Today we celebrate the birthday of Rockabilly Mad Man
Gene Maltais! Born in Concord New Hampshire in 1933!
Gene was super popular in the New England area and
traveled the country numerous times in effort to make it big, serving as his
own manager and promotor. His big break was running into Chet Atkins in
Nashville, recognizing him and asking him for advice. Atkins suggested DECCA
records, so he went over there directly to sweet talk the receptionist. Webb
Pierce happened to hear him singing an impassioned version of Crazy Baby and
the rest is history. DECCA released the amazing two sider Crazy Baby b/w Deep River
Blues.
Sadly the record didn't do much for DECCA and that was it
for him at the label.
He had a few other records but that was it until he
recorded his magnum opus for LILAC records, the absolutely mind blowing Gang
War b/w The Raging Sea.
Gene went on to record again for Norton Records and even
make some appearances at Rockabilly Festivals.
Lux and Ivy spoke about Gene in the Incredibly Strange
Music book on RE/Search books:
Lux (talking about suicide records) "I got the Deep
River Blues, I feel so sad and blue/I lost my love, what am I gonna do?"
Even the Anita Kerr singers couldn't fuck this up. Then he sings 'Now the deep
river blues is a callin', callin' for me to come home, where I'll never be
bothered, and never have to roam.'"
Ivy: "The other side, CRAZY BABY, is such great
rockabilly--equally unique vocals. There's a line where he says 'you're golden
touch' but it sounds like he says 'your golden crotch.' I can't believe he says
that. Then he WHISTLES the instrumental solo--well, why not?
Gene Maltais appears on multiple volumes of Lux and Ivy's
Favorites.
Crazy Baby appears on Volume 1
Gang War appears on Volume 4
Deep River Blues appears on Volume 15
and the Maltais penned and compilation stalwart, Little
Girl appears on Volume 7
