Werly Fairburn (November 27, 1924 – January 18, 1985) was an American rockabilly musician.
Fairburn was born near Folsom, Louisiana. In his youth, he listened to the Grand Ole Opry and old-time music ("hillbilly music") on the radio. He learned to play guitar from an old, local blues musician. When World War II began, he took a job at a New Orleans shipyard before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in Hawaii. When he returned to New Orleans, he considered a singing career, but to make a living he learned how to cut hair. In 1948 he became known as the "Singing Barber" when he broadcast on WJBW from his barber shop.
In March 1955, Werly joined the cast of the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, where he performed alongside Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bob Luman, David Houston and other early rockabilly stylists. Werly remained with the Hayride through the end of 1957. His first record appeared on Trumpet Records in the 1950s. Over the years he recorded for Columbia, Capitol, and Savoy. Fairburn also owned a label called Milestone Records—not to be confused with the like-named jazz label later founded by Orrin Keepnews—in the 1950s and 1960s. Fairburn's music blended country, blues, and New Orleans rhythm and blues (R&B). He was popular in New Orleans and in Dallas, where he performed on the Big D Jamboree. His song "I Guess I'm Crazy" was covered by Jim Reeves. His 1956 single "Everybody's Rockin'" is considered a rockabilly classic. Fairburn moved to California in the 1960s and performed until he died in 1985.
Discography Year Title Label 1953 Camping with Marie / Let's Live It Over Trumpet Records No. 195 1953 I Feel Like Cryin' / Baby, Call on Me Trumpet Records No. 196 1954 Good Deal, Lucille / Baby He's a Wolf Capitol Records #F2270 1954 Love Spelled Backwards Is Evol / Nothin' But Lovin Capitol Records #F2844 1954 Prison Cell of Love / I Feel Like Cryin’ Capitol Records #F2963 1955 It's a Cold, Weary World / Spiteful Heart Capitol Records #F3101 1955 I Guess I'm Crazy (For Loving You) / That Sweet Love of Mine Columbia Records No. 21432 1956 Broken Hearted Me / Stay Close to Me Columbia Records No. 21483 1956 Everybody's Rockin' / It's Heaven Columbia Records No. 21528 1956 All the Time / I'm a Fool About Your Love Savoy Records No. 1503 1957 My Heart's on Fire / Speak to Me Baby Savoy Records No. 1509 1957 Telephone Baby / No Blues Tomorrow Savoy Records No. 1521 1962 You Are My Sunshine / Doggone That Moon Milestone Records No. 2013 1968 My Crazy World / There's Something On Paula Records No. 295 A Little Bit of Nothing Won't It Be Nice Capitol Records (not issued) I'm Jealous Columbia Records (not issued) All By Myself (live) I've Got Nothing But Love Old Memories Come Back not issued
Notes All singles before Milestone 2013 were issued as 78 rpm and 45 rpm records with the same issue numbers. Milestone 2013 and on are 45 rpm only issues. UK record collector Matthew Duncan provided information for this article, having referred to Barry John's Rockabilly Price Guide for 45 rpm records and vintage recordings from his collection.
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