Billy Fortune and the Country Cats
A rockabilly outfit from the late 50s.
Billy Fortune should not be confused with the singer from California who had a 1958 release on Dice records.
History[edit | edit source]
In 1955, several classmates from East High formed the Country Cats, eventually becoming a contestant in the 1956 East High talent contest and "appearing regularly on local radio and television stations, according to the local paper. In 1957, Nu-Sound Records released their only single which also proved to be one of only two releases by that short-lived label. The other being by Nashville's first rock'n'roll band, The Casuals. That same year Excello released a single credited only as Billy Fortune that was produced in a 10" 78rpm and a 45rpm promo 7".
Fortune received writing credits on both sides of each release under his real name, Billy McKennon.
Performing live to support the Excello single, Billy Fortune was backed occasionally by a group called The Excellos, that seemed formed by the label, at least up to 1959.
Fortune would later receive writing credits with Noel Ball for the songs on the first Connie & the Cones single: "Let Us Pretend / I See the Image of You" released by NRC in 1959. The second song, re-titled as "Image of You" was recorded by Lu Ann Simms with writing credits given to Fortune under his real name, Billy McKennon.
Billy Fortune played the Ryman Auditorium in 1960 and continued to play into the mid-60s with several different backing groups at dances and residencies at nightclubs. Billed as himself, as the Billy Fortune Combo, or Billy Fortune and his Coins traveled and toured widely. He died in 1968 in Evansville, Indiana from brain injuries from an automobile accident, just shy of his 30th birthday. His obit in The Tennessean read: "He worked under the stage name Billy Fortune and sang country music and rock and roll in night clubs across the country. He frequently performed here." In a display of their affection still decades later, his family placed in ad in the August 23 1988 Tennessean in remembrance: "Charles W McKennon "Billy Fortune" Aug 28, 1938 - Aug 3 1968 Happy 60th Birthday. We love and miss you still, mother, Grace and sister, Joyce."
Releases[edit | edit source]
both from 1957:
As Billy Fortune and the Country Cats: "Would You Say / The Dream I Had of You" (7", Single) on Nu-Sound Records, cat# 45-800
As Billy Fortune: "I'm Waiting / Trapped" (7" single) on Excello, cat# 2114
External references[edit | edit source]
https://www.45cat.com/record/455370 Lu Ann Simms version
https://www.45cat.com/record/nc005945us Connie & the Cones single
https://www.discogs.com/artist/6086275-Billy-Fortune-And-The-Country-Cats
https://www.45cat.com/record/nc947243us