook, a native of Millersburg, IN. He got his career started in 'minstrel' entertainment. His parents had a bit of musical influence on him, too - his mom was a pianist and his dad was a celloist. As part of the Down Homers, Shorty did a variety of tasks, singing lead, baritone, tenor or bass; played the Spanish or hawaiian guitars. He was also a songwriter.

Guy Campbell came from the Blue Hills of Virginia. Later on, his family moved to Oklahoma. His dad was a classical violinist and that was an early influence on Guy, but he liked the songs of the range so much, that he dropped his classical music in favor of the country music he loved. In addition to playing the fiddle for the Down Homers, he played the guitar and bass and was the third man in the trio numbers.

Another member of the Down Homers back then was the fellow from Lenoir City, Tennessee, transplanted to Massachusetts, Kenny Roberts. He started his career on radio while he was still in high school. His yodeling songs got him a lot of acclaim and was featured over the Blue Network at one time. In March of 1944, Kenny won the "Eastern States Yodeling Championship". He played just about all the stringed instruments, and harmonica, too.

From Ottumwa, Iowa came Lloyd Cornell. He started his radio career when he was 16 at his home town station. His first professional gig as an entertainer came after he graduated from high school was in St. Joseph, MO. From that point, he then migrated to other radio stations in Waterloo, IA; Des Moines, IA; Grand Island, NE; and Ft. Wayne, IN. He was also a bit of a songwriter and was said to have made a number of recordings.

Timeline and Trivia Notes

Group Members included:

  • Everett "Shorty" Cook
  • Guy Campbell
  • Kenny Roberts
  • Lloyd Cornell

Credits & Sources

  • Deluxe Edition Down Homers; M. M. Cole Publishing Co.; Chicago, IL; ca 1942.

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