Luke McDaniel

Luke McDaniel
Birth name	Luke McDaniel
Born	(1927-02-03)February 3, 1927 Ellisville, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	June 27, 1992(1992-06-27) (aged 65) Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	country Rockabilly
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1950–1970s
Labels	Trumpet, Meladee, Big Howdy, Astro, Big B, King

Luke McDaniel (February 3, 1927 – June 27, 1992), who also recorded under the stage name Jeff Daniels, was an American country and rockabilly music singer and songwriter. He was the grandfather of Mississippi state senator Chris McDaniel.

Biography

McDaniel was born in Ellisville, Mississippi and raised on a farm. He learned to play mandolin in high school, playing in local churches and public events. In 1945, he formed his own band, which opened for Hank Williams at a show in New Orleans later in the decade. His first recording was the song "Whoa Boy", issued on Trumpet Records in 1952. He then moved to Mobile, Alabama and played with Jack Cardwell, a star on local radio and television station WKAB. He became a regular on the "Tom 'N Jack" show, and in 1953 Cardwell's label, King Records, signed him. He recorded several singles for King but none of them were hits, and he moved to New Orleans in 1954. While there, he recorded for Mel-A-Dee Records and played on the Louisiana Hayride.

In 1956, he was persuaded by friends Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins to send a demo recording to Sam Phillips, who signed him to his label Sun Records. McDaniel recorded two sessions with Sun, but left the label over a contract dispute. None of the Sun sides were released until Charly Records compiled them decades later.

Following this, he signed with Big Howdy Records and released records under the name Jeff Daniel, but was unable to score a hit record under this name, either. He continued recording into the 1970s.

Legacy

Buddy Holly performed his song "Midnight Shift" (written under the pseudonym Earl Lee), and The Byrds covered his "You're Still on My Mind" on their album Sweetheart of the Rodeo. George Jones and Jim Reeves also covered McDaniel's songs.

Discography

Singles

as Luke McDaniel or Luke McDaniels

Year	Title	Record label
1952	Whoa, Boy! / No More	Trumpet Records
1953	A Tribute To Hank Williams, My Buddy / This Cryin’ Heart	Trumpet Records
1953	Drive On / Let Me Be A Souvenir	King Records
1953	I Can’t Go / For Old Times Sake	King Records
1954	The Automobile Song / I Can’t Steal Another’s Bridge	King Records
1954	Honey Won’t You Please Come Home / Crying My Heart Out For You	King Records
1954	Money Bag Woman / Hurts Me So	King Records
1955	One More Heart / Living In A House Of Sin	King Records

as Jeff Daniels

Year	Title	Record label
1956	Daddy-O Rock / Hey Woman!	Meladee Records
1959	Switch Blade Sam / You’re Still On My Mind	Big Howdy Records
1959	Uh-Huh-Huh / Table For Two	Big B Records
1960	Foxy Dan / Some Day You’ll Remember	Astro Records
197?	Uh-Huh-Huh / Table For Two	Big Howdy Records
197?	Foxy Dan / Bye Bye Baby	Big Howdy Records
197?	Hard Luck / Johnny’s	Big Howdy Records
197?	I Tried / I’m Tired Of These Country Ways	Big Howdy Records
197?	Switch Blade Sam / You’re Still On My Mind	Big Howdy Records
	Go Ahead Baby Huh Babe	Sun Records (not issued)
	High High High My Baby Don’t Rock That’s What I Tell My Heart	Sun Records (not issued)

Compilation album

• 1996 - Daddy-O-Rock - The Rock And Country Sides Of: Luke McDaniel, Hydra Records

External links

• Luke McDaniel at Hillbilly-Music.com
• LUKE McDANIEL a.k.a. JEFF DANIELS (By Shaun Mather)