Kenneth Carllile
Thumbs Carllile | |
---|---|
St. Louis, Missouri, USA | |
Died | July 31, 1987 Decatur, Georgia | (aged 56)
Genres | country music |
Occupation(s) | guitarist, session musician |
Instrument(s) | guitar |
Years active | 1941–1987 |
Labels | Epic Smash Gemini (1974) |
Kenneth Ray Carllile (April 2, 1931 – July 31, 1987), better known as Thumbs Carllile (Carlisle in some collections),
Biography
Kenneth Carllile was born April 2, 1931, in
Early career
In 1941, Carllile's family moved to Granite City, Illinois, and he later made his debut playing "Sweet Georgia Brown" at a Ferlin Husky concert at the Music Box Club in East St. Louis. He was expelled from high school at 16 for refusing to shave, and instead performed with Husky until he was discovered by Little Jimmy Dickens in 1949 during a St. Louis appearance. He joined Dickens' Country Boys after demonstrating he could play both parts of Dickens' twin guitar lines.[3] Dickens gave him the nickname Thumbs, which Carllile never embraced. He played with the group until 1952, including performances at the Grand Ole Opry.[2]
From 1952–54, Carllile served in the US Army, performing with its Special Services division. He was stationed in
In 1961, Carllile met guitarist Les Paul, who was impressed by Carllile's skill and his wife's songwriting, and they recorded enough tracks for two albums at Paul's home studio in Mahwah, New Jersey. Later that year, Carllile (as Thumbs Carlyle) released a duet on Epic with his wife Virginia (as Ginny O'Boyle), "Indian Girl, Indian Boy".[2]
With Roger Miller
In 1963, Carllile joined the Wade Ray Five, and Ray's Las Vegas band, but left the following year to join Roger Miller's band, where he stayed until 1972.[2] He appeared on Miller's 1966 NBC-TV show, and performed with him five times on NBC's Tonight Show during the 1960s.[3] He also appeared at the Grammy Awards when Miller swept the country categories in 1964 with "Dang Me", and in 1965 with "King of the Road" (1965),[3] for which Carllile provided the song's signature finger snaps.
Miller helped him sign with
Later years
In 1986, he moved from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Decatur, Georgia, where Virginia worked in a factory making springs. Carllile underwent surgery that year for colon cancer, which, despite fundraisers, left the family bankrupt.[2] After recovering, he played with his trio, The Indecent 3; performed on Sagebrush Boogie, a weekly program on Atlanta's WRFG-FM;[5] and was a regular at such venues as the Freight Room in Decatur and The Point.[6]
In late July 1987, Carllile suffered a mild heart attack while driving back to Decatur from Chattanooga with his newest release.[3] He was preparing to perform as the regular opening act for guitarist Michael Hedges when he died on July 31.[2] He was buried in Decatur Cemetery.
Family
Carllile's two daughters are also musicians: Kathy Carllile is a
Tammy Carllile sang in the Cowboy Boogie Band in
Notes
- ^ Country Guitar
- ^ a b c d e f g Brennan, Sandra. "Thumbs Carllile". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- ^ a b c d e f Kearns, Juli M. (quoting "Century of Country" Carllile biography) (2007-09-11). "Thumbs Carllisle". Idyllopus Press. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- ^ Better known as Gin Gillette
- ^ a b "Thumbs Carllile". WFMU-FM, Jersey City, NJ. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Thumbs Carllisle". Retrieved 2009-05-02.
References
- Brennan, Sandra. "Thumbs Carllile". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- Kearns, Juli M. (quoting "Century of Country" Carllile biography) (2007-09-11). "Thumbs Carllile". Idyllopus Press. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- "Thumbs Carllile". WFMU-FM, Jersey City, NJ. Retrieved 2009-05-01.