Background Singer On Susan Ray Recording

Tom Kaufman · Post by **Tom Kaufman** » 5 Apr 2003 8:59 am

Have a question about a song that was out, I think in the early 70s by Susan Ray (or does she spell that "Rae) in any case, the song in question is "Pity Pity Pater." I think the line is, "Oh the pity pity pater of little bity feet's gonna pitty pitty pater through our hose; at this point, you can hear someone repeat "our House." I am right now listening to a radio type show wher the hostess pklayed the song a few minutes ago..and she said that it was BuckOwens doing the "repeat" on that line. But it sounds a little more to me that it could be Don Rich..or maybe it could be both! Does anyone know?
Tom

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Apr 2003 12:24 pm

Hi Tom! Well, after listening real close (lucky that song is on the Record Lady's site), I have no doubt it's both Buck and Don in the background!

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 6 Apr 2003 6:24 am

I saw the Buck troop live when this was a big hit so it was a long time ago and I was very young. As part of the act, they made a big deal about the "our house" line and how they had come up with it in the studio. It was repeated first by Don I believe and then the second time definitely by the bass player in a falsetto range. They got lots of laughs by having the bass player keep singing his part over and over unaccompanied.

Gee, that was a long time ago.

------------------
"Gimme a steel guitar, 2 or 3 fiddles and a Texas rhythm section that can swing"..W. Nelson

Tom Kaufman · Post by **Tom Kaufman** » 6 Apr 2003 8:45 pm

Thanks guys; Yeah..that kind of sounded like Don. Wasn't sure; Buck and Don could sound similar at times. For the longest time, I assumed that Don was sining the harmony on mostly all of Buck's recordings! /I happened to be listening to Eddie Stubbs and heard him mention that Buck did a lot of his own harmony, but that Don sang harmony on some "B" sides and album cuts, I started listening a little closer But Don was a good one; a great loss! But getting back to my original though, just wanted to come in and say that I knew that if I posed a question about a song that there'd be somebody who could come up with an answer! Thanks again.
Tom

Jerry Brightman · Post by **Jerry Brightman** » 7 Apr 2003 9:55 pm

Hello Tom,

Bill Cunningham is correct...In the studio version, it was Don Rich and Doyle Singer as it also was in the live prefromances. Buck also sang most of his own harmony on records.

During the Hee-Haw tapings, and of course live shows, Don sang the harmony parts.

Jerry
http://www.slidestation.com

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 8 Apr 2003 5:06 am

Jerry....

Please correct me if I'm wrong.....

I thought Don Rich died in an motorcycle accident some time well before the "Hee-Haw" tapeings.

Tom Kaufman · Post by **Tom Kaufman** » 8 Apr 2003 11:42 am

I know that this question was for Jerry. But if my memory serves me, Don's motercycle accident was in 1974. I think that "Hee Haw" started in either 68 or 69.
Tom

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 8 Apr 2003 5:55 pm

Hee-Haw actually started in June of '69, and Don Rich was a regular on the show until his death, in July of '74. By the way, Buck Owens was main mentor for Susan Raye, so his appearance in her work isn't "coincidental"

Sadly, Buck was never quite the same after Don's death. It was a tragic loss...for Buck, and for the rest of the Country Music world. It's been 29 years, and we still miss you, Don.

(By the way, Jerry, I think you meant "Don Rich and Doyle Holly.)[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 08 April 2003 at 07:04 PM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 8 Apr 2003 6:58 pm

I used to work with Doyle....Holly was a stage name... www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 08 April 2003 at 08:00 PM.]

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 8 Apr 2003 7:12 pm

...Buck had TWO bass players named Doyle...Holly AND Singer...I believe Mr.Singer still plays with Buck at his club.My wife and I sat with Doyle Holly and his lovely wife Ginny at the Elders' Ball last Sunday-Doyle and I sat in together...it was fun!

Jerry Brightman · Post by **Jerry Brightman** » 8 Apr 2003 7:28 pm

Hi again guys,

Donny, no I really did mean Doyle "Singer"...that was always confusing especialy since they were both bass players...Don was indeed a great loss...When it happened, I said, "well that's the end of this great tradition" to myself!

I joined the band in 1972-1976, and stayed almost two years after Don's death which was in 1974...

Here's a link to my tribute to our lost friend:
http://www.slidestation.com/Don%20Rich.htm

I enjoyed seeing people remember Don once again and participating in the Susan Raye question.

Steve, next time you see Doyle, please tell him I said "howdy". Doyle had a great cut on "Queen of the Silver Dollar".

My best to all of you,

Jerry
http://www.slidestation.com
http://www.allsteelguitar.com

[This message was edited by Jerry Brightman on 08 April 2003 at 08:31 PM.]

Tom Kaufman · Post by **Tom Kaufman** » 8 Apr 2003 8:41 pm

I did not become aware that Buck Owens had two bass players named "Doyl" until a year or two ago; I was watching the Byography Of Buck Owens on A&E; I don't see real well and when they flashed his name on the screen, I had to really look as that last name wasn't familar to me. Doyl Holy did have a good cut on "The Queen Of The Silver Dollar. Didn't his recording of that song come out a ffew years before Dave And Sugar's version?
Tom