To listen to the 1934 WRR broadcast, click the links above the disc.

Virginia and Edith Bond, aka "The Bond Sisters."

Harry A. F. Houck recorded the WRR broadcast in 1934.

Phil York transfers the Houck recording to digital.

Phil York is a celebrated audio engineer who owns Yorktown Digital Works, a sound studio in Irving, Texas. Mr. York was recommended by several people, including Grace Johnson, WRR’s Business Manager who had recently witnessed his expert restoration of an old recording. It turned out that Mr. York didn’t have the rare stylus we needed, but he said he would have one specially cut within a few days. Shortly thereafter, the stylus arrived by Fed-Ex, and William and Kathy Bond scheduled a new studio session. On April 5th, I met the Bonds at Yorktown Digital Works. Mr. York cleaned the WRR disc, and showed us his specially cut 5 mil stylus, which he then affixed to the arm of his turntable. He activated his CEDAR® unit, a special device which declicks and decrackles old recordings. As he lowered the needle into the groove, the sounds of a WRR broadcast from long ago filled the studio.

In May of 1934, the WRR Studios were located in the Hilton Hotel, located at 1933 Main St., Dallas, TX.

The 1930’s were a time of live performance broadcasting. In those days, it was common for musicians to visit the studios and perform “live” to promote their recordings. The first thing on “Side A” of the record is a vocal performance of “Wagon Wheels.” Supported by vibraphone, guitar and muted trumpet, the instrumentation is quite charming. After the song ends, the WRR announcer informs us we are listening to a group known as “The Harmonians.” The announcer then introduces “Memories,” the next song to be played by the group. A few bars of “Memories” are heard before Side A abruptly ends.

The flip side of the recording begins with an apparent in-studio performance by “Milton Brown And His Musical Brownies,” a western swing band that rivaled Bob Wills in popularity. The title of the first song they perform is unknown. (NOTE: the song is now determined to be "Bend Down, Sister".   The song appeared in the 1931 movie "Palmy Days.") The instrumentation consists of acoustic guitar, violin and banjo, all supporting the vocals of Brown. After the song ends, the WRR announcer makes a significant comment which helps date the recording: “Now here’s a

This detail from Mr. Houck's record sleeve reveals RCA Victor marketed their home audio recorder as a way for consumers to preserve their favorite radio shows.

number ladies and gentleman that Milton Brown And His Musical Brownies made a record of a few weeks ago, and it’s due out in just a few days. So don’t forget to ask for Milton Brown’s record at your music store.” The announcer goes on to reveal the song is called “My Precious Little Sonny Boy.” The first few bars of this song are heard before “Side B” of the recording abruptly ends.

In all, the disc contains 5 minutes of audio. But when was it actually recorded? I contacted Cary Ginell, a historian who wrote a biography of Milton Brown, and learned “My Precious Little Sonny Boy” was recorded on April 4, 1934. Therefore, since the radio announcer says the song was recorded: “a few weeks ago, and it's due out in just a few days,” the WRR broadcast probably occurred in May of 1934. To confirm this, I went to the Dallas Public Library and pulled The Dallas Morning News files from that time period. I discovered that Thursdays, during May of 1934, WRR aired a program from 7:30 to 8:00 pm called “The Harmonians,” followed by a program from 8:00 to 8:15 pm called “Musical Brownies.” This evidence suggests the Houck recording is consistent with being a live WRR broadcast from the station’s Hilton Hotel studios, circa May of 1934.

William and Kathy Bond, owners of the Houck record.

The Bond family has since learned their WRR recording of “Milton Brown” could be worth a lot of money. A record label hoping to issue the recording on CD has already contacted them. It is thought that the unknown song preserved on the acetate was never officially recorded by The Musical Brownies. Tragically, Milton Brown died from complications stemming from a car wreck in 1936. His relatively small body of work and untimely demise increase the appeal, value and rarity of his memorabilia among collectors and historians.

In the final analysis,“Major” William Bond was hoping to hear his sisters’ voices on the WRR recording. Instead, he found something very different, something generating a lot of interest among fans of Milton Brown and something possibly worth a lot of money. All things considered, it’s not a bad haul for a lost recording of a WRR broadcast that’s been collecting dust for almost 70 years.