James O'Gwynn Muleskinner Blues (1956-60)

James O'Gwynn was born James Aucoin on 26 January 1928 in Winchester, Mississippi, and raised in Hattiesburg, he served in the U.S. Marines during World War II before launching his musical career (he was versatile; for a time he was George Jones' mechanic). After moving to Houston in 1953, O'Gwynn recorded his first session for Nucraft at Bill Quinn's Gold Star Studio in late '54 with his band The Cry Babies. From 1954 to '56 he was heard on the "Houston Jamboree", then he switched to the famous "Louisiana Hayride".

 O'Gwynn signed to the much larger Starday label in '56 under the supervision of 'Pappy' Daily, who was still recording at Gold Star with Hal Harris on lead guitar. He scored his first two C&W hits for Daily's D label in 1958 with Talk To Me Lonesome Heart and Blue Memories. With Pappy still at the helm, he scored several more for Mercury, starting with How Can I Think Of Tomorrow in the spring of '59. The rocking Easy Money, penned by James and Glenn Paul, was recorded in September '59 at O'Gwynn's first Nashville session at Owen Bradley's studio with Hank Garland and Grady Martin on guitar, 'Pig' Robbins on drums and Buddy Harman on guitar, and climbed to #26 on the C&W charts in early '60. O'Gwynn scored again for Mercury the next year with House of Blue Lovers and sailed to #7 in '62 with My Name Is Mud.