It's the fabulous Red Tops, who thrilled dancers and listeners throughout Mississippi and surrounding states between 1953 and 1974. The Vicksburg-based group can now be heard again, on the Center's new CD of live and studio Red Tops recordings from the 1950s.

The CD was released at a celebration November 7 at the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex in Vicksburg, which brought out about 500 Red Tops fans, friends, and family members. Many of the attendees had danced to the Red Tops at their own graduation parties, wedding receptions, fraternity parties, school dances, or at the Rosedale Courthouse. Others were the Red Tops' children and grandchildren, enjoying the musicians' long-awaited public acclaim. But while there were plenty of reminiscences, this also was an evening of brand-new good times and dancing to Red Tops-style music re-created by the Ben Shaw Band--with several Red Tops sitting in! Thus the release party for some historic recordings turned out to be itself a historic occasion--a public performance by members of the long-disbanded group.

The oldest Red Top--drummer and business manager Walter Osborne Sr., 95--drew a standing ovation when he stepped onto the bandstand to sit in on "Kansas City Blues." "I was the one who gave them a headache," he said of his role in the group. "But it paid off!" Among the other Red Tops at the event was singer and bassist Rufus McKay, who brought the room to a hush with a rendition of his trademark number, "Danny Boy." Alto saxophonist Louis Spencer, guitarist Jesse Hayes, trumpeter-bassist Jimmy Bosley, and trumpeter Willard Tyler also attended to sit in with the band, sign autographs, and enjoy the limelight. Also attending was Fred Griffin, a substitute vocalist who occasionally sang with the band. The only surviving Red Top who failed to attend was Anderson Hardwick, a still-active musician who was performing at another engagement.

The CD includes two songs--Greenville songwriter Floyd Huddleston's "Swanee River Rock" and "Hello, Is That You?"--from a 1957 session at Sun Studios (those songs were originally released that year as a single that reached Number 1 on a Memphis radio station's chart). The other 11 selections are from live performances taped in 1955 by trumpet player Willard Tyler. They include another version of "Swanee River Rock" and covers of "Talk about a Party," "Moonglow," "Castle Rock," "Caravan," "Brazil," "Don't Take Your Love from Me," "I'm in the Mood for Love," "Haste (Baseball Game)," and "Honky Tonk." There is a version of the Red Tops' most-requested number, "Danny Boy," but that unfortunately is not performed by the Red Tops (see below). There also are snippets of dialogue taken from a 1957 radio interview with the band members.

The record reveals the Red Tops as an exciting, versatile band in the cusp between swing and rock 'n' roll. Electric guitar and hot tenor-sax solos grace the tight big-band arrangements (which they always played from memory, without sheet music). There are handclaps and shouts of encouragement that convey some of the excitement that surrounded the band's performances. Several of the songs are at jitterbug tempo, which should please young neo-swing dancers, even if they are too young to remember the Red Tops. There also are some slow ballads and several numbers with Latin beats.

Party-goers at the release event bought up about 300 copies of the CD. The rest of the initial run of 1,000 was sold out in two weeks through phone orders to the Center. Many people bought multiple copies, planning to give them out as gifts. A second run of 1,500 copies arrived at the Center in early December. The CD may be ordered for $17 plus $3.50 shipping and handling (plus $1.19 Mississippi sales tax for in-state orders) by calling 800-390-3527.

And there will be another chance to party live to the music of the Red Tops: the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex in Vicksburg already is planning a "Red Tops Revisited 2" event for November 6, 1999.
Steve Cheseborough

Since releasing the Red Tops CD, the Center has realized that the version of "Danny Boy" on it is not sung by Rufus McKay or performed by the original Red Tops. We regret the error.

The version of "Danny Boy" on the CD might be performed by a group that includes some Red Tops members. We would appreciate any information any of our readers have about that recording.

Also, we are seeking any other Red Tops recordings, photographs, movies, other mementos, or information anyone has, as part of an ongoing effort to document the career of this wonderful but sadly under-recorded band. Please contact the Center if you can help with this effort.