Gar Bacon

Music historian, writer and enthusiast Tony Watson from Australia contacted me in August, 2020 letting me know that the photo I was featuring on my site as Bacon was in actually a musician by the name of George Young – who had no involvement with Bacon – and Tony kindly provided the above photo taken in 1955 which I have dropped into the Band Box footer

The below article makes mention of Gar and his family which included four sons. His day job was heading up providing industrial goods including yarn and carpert. He apparently used the alias “Billy Woods” for a time before beginning his recording career.

Gar Bacon was born on June 26th, 1920. He was a rockabilly musician who recorded at least eight singles from 1957 into 1962.

He was a oft-decorated WWII Veteran via his service, in particular through his involvement in the D-Day landing in Normandy, France in 1944. Gar was severely injured in WWII and underwent extensive surgeries after the war. His exposure to 100’s of X-Rays led to contracting lymphoma.

Gar Bacon was the recipient of the following honors following his military service:

Purple Heart
Bronze Star with 2 presidential citations
Army Unit Citation

His condition would result in his retirement from music in 1962, according to Watson, shortly after the release of his final single on Band Box “The Gift Of Love” b/w “The Ghost Of Love” which was placed with Band Box Records by publisher/composer and good friend of Bacon’s – James Myers – Both Bacon and Myers were WWII veterans.

April 19th, 1957 – The Philadelphia Enquirer – PA

April 19th, 1957 – The Bristol Daily Courier – PA

April 21st, 1957 – The New York Daily News – NY

May 19th, 1958 – The Alton Evening Telegraph – IL

Amercian Bandstand appearance

May 26th, 1958 – The Philadelphia Enquirer – PA

May 27th, 1958 – The Passaic Herald-News – NJ

June 6th, 1958 – The Bridgeport Telegram

CT GAR BACON The_Bridgeport_Telegram_Fri__Jun_6__1958_

June 12th, 1958 – The York Gazette & Daily – PA

June 15th, 1958 – The Bridgeport Post – CT

July 9th, 1958 -The Bristol Daily Courier – PA

August 9th, 1958 – The London Lincolnshire Echo – UK

May 15th, 1959 – The Allentown Morning Call – PA

May 20th, 1959 – The Philadelphia Enquirer

May 23rd, 1959 – The Orangeburg Times-Democrat – SC

July 24th, 1959 – The Richmond News-Leader – VA

August 18th, 1960 – The Philadelphia News – PA

Myers was the co-writer of “Rock Around the Clock” and issued several mostly East Coast singles through Band Box in the early 1960’s including one recording by Myers himself. Band Box 291 would be Gar’s final recording. Gar Bacon’s final recording session were his two tracks recorded on the Band Box record label.

Bacon passed away in the Summer of 1986.

Tony Watson

Tony Watson developed a love for music in his early youth years while growing up in Australia. He contributed articles to “The Big Beat of the Fifties” magazine during the 1980’s and developed a close friendship with British music historian and author John Broven. Watson and Broven have collaborated on several CD projects for Ace Records in the U.K.

Tony recently completed an article on Gar Bacon scheduled for publication in “Now Dig This Magazine” out of the U.K. and will be available via subscription. Click on the image below to visit the “Now Dig This Website” a site largely but not exclusively, dedicated to Elvis Presley.

Gar Bacon Discography

Band Box 291 – “The Gift of Time” b/w “The Ghost of Love – 1962

78/45 – Barclay 1304 – (As “Billy Woods”) – Rock Roll and Yodel b/w I’m Not Afraid – 1955

45 – Rollin Records 1002 – (As “Billy Woods”) – Pajama Party b/w I Hate To Get Up – 1956

45 – Twitchell 1956 – (B side as “Billy Woods”) – Tw-Flex and You b/w Delaware Valley U.S.A. – 1956

“Twi-Flex” and “Rug Yarn” were products of the Twitchell company where Gar Bacon was employed at the paper converting company first in an entry level administration position and later as a VP – The two releases below were recorded by the company for promotional purposes but were distributed commercially – source Tony Watson “The Gar Bacon Story” – Now Dig This Magazine – October, 2020

45 – Twitchell 1956 – B side as “Billy Woods) – Rug Yarn And You b/w Delaware Valley U.S.A – 1956

RKO Unique 395 – You And Your Love b/w Lonesome Wail – April, 1957

Baton 248 – There’s Gonna Be Rockin’ Tonight b/w Y-I-O-U – September, 1957

Baton 250 – Pucker Up (And Kiss Me) b/w Justice – December, 1957

Dale 105 – Chains Of Love b/w Mary Jane – May, 1958

This recording was penned by Gar Bacon for his wife Mary. Apparently Bacon appeared on American Bandstand on May 20th, 1958 and performed both sides of the record. Normally, such an appearance would result in at least a meager chart showing but “Mary Jane” would only appear (as far as I know) on radio station WAEB in Allentown, Pennsylvania for one week as a “Pick Hit” on May 9th, 1958 – before the Bandstand appearance.

Gar Bacon is accompanied on this record by “Bugs” Bower and his orchestra who was also from New Jersey. “Bugs” (Maurice) Bower recorded several children’s records and did manage to place a few songs that he composed on the charts:

Dream Talk by Alma Cogan – Number 48 in the UK in May of 1960
Caterina by Perry Como – Number 23 Hot 100/Number 6 Adult Contemporary/Number 37 UK in March of 1962
My Boyfriend Got A Beatle Haircut by Donna Lynn – Number 83 Hot 100 in February, 1964 (making it one of the earliest Fab Four novelty songs)
Jave Jones by Donna Lynnn – Number 129 Bubbling Under Charts in May of 1964

Dale 108 – I’ll Never Fail You b/w Dutch Treat – November, 1958

OKeh 7115 – Marshall, Marshall b/w Too Young To Love – April, 1959

This song was picked as a “Hit Bound” selection on radio station WIBG in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the week of May 11th, 1959 – listed on the survey as “Marshall, Marshall, Marshall”.

Myers 111 – In the Good Old U.S.A. b/w Escape – October, 1960

CD Big-H 79101 – Vintage Rock ‘N’ Roll Collector Items Vol. 1 – 1979 (Country Unknown)

Includes “There’s Gonna Be Rockin’ Tonight”

CD Buffalo Bop 55028 – Date Bait – 1995 (Germany)