Album Notes

At one time, the Louisiana Hayride rivaled the Grand Ole Opry as the nation's premier showcase for the newest talent in the Country Music business.

A young man from Victoria, Texas, became a member and star of the Hayride after having one of the most successful records in 1959. Frankie Miller was an immediate success on the Hayride and made the weekly visits to the delight of the near nation wide audience over KWKH radio.

These rare and classic recordings were captured from live Louisiana Hayride shows at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, between December 5, 1959, through June 4, 1960. They show Frankie at his height in popularity along with various introductions and banter.

Due to the age of these recordings, every effort has been made to maintain the recordings as they were captured from that historic stage that Frankie shared with Johnny Horton, Webb Pierce, George Jones and even Elvis.

Frankie came to the Hayride after being a member of Fort Worth's Cowtown Hoedown and signing to Columbia. In 1959, Frankie would sign a contract with Don Pierce and Starday Records.

His first hit for the company, "Blackland Farmer" would become a Top Five hit and become one of Starday's most popular recordings. It was followed by "Family Man" that reached Number Seven in October 1959. Frankie even received Cashbox Magazine's Most Promising Male Country Artist in 1960.

Frankie's hit recordings continued with "Baby Rocked Her Dolly" that reached Top 15 in 1960 and "A Little South of Memphis" hit number 34 in 1964, while a re-release of "Black Land Farmer" hit number 16 in 1961. Frankie recorded for United Artists in 1965, but retired from music to work at a Chrysler dealership in Arlington, TX.

Frankie would return to the music business in the 1990's while appearing with Jimmy Eaves at various functions and each Saturday afternoon at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Ft. Worth.

He signed with Heart of Texas Records in 2005, while releasing his very successful "The Family Man" album.

Frankie maintains a touring schedule that allows him to enjoy his music more today than even when these recordings were made. Frankie Miller was indeed a very important part of not only the history of the Louisiana Hayride, but the history of Country Music.