RHYTHM HARMONEERS

I thought we'd stay with the FLAIR label for a little longer and take a look at The Rhythm Harmoneers who, like Jimmy Walton, had just one solitary offering on the label. It would seem that the Harmoneers had previously recorded for the West Monroe, Louisiana JAMBOREE label before cutting at least two sides for FLAIR. My initial thoughts were that the Harmoneers were regulars on The Louisiana Hayride, however, having picked my way through Robert Gentry's "The Louisiana Hayride" (Volume 1 - 1948 thru 1955), I could only find one reference to the Harmoneers, and that was on The Hayride's bill for 14th February 1953. Their FLAIR recordings sound as though they could have been recorded in Shreveport with the Hayride's house band, that is especially evident on their cover of "Mexican Joe". The Harmoneer's may have comprised of Thomas E. Bearden (who was perhaps the Tom Bearden who recorded for FABOR?), Brian Douglas Ritter, and Messrs  Tiner and McGee, I wonder if the latter was Billy McGee who recorded for IMPERIAL and RCA?

Anonymous10 December 2013 04:11

The members on Flair (1952-53) were Tom Bearden on acoustic guitar, Bryan Ritter on Fender double-neck 8 string lap steel, and Harry Liner on standup bass. That's all 3 of them singing on "Good Old Chlorophyll".

They joined the Hayride just after Hank left the Opry.

Bryan is a retired mechanical engineer and still living in West Monroe. He still plays pedal steel.

Thank you anonymous for that superb information, I wonder if the Tiner credited as co-writer of "Good Old Chlorophyll" is a misprint and that it is infact Harry Liner?

Anonymous update
Look here: http://www.cheniere.org/correspondence/111502.htm Additionally, I think the correct name is Liner because you can find a promo photo of the group online in which the name "Harry Liner" is printed on the photo. I have no idea why Tiner is shown on the label, although of course it may be that Tiner and Liner are two different people on RHYTHM HARMONEERS