Donn Reynolds

 ( 1921 Births ) 

Alongside pioneers Tex Morton and Slim Dusty, Reynolds was among Australia's earliest popular country music recording artists releasing several sides in 1947 for the Australian Columbia Graphophone Company on the Regal Zonophone label. National Library of Australia Donn Reynolds Regal Zonophone recordings Gaining popularity around the country, he became known as "Canada's Yodelling Cowboy" and regularly featured on national radio shows such as Cavalcade with Jack Davey, National Fair, Malvern Star Show, and RAAF Digger Sessions. He earned money playing theaters and halls in towns across New South Wales where people had heard him on the radio and travelled with Goldwyn Brothers Circus billed as the "Yodelling Cowboy". In October 1948, Reynolds became the voice of Australia's iconic Peters Ice Cream as the "Peter's Singing Cowboy". His signature five tone yodel garnered recognition as a regular feature of the Peters Pals radio show syndicated from Melbourne's 3XY.

Forming a band in 1950, Reynolds toured the southwestern U.S. as "Donn Reynolds & his Westerners" drawing further attention upon winning the "World Open Yodelers Contest" Billboard 23 Sep 1950 p.37 World Open Yodeling Contest on September 1, 1950 (awarded by Wilf Carter at the Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, BC) and later claiming the U.S. National Yodeling ChampionshipCowboy Songs Magazine No.051 April 1957, News in Pictures, p.17Folk And Country Songs Magazine Vol.3 No.1 1958, King of the Yodelers, p.30 in 1956 (awarded by Connie B. Gay in Washington, DC).

During a trend that saw American R&B record labels expanding into country music, Reynolds signed with Art Rupe of Specialty Records in January 1952. Billboard 26 Jan 1952 p.16 Specialty Records contract (Art Rupe) Recording sessions were held at John Keating Studios in Seattle, WA which remained unreleased until appearing on his 2013 compilation "Portrait of a Yodeler". Later that summer, Reynolds teamed up with western swing band leader Eddie Cletro, recording several singles for Lariat Records Billboard 23 Aug 1952 p.36 Lariat & Dot Records contracts (Randy Wood) at the renowned Radio Recorders studio in Hollywood.

From 1950 through late 1956, Reynolds traveled the U.S. working in radio broadcasting while regularly appearing on stage and television across the country. Featured appearances include the Louisiana Hayride, Billboard 3 Nov 1951 p.41 Louisiana Hayride KWKH Shreveport LA WLS National Barn Dance, Billboard 11 Nov 1950 p.30 WLS National Barn Dance WWVA Jamboree, Billboard 4 Nov 1957 p.55 WWVA Jamboree KRLD Big D Jamboree, Billboard 15 Sep 1951 p.86 KRLD Big D Jamboree Hollywood Theatre, WSAZ Saturday Night Jamboree, Billboard 13 Feb 1954 p.58 WSAZ Saturday Night Jamboree Herb Shriner's "Two for the Money", Billboard 24 Mar 1956 p.50 Herb Shriner's "Two for the Money" TV show Valley View Park (with Roy Acuff), and his own regular TV show as "The TV Rangers" Billboard 18 Jul 1953 p.56 Donn Reynolds TV Rangers television show WGAL-TV on WGAL-TV.

By 1956, Reynolds had settled in Cumberland, Maryland as a resident broadcaster for WCUM and host of its weekly Alleghany Jubilee variety show. Billboard 12 Nov 1955 p.120 WCUM Alleghany Jubilee He opened a local record shop "The Record Corral" specializing in country and spiritual music.

In late 1956 Reynolds traveled to the U.K., being among the earliest artists to have recorded in London's Lansdowne Studios with British producer Denis Preston. Twelve songs were recorded for EMI under engineering expertise of Joe Meek featuring prominent backing musicians Jack Fallon (bass), Danny Levan (violin), Sandy Brown (clarinet), and Al Fairweather (trumpet). Other U.K. appearances included BBC TV shows Bid for Fame, Fancy Free, In Town Tonight, Six Five Special, Radio Luxembourg with Gerry Wilmot, and as Davy Crockett in the Irish musical The Adventures of Davy Crockett.

Impressed with Reynolds’ talent, Preston arranged a U.S. record deal through his connections with MGM Records. Less than a year after arriving in the U.K. Reynolds returned to the U.S. in 1957 for recording sessions at Nashville's historic RCA McGavock Studio under direction of Wesley Rose (Acuff-Rose Music). Accompanied by Chet Atkins on guitar, Moon Mullican on piano, and famed Elvis backup singers The Jordanaires, the singles Rose of Ol' Pawnee, Bella Belinda, All Alone, and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain were released on the MGM label. Billboard 1 Jul 1957 p.65 Studio recordings with MGM Records (Wesley Rose) The singles were well received by Cash Box and Billboard Magazine reviews while promoted through moderate radio play and a tour across the U.S. featuring guest appearances on The Milt Grant Show The Cash Box 21 Dec 1957 p.51 The Milt Grant Show (WTTG-TV) (WTTG-TV) and Buddy Deane's Bandstand Billboard 16 Dec 1957 p.60 and Buddy Deane's Bandstand (WJZ-TV) (WJZ-TV) in December 1957.

During a performance in Mildenhall, Suffolk, England, Reynolds met Audrey Williams of the British performing trio, "The Three Skylarks". They married September 17, 1960, in Poulton-le-Fylde, England after which Audrey changed her name to Cindy Reynolds in response to media confusion with another famous Audrey Williams (wife of Hank Williams). Cindy later parted from The Three Skylarks to travel with Reynolds, combining vocal talents in duet performances during the remainder of his European tour. What was to have been a two-week working honeymoon tour of Spain actually lasted six months as Spanish audiences thrilled to their performances and persuaded the newlyweds to remain in their country several months longer.

Reynolds returned to the country music charts in 1965 with his solo single "Afraid" (reaching No. 1 February 22, 1965) Library and Archives Canada Country Singles – Volume 2, No. February 26, 22, 1965 followed by his second solo album The Blue Canadian Rockies containing singles "She Taught Me How To Yodel" (reaching No. 2 April 12, 1965), Library and Archives Canada Country Singles – Volume 3, No. April 7, 12, 1965 and "Lorelei" (reaching No. 4 November 29, 1965). Library and Archives Canada Country Singles – Volume 4, No. November 14, 29, 1965 In 1967 Reynolds released his third solo album Springtime in the Rockies containing the single "Shut the Door" (reaching No. 36 June 1, 1968). Library and Archives Canada Country Singles – Volume 9, No. June 14, 1, 1968 Through increasing popularity of both solo and duet appearances came an offer to tour and record in Bermuda prompting the couples travel to the island country in 1969. Unfortunately for Reynolds, contractual obligations with Arc Records prohibited him from recording the proposed duet album with Cindy and the studio sessions were cancelled. The couple moved to Brampton, Ontario in 1969 where Cindy gave birth to their 2nd child, Scott in 1971 and withdrew from the entertainment industry to pursue a successful marketing career.

With persistent devotion to promoting the art of yodeling, Reynolds earned a second entry into the Guinness Book of Records, when on July 25, 1984, he became the world's fastest yodeler, achieving 5 tones (3 falsetto) in 1.9 seconds. Guinness Book of Records, 1986 (32nd edition), Fastest Yodel (London, England: Guinness Superlatives Limited, 1986) p.183