The “Golden Hits Of The 50s” 

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BILLY GRAMMER 

“GOTTA TRAVEL ON“

(Paul Clayton)

Monument 400

No. 4    January 19, 1959

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Billy was one of 13 kids clamoring for attention.  Born on a 40-acre farm in Benton, Illinois, on

 August 28, 1925, he was surrounded by string instruments and raised by a daddy who was a

fiddle-playing coal miner.  Pop spoiled his son’s musical abilities early and taught him what he

knew.  Bill, fascinated by the sounds and realizing that making music could possibly make him

some money, soon picked up on playing the guitar, mandolin, and banjo.

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Before serving in the Army, Bill played dances and local events; on his return from duty, he secured

a  spot on “Radio Ranch” (a program on WARl in Arlington, Virginia) and performed as a trusty

sideman to country singers like Grandpa Jones, T Texas Tyler, Clyde Moody, and honky·tonker

Hawkshaw Hawkins.  In 1955, Bill became a regular on Jimmy Dean’s daily TV show out of

Washington, D. C.   Two years later, “The Jimmy Dean Show” was picked up for national broad-

cast, and Billy was offered a contract with Monument Records.

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“Gotta Travel On,” a song based on a 19th-century British tune that had been adapted by Pete

Seeger and the Weavers, hit the jackpot.  The record was to become Billy’s only major crossover

record.  The follow-up, however, did not do darkly–“Bonaparte’s Retreat” (#50, 1959) and its flip

side, “The Kissing Tree” (#60), both received extensive pop airplay, and both tunes charted on

Billboard’s Hot 100.

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Throughout the ’60s, Grammer had minor hits on the country charts, such as the eurious “Ballad of

John Dillinger,” “Jesus Is a Soul Man,” and “I Wanna Go Home” (the latter was a covered by Bobby

Bare as the pop and country monster hit “Detroit City”).  All dur­ing this time, Grammer served as

one of the busiest accompanists and session guitarists in Nashville.

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Billy Grammar still tours and performs at the Grand Ole Opry.  He no longer records or works

sessions;  his last album was Grammer (1977).  Billy is also the originator and manufacturer of the

Grammer flat·top guitar.