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Felice and Boudleaux
Bryant ~ Songwriters |
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| Felice and Boudleaux Bryant's story begins as a remarkable love story. In the spring of 1945, nineteen year old Matilda Genevieve Scaduto was an elevator operator at The Schroeder Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She struck up a conversation with a visiting musician from Georgia. His name was Boudleaux Bryant. Boudleaux, who was on the wagon at the time, made frequent trips to the water fountain which was located right beside the elevator. Five days later they ran-off together and their story began. Matilda says this was the dream she had had repeatedly since she was eight years old, although the man was supposed to have a beard! Marriage soon followed. Felice (Boudleaux's pet name for her) soon replaced Matilda! And Boudleaux soon grew the beard! In the early years they bounced around quite a bit. Boudleaux was an accomplished violinist having played classical, country and jazz. He played violin for a short time with The Atlanta Symphony and fiddle with Hank Penny's swing band. He also had worked as a jazz musician (when he met Felice). On the road, together now, Boudleaux worked In Cincinnati at the Gibson Hotel, then in Green Bay, where they co-hosted a morning show on the radio. The cold Green Bay winter in a house trailer sent them packing, and eventually they found their way back to his native Moultrie, Georgia. Now the late 1940's they had started to dabble in songwriting. With his trained ear and her natural ability, they soon had about 80 songs in their catalogue and decided to try pitching some to producers and recording artists. Most were rejected without even being opened, but then a glimmer of hope! Arthur Godfrey, a huge name at the time and a star maker with his own TV show, expressed interest in a song called "Country Boy." He, however, wanted half the writing credits and all of the publishers rights in exchange for his effort with the song. The Bryant’s turned him down but gathered momentum and the song eventually ended up with a Grand Ole Opry newcomer named Little Jimmy Dickens. Dickens' version of "Country Boy" went to No. 7 on the country charts. The year was 1949 and the Bryant’s were off and running as songwriters. After signing their song "Country Boy" with Acuff-Rose Publishing they wrote several other country hits for people like Carl Smith and Eddie Arnold. As the emergence of Rock and Roll began, many country acts and the associated writers were devastated. But, the Bryant’s turned that corner and soon pitched (an often rejected) "Bye Bye Love" to the young aspiring rock duo, Don and Phil Everly. What followed was a beautiful confluence of Music/Love/and Talent. The close harmonies of the Everly's were a perfect reflection of the relationship between Felice and Boudleaux. Following the string of nine top 40 hits with the Everly Brothers, Felice and Boudleaux continued to write and achieved more success in the country genre, where they had started their writing careers. Both now departed, they left us a treasure chest of great songs! | |
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