Luke the Drifter

Thomas Johnson told Mira Smith that he didn’t want his own name on the record.  She asked him what he did want, and he gave her the name The Lonesome Drifter, adapted from the name of Hank Williams’ band The Drifting Cowboys and also another name used by Williams, Luke the Drifter.  So “Eager Boy” was released on the brand new label K Records, though it was actually the flip side “Tear Drop Valley” that finally won the Lonesome Drifter his spot on the Louisiana Hayride.

 

(May 2011)