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Marion and Nelle Mercer Bands Once Heroes of Local Music Scene
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Old timers will fondly recall the popular 11-piece Marion Mercer Band that featured the bandleader’s equally talented sister Nelle on piano. Debuting in the 1930s, this musical ensemble was the only major one in these parts until its success later spawned other groups. Marion Mercer could play a variety of instruments: trombone, vibraphone, violin, accordion, piano, organ and chimes.
Top: Marion Mercer Band, Bottom: Nelle Mercer Band, Gene Young on Drums
In 1980, the late Press writer Dorothy Hamill interviewed Nelle. The bandleader showed the reporter a photo of her brother’s early band and identified band members. Duke Barron played saxophone and clarinet. Doc Welch, Tony Farris and Edwin Bowman played saxophone. Trumpeters included Dan Zoerb and Bill “Rocky” Stone. Park Johnson was on bass fiddle and Junior Campbell pounded the drums.
Because musicians had regular jobs then, they worked weekdays and performed on weekends. They were in heavy demand throughout East Tennessee and usually stayed booked most of the time. Aside from vocalist Frieda Ricker Rose, Nelle was the only female performer in the band. The gifted lady, who in private life was Mrs. Earl Dotson, could assume Marion’s bandleader responsibilities during his absence at a moment’s notice. Ms. Rose later became a receptionist for the Johnson City Press-Chronicle.
The three Mercer siblings, Marion, Nelle and Beulah, grew up in a musical family. When Nelle was about three years old, she stood on her tiptoes in order to reach the piano keys and plunk out tunes. At age 12, the youngster played piano for Unaka Avenue Baptist Church. Later, her mother would hold her on her lap and let her play.
When World War II broke out, Marion took a military hiatus and began serving his country as a member of the U.S. Army Special Services. Before departing, he turned over the reins of his band to Nelle. The new leader’s first order of business was to compose a theme song, “Study In Rhythm.” Doc Welsh served as arranger for every new piece that the group played. Nelle’s genre was primarily easy listening big band music - soft and sweet in the fullness and richness style of the Glenn Miller Band. Those were the days of the fox trot, Big Apple, waltz and jitterbug.
Jean Bowman Moore, who lived a block away on E. Myrtle Avenue, recalled going to Nelle’s residence at 515 E. Fairview when the bandleader and her band would practice their music on the porch and draw a sizable crowd of spectators on the steps, sidewalk and street below. Jean recalled that those were fun times.
During the war years, Nelle and her band purchased a bus and began traveling to distant gigs in Ohio, Michigan, Louisiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. About this same time, she saw the need for and hired a booking agent.
When the war ended, Nelle and Marion did not reunite, but instead led separate bands. By then, added competition came from others such as Vernon Weaver and Rocky Stone who formed their groups.
Patrons once asked Nelle to organize an all-girl band, but she could not locate enough qualified, available musicians to meet their request. The bandleader’s witty solution was to begin introducing her male band members with ladies names: Mabel (Doc Welsh), Agnes (Park Johnson) and Nanny (Marion Mercer, when he played with them). Not to miss out on the fun, Nelle acquired the name Butch.
Over time, other female vocalists performed with Nelle’s band, such as Lucille Young, Georgia Horne, Margaret Harrison, Ginger Dennis, Betsy Ross and Pat Archer.
In 1947, Nelle and Earl bought the Country Kitchen in 1947. It was located near the old structural steel bridge over the Watuaga River in the Austin Springs community.
In 1956, Marion moved to Crystal Springs, Florida where he remained active in the music entertainment business by forming a new band, which he called the Marion Mercer Trio. He was active there for many years playing at local venues.
The musician opened the first Radio Shack in that area and became the owner of Mercer Music Store in three nearby cities. Many people knew him through his music at the Port Paradise, Plantation Club, Yardarm, Holiday Inn, Citrus Hills and Seven Rivers Golf and Country Club. He passed away in March 2000.
Nelle’s group later became known as the Nelle Mercer Tenor Band, consisting of tenor saxophones, trumpets and drums. Band personnel were Robert Moore, Tony Farris, Gene Proffitt, Charlie Showalter, Gene Young (drums), Rex S. Rowe, Daley Fine, Clay Slagle, Joe Morrell, Al Bryan, Mac Blackwell, Joe Henley (trumpet) and 13-year old singer Pat Holden.
The Country Kitchen was apparently a successful business enterprise for the Dotsons because they operated it for 21 years until they closed it in 1968. The building stood vacant for many years as a drive by tribute to its big-band heyday era before it became dilapidated and was finally razed.
Although Nelle quit playing professionally, she never abandoned the music she loved. At her home on Austin Springs Road, she owned two organs and a piano and played them with gusto. Since she and Beulah composed numerous songs during their lives – gospel, sentimental and ballads – they ushered in their senior years by getting together frequently and harmonizing their tunes.
Although the three Mercer performers have long passed from the scene, their popular music added rays of sunshine to people’s lives, making them smile at a time when the world’s war situation greatly saddened them.
Marion Mercer was my grandfather
William MacCallum (not verified) — Sun, 2011-07-03 13:07Thanks for this great article. Marion was my grandfather and is dearly missed even after 11 years. I developed my love for music from him and his sisters.
Title
sgbf89 (not verified) — Thu, 2011-05-26 12:59Hi
gene a young
william (not verified) — Wed, 2011-04-27 09:28Thank you for the article about The Mercer Band.My dad Gene Young was the drummer,and what a great picture.He loved to play the drums.He has since passed,but the memory of my dad lives on and what pride I took when seeing him in the article in his element.Thanks again Bob,and I also enjoyed the Fricks music mart article,I understand you worked with dad there.Dad also played a drummer part in the movie Coal Miners Daughter!
Gene Was a Hoot
bobcox — Wed, 2011-04-27 15:36William: Send me an e-mail to boblcox@bcyesteryear.com. I have some memories to share about Gene. He became one of my best friends. We always looked forward to Gene coming in the store near closing time every afternoon after he had made his rounds to the area schools in Frick's Voltswagen. Often, he would be singing a popular song but inject his own words. He would bring in a ton of instruments, both small and large, for Frick and Willard Blevins to work on. He was a hoot. I went with him on several trips to area schools when the load was heavy. I do not recall his mentioning the Mercer bands, but he likely did. I recall when Jerry Cole often came in the store and would ask about him. He was a band director at a local school. Everybody loved Gene Young. You could not help but like him. Did Gene ever mention to you a clarinet player named Bob Yantz. I worked with Bob at Eastman, but have not heard from him since. Great hearing from you.
Gene Young
william (not verified) — Mon, 2011-05-30 17:35Bob,sorry for delay in writing back.Yes dad played with Bob in The Charles Goodwin Orchestra,he was a good friend.I have a lawn and landscape company and just finished doing work for Jerry Cole.Thanks again for your articles.Would love to get together with you and maybe do an article about the locals including dad that were part of Coal Miners Daughter.I have some memorbilia plus pics. of dad with Sissy Spacek.
William R. Young 423-335-3975
freda rose wilhoit
jack wilhoit (not verified) — Tue, 2011-04-26 20:21local people might be interested to know the the female voice with the mercer band was none other than freda wilhoit, wife of jack wilhoit as they now rside in jonesborough tn
Freda Rose Wilhoit
bobcox — Wed, 2011-04-27 15:44Jack: What a previlege hearing from you and Freda. My Mom and Dad were regulars at the Country KItchen in the late 1940s. The Buda family, John and Ethel, the family that operated John's Sandwich Shop on Fountain Square opposite the City Bus Station, often sat with me while they were gone. Send me an e-mail to boblcox@bcyesteryear.com. I have some questions to ask you "off line." I would like to discuss with you the possibility of doing an article about Freda for the newspaper. I am sure a lot of people remember her. I hope to hear from you.
Nelle Mercer - Freda Ricker Rose Wilhoit
Donna Rose Matthews (not verified) — Tue, 2011-04-26 16:17Mom called me this afternoon and was so pleased to once again have her name in the paper, although she said that no one would know it was her since she's Freda Ricker Wilhoit now.
Mother and her husband of over 40 years, Jack, are well and living in Jonesborough, faithfully attending Trinity Baptist Church. Being quite active church members they go every Saturday to deliver meals-on-wheels to the elderly (Mom turned 88 last August).
Mom and Nelle were always friends and I also have sweet memories of Nelle. She would take me in to the Country Kitchen and let me sing while she accompanied me on the organ. What a great lady!
Thanks for the wonderful article.
Donna: I got separate notes
bobcox — Wed, 2011-04-27 15:50Donna: I got separate notes from you, Jack and Gene Young's son. Send me an e-mail so I can stay in touch with you. As I told Jack, my parents frequented the Country Kitchen often in the late 1940s. I was too little to go along and too small to understand what great music they played then. I would love to get some recording of the Mercer bands. Surely someone "out there" has some. I would love to do a story on Frida and find how how she got started singing and how this shaped her career. I am 68 and love Big Band music. I have many CDs that I often play, especially when I am working in my garage. There is no better music. Thanks for your note. Drop me an e-mail.