The “Golden Hits Of The 50s”
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Ed Townsend
“FOR YOUR LOVE“
(ED TOWNSEND)
Capitol 3926
No. 13 June 9, 1958
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“It’s a dirty business,” said Ed Townsend in an exclusive interview. “My follow-up record, ‘When
I Grow To Old To Dream’–it hit the charts high (#59, 1958) and it disappeared just as fast. Some
people have tried to explain that there was foul play somewhere. And back in those times,
prejudice was more prevasive and covered over than it is now.”
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Anyone who has ever heard Ed Townsend sing must have asked himself at least twice, “What
happened?” With his second release and only hit, “For Your Love,” Ed made it known that he
was one of the finest ballad singers alive. How could such a talented individual have missed out
on major stardom?
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Townsend was born on April16,1929, in Fayetteville, Tennessee, a hamlet outside of Memphis.
Dad was a Methodist minister, and from early on, Ed was thoroughly involved in church
affairs. He served as president of his church’s youth council, and at 17, was elected leader of
the International American Methodist Episcopal Youth Council. He majored in pre-law and
education at Wilberforce University, and graduated from Arkansas State College. After
teaching in a backwoods school for a year, Ed put in two years in Korea in the Marine Corps.
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It was while m the military that he found his calling. “I was discovered in Korea, by Horace Heidt
[creator of 52 top 40 hits between 1937 and 1945],” said Townsend. “He was like a Lawrence Welk,
with a big band and a television show, an amateur show. He was in Korea to entertain the troops.
I was in the retrine, believe it or not, singing. This guy asked me ‘How’d you like to sing for Horace
Heidt?’ I said, ‘Man, this is ridiculous, I’m in the middle of a war zone.” The guy turned out to be
Art Thoreston, Heidt’s “forward man,” the man with the resonsiblity of spotting potential talent. ,,
Townsend was entered in Heidt’s traveling amateur show; winning first place nine times and
eventually becoming a permanent member of Heidt’s war-time act. “I toured Japan with him,” he
said.”He had gotten permission from [General] McArthur for me to leave and come back to
America. I was going on TV to be presented as this big find that they’d found in Korea and to
become a regular on his TV show….President Truman refused to grant my permission and I had
to complete my tour of duty.”
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The abrupt move was not a career stopper. While turning the event over and over in his mind, the
phrase, ‘That’s the way the ball bounces’ kept resurfacing. Townsend turned the line into a song;
Nat “King” Cole recorded it, with the two thereafter becoming best friends. Said Ed with a grin, “I
took the money I got from that song and got married.”
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On his return to the States, in 1954, Ed talked himself into hosting a local TV program in Los
Angeles. In his off time, he had been composing tunes for Etta James, Gogi Grant, and Bull
Moose Jackson. “I had to put food on the table, so that meant that I’d have to get one, two
songs publisher a week. None of ’em became big or nothing. Eventually, I opened a small
office and started Enceno Records. I recorded ‘Tall Grow The Sycamore Trees’ [issued by Dot,
in 1957] and ‘For Your Love’ for my label and then managed to sell the master to the last one
to Capitol.”
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