It Was For You
Bobby Grove Sings: "It Was For You"
Cover: Dan Quest
Oak Records - Hamilton, Ohio
King Records - Cincinnati, OhioKING 831
*Due to the somewhat rough condition of my copy, you will hear some skips in the recording that I have attempted to digitally smooth out. Most of the play through, however, makes for a good listen.
From the back cover: The story of Bobby Grove is typical of many of our up and coming Sacred singers of today. He had his start in the backwoods of Kentucky and his childhood was one of strict and thorough religious training. Bobby Grove was gifted with a musical talent and seems destined to take his place among some of the country's most popular singers of Country-Sacred music. This is Bobby Grove's first album and we present it with a great deal of pride. We believe he has a future and that his many fans will welcome his first record release. Rather than dwell on Bobby Grove, the individual, we felt it best to let him tell his own story in his own words:
"I was born in the little coal mining town of Worley, Kentucky, but was still a small boy when my folks moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where I grew up and had about the same childhood that most poor boys have. My father and mother were good to us children and I know that Dad worked hard for us, but it seems we could never get ahead. My father was a fiddle player and the leader of a hillbilly band and worked in night clubs seven nights a week.
"I did not have much interest in music until I went into the Army where, after a couple of months, I started playing the guitar. I was shipped to Korea and didn't have much time for music until after the cease fire when I was assigned to an all-soldier show which toured the Far East for about a year. After my discharge from the Army, I received a long distance call one day from a fellow who had been in the Army with me, saying he had a job for me in Chicago working as a comic on a kiddie TV show. I went to Chicago but they didn't find me very funny, however, that lead to my getting a job on WLS National Barn Dance as a singer. Shortly thereafter, on a visit back to Ohio, I met the most beautiful girl I had ever seen – Fayette Boggs, and three months later we were married. We returned to Chicago but things were not too good so we decided to come back to Cincinnati where I got a job as a disc jockey on WZIP where I stayed for three years. One morning while doing my show I felt pains in my ankles and at the end of my broadcast I could not get out of my chair. The doctor told me I had rheumatoid arthritis and I was almost paralized for about a year. I was told to forget about the music business as I would never be able to play again because of my nerves. With the help and encouragement of my wonderful wife, I finally was able to get around some and got a job singing seven nights a week in a night club where I worked every night of the week for three solid years. I took sick again and while in the hospital, Reverend Merle Vaughn visited me. I started going to Reverend Vaughn's church and one night I felt God tug at my heart and I went down to the old fashioned altar and prayed through. Sometime later I started evangelizing. My wife and four little boys had to sacrifice a lot and finally we lost everything we had. I couldn't find work since all I had ever done was play music and no one seemed interested in an ex-musician. When hope was almost gone, God sent a man – Reverend Johnny Carter to help me. If it had not been for his inspiration and guidance, I would probably still be singing in a night club somewhere . . . I had reached the point where my cross seemed too heavy to bear. He took me with him wherever he went to preach and in just a few short months I had a house full of happiness and well-being. I put the music in my heart into songs and recorded a package of gospel records. Johnny helped me sell enough to get me back on my feet and if it had not been for Johnny this album would never have been recorded .... he encouraged me when no one else seemed to care. Thanks to Reverend Johnny Carter, I am now working hand in hand with Jesus.
"I sincerely hope that this album will be a blessing to someone and if you are walking down the same lonely road that I have traveled I hope there is a song in this album that will turn your thoughts to Jesus. If you will call on Him, I am sure He will answer. If you would like for me to come and sing at your church, you can contact me at P.O. Box 37, Harrison, Ohio." – Yours truly, Bobby Grove
"I was born in the little coal mining town of Worley, Kentucky, but was still a small boy when my folks moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where I grew up and had about the same childhood that most poor boys have. My father and mother were good to us children and I know that Dad worked hard for us, but it seems we could never get ahead. My father was a fiddle player and the leader of a hillbilly band and worked in night clubs seven nights a week.
"I did not have much interest in music until I went into the Army where, after a couple of months, I started playing the guitar. I was shipped to Korea and didn't have much time for music until after the cease fire when I was assigned to an all-soldier show which toured the Far East for about a year. After my discharge from the Army, I received a long distance call one day from a fellow who had been in the Army with me, saying he had a job for me in Chicago working as a comic on a kiddie TV show. I went to Chicago but they didn't find me very funny, however, that lead to my getting a job on WLS National Barn Dance as a singer. Shortly thereafter, on a visit back to Ohio, I met the most beautiful girl I had ever seen – Fayette Boggs, and three months later we were married. We returned to Chicago but things were not too good so we decided to come back to Cincinnati where I got a job as a disc jockey on WZIP where I stayed for three years. One morning while doing my show I felt pains in my ankles and at the end of my broadcast I could not get out of my chair. The doctor told me I had rheumatoid arthritis and I was almost paralized for about a year. I was told to forget about the music business as I would never be able to play again because of my nerves. With the help and encouragement of my wonderful wife, I finally was able to get around some and got a job singing seven nights a week in a night club where I worked every night of the week for three solid years. I took sick again and while in the hospital, Reverend Merle Vaughn visited me. I started going to Reverend Vaughn's church and one night I felt God tug at my heart and I went down to the old fashioned altar and prayed through. Sometime later I started evangelizing. My wife and four little boys had to sacrifice a lot and finally we lost everything we had. I couldn't find work since all I had ever done was play music and no one seemed interested in an ex-musician. When hope was almost gone, God sent a man – Reverend Johnny Carter to help me. If it had not been for his inspiration and guidance, I would probably still be singing in a night club somewhere . . . I had reached the point where my cross seemed too heavy to bear. He took me with him wherever he went to preach and in just a few short months I had a house full of happiness and well-being. I put the music in my heart into songs and recorded a package of gospel records. Johnny helped me sell enough to get me back on my feet and if it had not been for Johnny this album would never have been recorded .... he encouraged me when no one else seemed to care. Thanks to Reverend Johnny Carter, I am now working hand in hand with Jesus.
"I sincerely hope that this album will be a blessing to someone and if you are walking down the same lonely road that I have traveled I hope there is a song in this album that will turn your thoughts to Jesus. If you will call on Him, I am sure He will answer. If you would like for me to come and sing at your church, you can contact me at P.O. Box 37, Harrison, Ohio." – Yours truly, Bobby Grove
Beggar To A King
I Saw God
Ain't No Grave Gonna' Hold My Body Down
Only A Whisper Away
They Were Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill
He Made Me Free
Prayer Bells Of Heaven
When He Reached Down His Hand For Me
It Was For You
Peace In The Valley
Beacon In The Night
Known Only To Him
Legend Of The Dogwood Tree
The King And I
Cup Of Loneliness
Led By The Master's Hand
I bought this album in 1964 and lost it somewhere along the way. I've been looking for a copy for many years. It is not available on his website.
ReplyDeleteAny chance of you uploading it since it is not available? Thank you.
starchief5@juno.com
Thank you for your comment. I generally only post a single sample of any album due to server space issues. Grove is actively marketing his work, so even though you can't buy this album from him, I won't post a sample in an effort to respect his creative rights.
ReplyDelete