Born in Medina, Tennessee, Walsh Lafayette "Skip" Graves (1933-2017) moved out west and was a stalwart of the early 1960s Southern California country scene, then he seems to have relocated to Colorado, later made his way to Nashville, and even paid a few dues in Branson, Missouri. He is best remembered as a songwriter, though he also recorded a long string of indie-label singles over a decades-long career, though apparently he never recorded a proper album of his own. Graves worked with obscure twangsters such as Walt Rayburn as well as Nashville star Little Jimmy Dickens, and eventually returned to his home state of Tennessee where he retired. Here's a quick look at his work...

Skip Graves "Love Country" (Binge Records, 1986) (LP)
An early archival release on the German-based Binge Records, back when the label specialized in obscure indie artists recording in the wake of the 'Fifties hillbilly scene. These tracks are from singles dating back to the 1960s, with a some contemporary '80s recordings thrown in for good measure. Skip Graves is best remembered as a songwriter, though he also recorded a long string of indie-label singles over a decades-long career, including the dozen songs gathered here. These came out during various phases of his life, with stints in California, Colorado and Nashville, and include backing from a whole slew of Music City talent as well as West Coasters such as Earl Ball, Dennis Hromek and Bobby Wayne. The songs are Graves's own originals, with co-writing credits for folks such as Walt Rayburn and even old-school country star Little Jimmy Dickens. (One of the most unexpected credits was for fiddler Norman Whistler, an elusive, esoteric artists best known for his one solo album of old-timey music, who plays on the song "Mad At Me.") This is all great material, pure hard country with occasional nods towards rockabilly on songs such as "Indian Giver With Your Love." Swell stuff!

Skip Graves "Country: Skip Graves In Branson, Mo." (Self-released, 199--?) (cassette)
A live performance at an unidentified venue in Branson, Missouri's mini-opry scene, captured on this cassette-only release. Most of the songs are classics, stuff like "Am I That Easy To Forget," "Fraulein" and "The Auctioneer," as well as slightly newer material such as "Margaritaville," "All My Exes Live In Texas" and Neil Diamond's "Song Sung Blue." A few songs aren't familiar, such as "Woman User," "Outside Of That" and "I Won't Help You Do Wrong," though I'd have to poke around a bit to find out if they were Skip Graves originals. No composer credits, alas.

Skip Graves "Country: Skip Graves In Branson, Mo." (Self-released, 1995) (cassette)
Another live set, and another cassette-only release. Same album title, but an entirely different set list, and this time around the songs all seem to be classics and covers, including tunes such as "Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain," "Break My Mind," "Make The World Go Away," "Me And Bobby McGee" and "Achey Breaky Heart." There are also a lot more pop standards in this set, stuff like "Cab Driver," "Save The Last Dance For Me" and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," lounge tunes that still must have been popular, even with the country music tourist crowd. As with the other cassette, there's no indication of where this was recorded, though this time around there's a release date, and since the artwork is virtually identical, these two tapes place Skip Graves working the mini-opry scene during the mid-1990s. As far as I know, these where his last releases.

Skip Graves (Fireside Records, 1960-?) (#45-7505) (7")
A: "Indian Giver (With Your Love)" (c: Walsh L. Graves) B: "Heartaches Knocking At My Door" (c: )

(Producer not identified)

Skip Graves (Jan-Mar Records, 1968-?) (#305-A/B) (7")
A: "Nothing And You" (c: Skip Graves) B: "Love Country" (c: Skip Graves)

(Produced by Andy Hart & Jack Morris)

Skip Graves (Nora Records, 1968-?) (#501) (7")
A: "Too Precious For Words" (c: Skip Graves & Walt Rayburn) B: "If This Ain't Love (I'll Eat My Hat)" (c: Skip Graves)

(Produced by Carson Smith)

Skip Graves (Stadium Records, 19--?) (#4086) (7")
A: "You Tell Me And We'll Both Know" (c: Skip Graves) B: "You Let The Horse Out Of The Barn" (c: Skip Graves)

(Produced by A. J. Minto)
Not sure about the timeframe on these two Stadium singles, but they seem to be from the mid- to late-1960s. Producer A. J. Minto was a Southern California booking agent whose roster included the likes of Bobby Austin, Buddy Cagle, Ray Sanders, Wynn Stewart, Tex Williams and numerous more obscure artists. He probably owned the Stadium label as well.

Skip Graves (Stadium Records, 1964-?) (#4115) (7")
A: "Credit Cards (For Everything But Love)" (c: Skip Graves & A. J. Minto) B: "Mad At Me" (c: Skip Graves)

(Produced by A. J. Minto)
According to the liner notes on the Binge Records collection listed above, fiddler Norman Whistler was one of the musicians on "Mad At Me." Whistler was a pretty obscure artist: originally from Kansas, he spent some time out in LA where he recorded an odd but entirely charming album of old-timely instrumental music and apparently did some session work as well... The release date above is a guess, based on the date Whistler's own album came out.

Skip Graves (Dana Records, 19--?) (#DA-104) (7")
A: "You're Gone For Good and I'm Good As Gone" (c: Skip Graves & Walt Rayburn) B: "I Pulled Through With Flying Color" (c: Skip Graves)

(Produced by Carson Smith)

Skip Graves (Hornet Records, 1966-?) (#HR-002) (7")
A: "That Heart Belongs To Me" (c: Webb Pierce) B: "Honky Tonk" (c: Buck Peddy & Mel Tillis)

(Produced by Ernie Hoppes)
Though Graves was known as a songwriter, he also had good taste in cover songs, as seen in this double does of classic honkytonk from Webb Pierce and Webb Pierce. The connection to the Denver-based Hornet Records label is unclear (as are the release dates) but the fact that he cut so many singles for the same label certainly suggests that Graves lived in Colorado for a few years. Label owner Earnest L. Hoppes (1925-2008) was originally from Williamsburg, Kansas, but moved to Colorado after a stint in the Navy, and released over a dozen singles on his private label including at least a half dozen from Skip Graves. (Thanks to The Elks Bugle blog for providing info on the label.)

Gene Watson "Because You Believed In Me" (Capitol Records, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Russ Reeder)
Skip Graves's greatest success as a songwriter probably came on this early Gene Watson album which includes two songs Graves wrote under the pen name S. Vowell: "Because You Believed In Me" as well as "If I'm A Fool For Leaving," which was co-written with Little Jimmy Dickens. "Because You Believed In Me" peaked at #20 on the Billboard charts.

Irene Belle & Ray Sanders (Stadium Records, 19--?) (#1105) (7")
A: "Unique Technique" (c: Brad Ford & Ray Sanders) B: "It Won't Hurt To Hear Goodbye" (c: Skip Graves)

(Produced by A. J. Minto)
The Hollywood-based Stadium label was a side project of Southern California country music promoter and talent agent A. J. Minto... Most of the singles on Stadium Records were recorded by Ms. Belle, although Skip Graves recorded a couple too, and wrote a few songs recorded by artists such as Ms. Belle.

Irene Belle (Stadium Records, 19--?) (#4115) (7")
A: "Heart Protection Plan" (c: Skip Graves) B: "Leaving Without Goodbye" (c: Irene Belle & A. J. Minto)

(Produced by A. J. Minto)
One of several Skip Graves songs recorded by other artists. As far as I know, Graves did not record his own version of "Heart Protection Plan," but ya never know. Irene Belle's biography remains obscure, but she cut about a half-dozen singles for the Southern California indie, Stadium Records, whose owner A. J. Minto was also a promoter of Graves and his work.

Walt Rayburn (Toppa Records, 1963-?) (#45-1104-A/B) (7")
A: "Am I Asking Too Much" (c: Walt Rayburn & Bobby Stewart)
B: "My Ears Are Used To Lies" (c: Skip Graves)
(Producer not identified)

• Discogs: Skip Graves

• Elks Bugle: Hornet Records

Hick Music Index