This item is a Mono LP featuring the Opera titled:
Country Opera - The Legend Of Johnny Brown - The World Premiere Of A New Adventure In Country Music
Tower Records - -5045(Mono - Promo Issue - 1966)
Country Opera - The Legend Of Johnny Brown - The World Premiere Of A New Adventure In Country Music
Tower Records - -5045(Mono - Promo Issue - 1966)
This issue is a Promo and on the cover the word "FREE" has been cut along the top right corner in the form of small holes.
This LP features what is likely the 1st attempt at mixing Country Music into an Opera.
4 Stars are featured:Jerry Naylor as Johnny Brown
Kay Adams as Mary Lou
Ray Sanders as Sheriff Tom
Alice Rene as Jezebel Jones
Titles Featured:
Side #1)
Johnny Brown
Hey There(Pretty Girl)
Cottonwood Tree
The Wedding Song
Cabin Of Love
River Of Love
Sheriff Tom
Jezebel Jones
Side #2)
Where Did The Good Times Go
Temptation Leads Me
You Taught Me Everything I Know
River Boat Town
I Cried (Until I Can't Cry No More)
Paying The Rent
Drinkin' And Thinkin
Together In Death
Remembering Edward Monroe “Eddie” Miller (December 10, 1919 – April 11, 1977) was an American songwriter, in the country music genre.
He was born in Camargo, Oklahoma and worked as a locomotive engineer before becoming a songwriter. Although he never went beyond high school, he taught songwriting at the University of Tennessee.
He was the founder of the Country and Western Music Academy in Hollywood, as well as a co-founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (of which he served as the first president and also another term in the presidency).
He received Performance Awards from Broadcast Music, Inc. for “There She Goes” (1954), for “Thanks a Lot” (1964), and “Release Me” (1954, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1973, as well as a Most Performed Song award in 1968 and a Pop & Country Performance Award in 1974). His publisher, Four Star Publishing, gave him platinum records for “Release Me” and “There She Goes.” The Oklahoma Music Association awarded him the All Time Great Songwriter’s Award.
Eddie wrote a country opera, “The Legend of Johnny Brown,” and a gospel opera, “It Was Jesus.”
“Legend of Johnny Brown” was a concept project that may have been years ahead of its time.
It was released on Tower Records. This project featured Kay Adams as Mary Lou, Ray Sanders as Sheriff Tom, Alice Rene as Jezebel Jones and Jerry Naylor as Johnny Brown.
Eddie Miller pitched this project to Capitol Records, with a demo version he had already recorded with Alice Rene performing all of the female vocals.
Eddie Miller actually wanted Alice Rene for the Mary Lou character but, Capitol Records went with Kay Adams.
Eddie Miller pressed the label to use Alice Rene and secured her the part of Jezebel Jones. The irony is, that the only recorded version Kay Adams had to learn this music, were the original demos previously recorded by Alice Rene.
He died in Nashville, Tennessee at age 57.
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