RIVERS, JACK
Hoedown ad, "Seattle Post-Intelligencer" November 9, 1951 p.44
Homebase: Seattle, WA / Federal Way, WA / Scottsdale, AZ
Stats: December 16, 1917--February 1, 1989 (Apache Junction, AZ.)
Misc Notes: Rivers "Jack Rivers" Lewis was the younger half-brother of "Texas Jim" Lewis. He was also known as "Tiny" Lewis, and in 1933 led his own Jack West Band (along with Jim Lewis) in the Detroit area.
"JACK RIVERS' RAREST NORTHWEST DISC (1952)"
by Peter Blecha, 2009, courtesy & text copyright, the author.
ONE KEY MUSICIAN on the 1950's Sea-Tac country scene was guitar ace, Rivers "Jack Rivers" Lewis – the half-brother of famed hillbilly bandleader (the Lone Star Cowboys) and western film star, "Texas Jim" Lewis. In the '30s the boys had recorded for Vocalion & Decca Records – & in the '40s Jack recorded for Capitol Records; on scores of Hollywood film soundtracks; & picked some hot solos on many hits (i.e. "Easy To Please," "Milkcow Blues," & "Mine All Mine") as a member of Jimmy Wakely's Saddle Pals. 
Along the way, Jack became one of the very first players to own an electric solid-body Spanish guitar. Custom-made for him circa 1947 by the fabled SoCal-based machinist, Paul Bigsby, Jack's unique – & recently discovered -- guitar seemingly predates the 1948 unit built for fellow Capitol artist, Merle Travis, which has often been credited as the original Bigsby.
Jack Rivers and bandmate, Tacoma, August 9, 1957. Photo courtesy of Tacoma Public Library
In 1950 the brothers settled in Seattle where Jim soon gained further notoriety as the host of KING-TV's kiddie show, Sheriff Tex's Safety Junction and Rivers also hosted KING's beer-fueled hillbilly music program, Rainier Ranch, as well as KIRO-TV's Raging River Ranch show. But today's topic is the music Rivers played during his Northwest years – and the local record companies that he recorded for. In time he would operate his own labels including Ranch, JR Ranch, NOW, & MRM Records, but probably the first Seattle label to feature Rivers's guitar sounds was Listen Records which was based out of Oliver Runchie's Electricraft recording studio at 622 Union Street. Listen issued Rivers's contribution to the then-popular topical saga first sparked by Bremerton's Arkie Shibley & the Mt. Dew Boys & their 1950 hit, "Hot Rod Race," & later taken up by Spokane's Charlie Ryan whose "Hot Rod Lincoln" broke out as a local hit in 1955. Issued between those two country-rap discs (around September, 1952), Rivers's "Navy Hot Rod" single showcased the type of hot guitar licks he also played live at area roadhouses including Seattle's Circle Tavern (9602 E. Marginal Way) & Coe's Country Club (NE 110th Street & 10th Avenue NE) up into the 1960s. [Jack Rivers and bandmate, Tacoma, August 9, 1957 - photo courtesy of Tacoma Public Library]
MISC NOTES: The "D.O.W." portion of the song title was a reference to the phrase "Dirty old witch."
LOCATION:
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FORMAT:disc
SIZE:7"
SPEED:45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER:J. Rivers
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER:J. Rivers
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FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:*
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FORMAT:disc
SIZE:7"
SPEED:45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER:_Peggi & Ken Griffith
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
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B-SIDE COMPOSER:Jack Rivers
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MISC NOTES: Rivers' "If You Would Only Be Mine", the A side of this disc, was included in the soundtrack of the Hollywood western film, The Marshall's Daughter (1953).
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FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
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A-SIDE COMPOSER: Jack Rivers
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MISC NOTES:
LOCATION: Seattle
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER: Fred Rasmusson
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
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MISC NOTES: This disc is listed in the Listen / J R Ranch Records catalog -- with a note informing: "To be re-issued on Listen Records." Circa 1952.
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Jack Rivers (guitar);
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: ME 1427
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Young-Harris
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Shapiro -Bernstein & Co., Inc.
B-SIDE MATRIX: ME 1427 +
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Laverne-Guiger
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: J R Ranch Music
MISC NOTES: Reviewed in Billboard magazine (9.13.52).
LOCATION: Seattle
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO: Electricraft
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES: Also issued in 10" / 78 rpm format.
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FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
Known Label Designs:
1RA.) A - B retail label. Black background. Silver accent lines, numerals and lettering.
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1RA.) MRM - 1013
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1RA.) MRM - 1013 (etched)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: N. & J. Sherman
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Sweco Music Corp.
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1RA.) MRM - 1014
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1RA.) MRM - 1014 (etched)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Arr. by Jack Rivers
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Public Domain