Darrell McCall
"Old Memories and Wine"

"This is the album that I have been
wanting to record for a long time," Darrell McCall said. "I have
always wanted to do a project with the songs that I wanted to
record-the way that I wanted to record them. Justin Trevino and
Heart of Texas Records gave me that opportunity. I am so very proud
of 'Old Memories and Wine'."
"Old Memories and Wine" is Darrell McCall's first
album in nearly ten years. The project was recorded in Texas and
features some of the finest musicians including Grammy Award
Winning Floyd Domino on keyboard, Dixie Hankins on drums, Bobby
Flores on fiddle, Levi Mullen on Lead Guitar and Tic Tac guitar,
Dickie Overby and Rick Price on Steel Guitar and Justin Trevino on
bass. Justin also produced "Ole Memories and Wine."
Darrell honored some of his old bossmen by
recording the Carl Smith standard "I Feel Like Crying" and the
Faron Young classic "I Miss You Already." His vocal really ability
shines on Jimmy Dickens' "When Your House Is Not A Home." Darrell
features some special 'thumb picking' with Merle Travis' standard
"Divorce Me C.O.D." Travis was an early influence on Darrell.
"One of the first songs that I remember is Ernest
Tubb's 'Answer the Phone'" Darrell said. "I remember gathering
water from the pump in the back of the house while singing that
song. It was one of my favorites. I always wanted to record it."
"Old Memories and Wine" is also highlighted by
some never before recorded songs including the shuffle anthem
"April First" "May Time My Lady" and "On This Mountaintop."
"I have always enjoyed singing the old Civil War
song 'Mary Dear'," Darrell said. "It really holds a special
meaning with the current world situation that we are facing now."
Darrell included his family as a part of "Old
Memories and Wine." His daughter Guyanne McCall May contributed
the title track and his wife Mona wrote "May Time My Lady."
Darrell's son Cody McCall added his harmony vocals to the entire
project.
Mona McCall also added two songs vocally to "Old
Memories and Wine" with the Harlan Howard composition "The
Deepening Snow" and the French Canadian standard "The French
Song."
"I sing the 'Deepening Snow' and 'The French Song'
on most of Darrell's shows," Mona said. "I had always wanted to
record them, but I was not given the opportunity. I told Justin
and he said 'lets just do it'. Justin makes you want to sing your
best. He is my favorite producer."
Darrell McCall came to Nashville, out of Ohio in
1958 with Donnie Lytle, later known as Johnny Paycheck. Shortly
after arriving, Darrell became a session harmony vocalist, working
with artists such as George Jones, Carl Smith, Faron Young and Ray
Price. As a member of Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys, Darrell worked
with future Country Music legends such as Johnny Paycheck, Johnny
Bush, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and Buddy Emmons. Later he also
traveled with Faron Young and Hank Williams, Jr.
Darrell was first introduced to the bass when a
member of the Audrey Williams band was in a pinch for a bass
player one night. Darrell had only played guitar; he had fooled
around with an upright bass, but had no real experience playing
bass. The only problem was - he didn't have a bass to play!
So....as necessity becomes the mother of invention.....Darrell
took the small strings off an old upright bass and fashioned them
onto his guitar.
Darrell obliged Audrey by giving it a try, and has
been playing bass ever since; in fact, bass is his favorite
instrument - he also plays fiddle, guitar, harmonica, and even
twiddles on the drums a bit. It was then his bass playing and his
ability to sing harmony that gave him his start in the bands of
Ray Price and Faron Young. He is still known to "steal the bass"
from a band member during a show; he just enjoys playing it so
much that he can't resist the urge!!
Darrell has received many accolades during his
musical career. He was recently inducted into the Country Music
Association of Texas Hall of Fame.
He performs at dance halls, concert halls and
auditoriums, fairs and festivals and is a regular guest at the
Grand Ole Opry and Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree in Nashville.
"I love this business so much," Darrell said. "It
has given me so much. My fans and friends mean the world to me and
I hope they like "Old Memories and Wine" as much as I do."
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