Frank Luther

Frank Luther

Source: Hillybilly Hearthrobs

Born Francis Luther Crow on a farm near Lakin, Kansas, on 4 August 1899 (some sources 1900 or 1905), Frank Luther (aka Bud Billings) was a pianist who better known as a popular, jazz and country vocalist. One finds in Luther early country western not because it was made in New York City, but because of its bouncing twang which distinguishes country western from everything else as well. Luther began his professional career at age 16 as a tenor in a traveling quartet called the Meistersingers. In 1926 he joined a group called the DeReszke Singers, changing his name from Crow to Luther and touring with Will Rogers. Praguefrank's has Luther recording with guitarist, Carson Robison, as early as June 26 of 1926: 'The Hills of Kentucky' (unissued) and 'The Little Green Valley' / 'Drifting Down the Trail of Dreams' (Melotone M12179, Polly P9062).

Early 1927 found Luther with Sam Lanin and his Famous Players, 'Wherever You Go' gone down on March 30 for issue the next year. Luther also joined the Revelers for a time in 1927 to tour to Great Britain, not known on what recordings he may have sang. September 30, 1927, found him with Cass Hagan for Columbia: 'Manhattan Mary', issue unknown. Early 1928 found Luther yet with Lanin and his Famous Players, putting down such as 'Rain Or Shine' on March 12.

On July 13 of 1928 Luther sang on 'Blue Grass' for Vincent Lopez and His Casa Lopez Orchestra. July 28 saw 'Ten Little Miles from Town' with Ben Bernie and his Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra. Those followed Luther's first tracks on June 7 of 1928 as a country singer in partnership with Carson Robison: 'Steamboat (Keep Rockin')' and 'There's a Whippoorwill a Calling', neither issued. Tony Russell's 'Country Music Records' (CMR) has Luther's next session circa June 15-16 "probably" accompanied by Murray Kellner on fiddle and Robison (harmonica / guitar) on 'The West Plains Explosion' / 'The Hanging of Charles Birger' (matrices: GEX 1439, GEX 1440; issued Gennett 6530). Robison had recorded the same two songs with Vernon Dalhart earlier on April 26 for issue in July 1928 on Domino 0241.

'Blue Grass'   Vincent Lopez & His Casa Lopez Orchestra

 Vocal trio: Phil Dewey / Frank Luther / Jack Parker

Recorded 13 July 1928 in NYC   Issued on Brunswick 4002

Composition: Buddy De Sylva / Lew Brown / Ray Henderson

'Steamboat'   Frank Luther w Carson Robison

Recorded 17 July 1928   Issued on Domino 0254-A

Composition: Carson Robison

'The Bum Song'   Frank Luther w Carson Robison

Recorded 10 August 1928 in NYC   Issued on Brunswick 4029 / Panachord 25221

Composition: Harry McClintock

'Barbara Allen'   Frank Luther w the Pards

 Fiddle: Bert Hirsh   Guitar: Carson Robison

Recorded 15 August 1928 in NYC   Issued on Edison N-11008

Composition: Carson Robison

Luther's session on the 18th of August 1928 resulted in 'The Little Green Valley' (Edison 5572) and 'Six Feet of Earth' (Edison 5564). He was accompanied by unknowns on those, Robison listed in CMR as "probably" on 'The Little Green Valley'. Luther and Robison also performed as Bud & Joe Billings, the Black Brothers, the Jones Brothers, et al. They stretched along 'I Tore Up Your Picture When You Said Goodbye' as the Black Brothers on August 3, 1928, per Okeh 45253.

Also recording under numerous aliases, Luther laid out 'Hallelujah! I'm a Bum' / 'The Bum Song' (Okeh 41092) as Pete Wiggins on August 6 of 1928. Luther and Robison co-authored 'Barnacle Bill the Sailor' which reached #13 on the popularity charts for Luther in 1929, the same year their recording of Joe Young's 'The Utah Trail' made it to #19 [Music VF]. It was as Bud & Joe Billings that 'When Your Hair Has Turned to Silver' reached #4 on the charts. The flip side of that on Victor 22588 was 'I'm Alone Because I Love You' which sat atop #9. Praguefrank's gives up the four year Luther-Robison partnership on April 4 of 1932 for several tracks in NYC, three unissued. The other two were released with Luther as Bud Billings: 'When the Sun Goes Down in a Little Prairie Town' / 'Ma and Pa' (Victor 22997).

'The Wreck of Number Nine'   Frank Luther w Carson Robison as Bud & Joe Billings

Recorded 11 Sep 1928 in NYC   Issued on Victor 40021 / Montgomery Ward M-8054

Composition: Carson Robison

'Barnacle Bill the Sailor'   Frank Luther w Carson Robison

Recorded 26 Dec 1928 in NYC   Issued on Brunswick 4180 / Supertone S2064

Composition: Carson Robison

During his country collaborations with Robison, Luther also recorded with the jazz dance band, the High Hatters, from 1929 into 1931.

'Can’t You Understand?'   Frank Luther w the High Hatters conducted by Leonard Joy

Recorded 11 Dec 1929 in NYC   Issued on Victor 22279

Music: Victor Young   Lyrics: Jack Osterman

'My Future Just Passed'   Frank Luther w the High Hatters conducted by Leonard Joy

Recorded 17 April 1930 in NYC   Issued on Victor 22444

Music: Richard A. Whiting   Lyrics: George Marion Jr.

'By the Old Oak Tree'   Frank Luther as Bud Billings w Carson Robison

Recorded 9 July 1930 in NYC   Issued on Victor 22478

Composition: Percy Wenrich

'Bye and Bye Sweetheart'   Frank Luther w the Elliott Jacoby Orchestra

Recorded 31 Dec 1930 in NYC   Issued on Oriole 2133 B / Perfect 15386-B

Composition: Jacoby / Merwin

'When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain'   Frank Luther w the Carson Robison Trio

Frank Novak: clarinet / xylophone

Recorded May or June 1931 in NYC   Crown 3156 / Montgomery Ward M3004 / Varsity 5033

Composition: Howard Johnson / Harry Woods / Kate Smith

After his four year partnership with Robison, Luther formed the Luther Trio, a country outfit with baritone, Leonard Stokes, and the latter's wife, Zora Layman. Albeit he is now more famous as an early country western artist he was also well-known for his recordings for children, commencing in 1933 [Children's Records]. In 1936 he starred in 'High Hat', his only feature-length film. Having begun an Americana series for Decca in the latter thirties, Luther published 'Americans and Their Songs' in 1942 as something of a companion to albums featuring songs of the Civil War, early New York, old California, the Gay Nineties, Irish favorites and rare Christmas carols. He also issued a couple albums of Stephen Foster (1826-64) compositions.

'Hillbilly Love'   Frank Luther (vocal / guitar) w the Range Ramblers

Short film directed by William Watson released 11 Oct 1935

'The Gingerbread Boy'   Frank Luther w Milt Herth (organ)

Recorded 29 Dec 1947 in NYC   Decca 88015 / Decca 9-88015 / Vocalion VL7-3659

Composition: Frank Luther

Luther composed and recorded actively up to the time of his death in New York City on November 16, 1980. Discogs lists his last album of certain issue date as 'Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin' in 1977. Luther had written titles like 'Your Lover' (1934), 'You're the Only One' (1935), 'Your Dear Eyes' (1935), 'Your Loveliness and My Devotion' (1935) and 'Punch and Judy' (1945).