I’m going to start posting one song each day that was completely overlooked by the charts back in the 1960’s. You tell me if these should have been hits. This one is very interesting. I’ll explain while you listen…
Jamie Hurt And The Mariteens were from Huntsville, Alabama. Jerry Smith played keyboards and Ray Brand played guitar. But the lead singer, Jamie, is actually a young Roger Murrah, who went on to be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995. He’s written songs for people like Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Al Jarreau, and Alabama. Here’s a list of the number ONE songs he’s written:
“Southern Rains” — Mel Tillis (1981)
“Life’s Highway” — Steve Wariner (1986)
“Hearts Aren’t Made to Break” — Lee Greenwood (1986)
“It Takes a Little Rain” — Oak Ridge Boys (1987)
“This Crazy Love” — Oak Ridge Boys (1987)
“High Cotton” — Alabama (1989}
“Southern Star” — Alabama (1990)
“Don’t Rock the Jukebox” — Alan Jackson (1991)
“I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)” — Alabama (1992)
“If I Could Make a Living” — Clay Walker (1994)
And now you know, the rest of the story…
Hear this song and many more like this on MusicMaster Oldies:
The Mariteens were actually Roger Murrah as Jamie Hurt,lead singer,Johnny Allen on saxophone,Tommy Beal on bass,Ray Brand on guitar,Jerry Smith on keyboards and Ellis Waldon on drums.
Great info. Thanks!
This song is called If Love Could Be Measured on Mariteen 6601 from 1965. Roger Murrah was actually from Athens, but he spent a lot of time in Huntsville.