Kenny Roberts Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Best-known for his 1949 hit "I Never See Maggie Alone," Kenny Roberts was one of the last country singers to specialize in the legendary vocal technique of the blue yodel. Inspired by Yodeling Slim Clark, Jimmie Rodgers, and several singing cowboys, Roberts first came to prominence in the late '40s, and over the next five years he built up a fan base through his recording, frequent tours, and his appearance at yodeling concerts. Though he never had many hits -- he only charted four times, between 1949 and 1950 -- he nevertheless remained a popular concert attraction well into the '80s.

Roberts was born in Lenoir City, TN, yet he was raised on a farm outside of Greenfield, MA. As a child, he became fascinated by the music of Clark and began singing as a teacher, making his first radio appearance when he was 15. Soon, he became part of the Down Homers, a local group who had a regular gig at WKNE, a New Hampshire radio station. Eventually, the group made their way toward the Midwest, playing at radio stations in Iowa and later settling in Fort Wayne, IN, where they regularly played a show called the Hoosier Hop. In a short time, Roberts had developed a reputation as a first-rate singer and yodeler.

The Down Homers -- who also featured Bob Mason, Guy Campbell, Shorty Cook, and Lloyd Cornell -- cut a record released as a Vogue Picture Disc. In early 1945, Roberts decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy; once the war was over, he returned to Fort Wayne, where he began a solo career. After a few months, he moved to St. Louis, where he appeared regularly on several different shows on KMOX, as well as the CBS Saturday morning show Barnyard Frolics. Roberts released one single on Vitacoustic before signing to Coral Records in 1948.

Roberts' career took off in 1949, as his single "I Never See Maggie Alone" reached number four on the country charts in the summer. The flip side, "Wedding Bells," also was a hit, reaching number 15, while his second single, "Jealous Heart," reached number 14. In the spring of 1950, "Choc'late Ice Cream Cone" became his second Top Ten single; it would also prove to be his last charting single.

Following his chart success, Roberts moved to Cincinnati, where he had a show on WLW Cincinnati and appeared regularly on the Midwestern Hayride. For the remainder of the decade, he concentrated his efforts on the Midwest, becoming a big regional star through his television shows in Dayton, OH (which became his home in 1952), Indianapolis, Indiana, and Saginaw, MI. Roberts continued to appear regularly on daytime Midwestern television -- and, as of 1962, WWVA's Wheeling Jamboree -- until the mid '60s. Around that time, he released an EP on the independent label Essgee, which led to a contract with Starday Records in 1965. Over the next five years, he released four albums for the label. Once his deal with Starday expired, he recorded briefly in the early '70s for Nashville Records.

In the early '70s, Roberts moved back to Dayton and concentrated on working in the Midwest and Canada. During the mid-'70s, he made a pair of albums for the Canadian label Point. By the end of the decade, he had moved back to his home state of Massachusetts, where he began playing concerts across the East. Roberts released one album for Palomino around 1980, which was followed by Longhorn's Then and Now, which combined historical cuts with new recordings. A few years later, Roberts moved to a farm near his childhood home in Greenfield. Though he was essentially retired, he continued to give concerts around the Northeast throughout the decade.

Indian Love Call [1996] Review by Greg Adams

Recorded well over a decade after Kenny Roberts' big 1949 hit "I Never See Maggie Alone," Indian Love Call includes a remake of that song as well as a re-recording of "She Taught Me How to Yodel," which Roberts had recorded for Coral in 1953. Roberts' impressive yodeling is featured on a few tracks, and his cover of "Indian Love Call" is a fitting choice given his superficial similarities to Slim Whitman. The production on these recordings is denser than that on his hits, and the material is split between yodels, novelties, and weepers. Indian Love Call is a fine album and a perfect companion to Bear Family's Jumpin' & Yodelin', which contains most of Roberts' hits.

Kenny Roberts (2) – Indian Love Call

Kenny Roberts (2) - Indian Love Call album cover

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Label: Starday Records – SLP 336

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo

Country: US

Released: 1975

Genre: Folk, World, & Country

Style: Country

A1 Tavern Town

A2 Indian Love Call

A3 Guitar Ringing

A4 Maybe I'll Cry Over You

A5 I Never See Maggie Alone

A6 Chime Bells

B1 Tying The Leaves

B2 Just Look, Don't Touch

B3 Fly Away Mocking Bird

B4 Please Don't Turn Around

B5 If I'm Blue

B6 She Taught Me How To Yodel

Distributed By – Gusto Records (2)

Liner Notes – Quentin "Reed" Welty*

℗ 1975 Distributed by Gusto Records 220 Boscobel St. Nashville, Tenn. 37213

Matrix / Runout (A Side): SLP-336A WMƐ MI-N 384

Matrix / Runout (B Side): SLP-336B WMƐ MI-N 384