| Porky Freeman | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Quilla Hugh Freeman |
| Birth Date: | June 29, 1916 |
| Birth Place: | Vera Cruz, Missouri, United States |
| Death Place: | Orange, California |
| Instrument: | Electric guitar |
| Genre: | Western swing |
| Occupation: | Musician, songwriter, bandleader |
| Years Active: | 1940s-1950s |
| Past Member Of: | The Porky Freeman Trio |
Quilla Hugh "Porky" Freeman (June 29, 1916 in Vera Cruz, Missouri, United States - July 8, 2001) was an American Western swing performer, bandleader, and songwriter. He was also an electric guitar pioneer and inventor.[1]
In the 1940s he led the Californian based band, the 'Porky Freeman Trio'. One of his early hits, "Porky's Boogie Woogie on Strings", began rock and roll's evolution out of Western swing.[2] As a session musician he backed many of the popular musicians of the time.
His early experimentation with the electric guitar led to several patents for the instrument.[3] [4] [5] One of the patents, 'Single Pickup Frequency Control For String Instrument',[4] led to legal wrangling with Fender.
| Year | Part # | Titles | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morris Lee Records | ||||
| 1944 | 115/116 | Red Murrell & The Rhythm Boys: What The Sergeant Said [W-471] (v: Red Murrell [Porky's rhythm guitarist]) // The Rhythm Boys: Porky's Boogie Woogie On Strings [W-472] (i) | ||
| ARA (American Recording Artists) Records | ||||
| 1945 | 114 | Bob Crosby & His Orchestra: On The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe [9757] (v: Peggy Lee) // Porky Freeman Trio: On The Night Train To Memphis [12164] (i) | ||
| 1945 | 118 | Rum And Coca-Cola [12165] (v: Ruth Foxe) // Boogie Woogie On Strings [12163] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman Trio' | |
| 1946 | 133 | Boogie Woogie Boy [1084] (v: Merle Travis) // Tiger Rag [1083] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman Trio' | |
| 1946 | 4009 | Porky's Boogie Woogie [1085] (v: Tommy Sargent) // I Love You Too Much [1082] (v: Al Barker [Porky's bass player]) | as 'Porky Freeman Trio' | |
| 1946 | 4012 | I Left My Heart In Mississippi [1232] (v: Jesse Ashlock) // That Baby's Changed [1231] (v: Jesse Ashlock) | as 'Porky Freeman Trio' | |
| Four Star Records | ||||
| 1948 | 1233 | Everybody Loves That Boogie [1792] (v: Porky Freeman) // Spanish Bells [1796] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
| 1948 | 1246 | That Baby's Changed [1820] (v: Jesse Ashlock) // (The Original) Boogie Woogie On Strings [1822] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
| 1949 | 1287 | I Left My Heart In Mississippi [1821] (v: Jesse Ashlock) // Electric Guitar Rag [1795] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
| 1949 | 1315 | The New Look [3068] (v: Porky Freeman) // Pecos Polka [3070] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
| 1950 | 1423 | I Had A Little Wife [3065] (v: Porky Freeman) // Tiger Rag [1823] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
| 1950 | 1478 | Strumming Up A Boogie [3072] (i) // Night Train [1826] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
| 1950 | 1523 | Indian Love Call [1799] (i) // Slick Chick Boogie [1797] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
| 1951 | 1569 | Electric Guitar Blues [3071] (i) // Pickin' 8 To The Bar [1827] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
| 1952 | 1598 | Rollin' South [1827-A] (i) // Chicken Pickin' Boogie [1794] (i) | as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' | |
note: [bracketed numbers] = matrix numbers, (v) = vocal, (i) = instrumental track