Sons Of The Soil

Led by singer and guitarist Don Gibson (b. 3 April 1928, Shelby, North Carolina, USA, d. 17 November 2003, Nashville, Tennessee, USA), the Sons Of The Soil were formed in the late 40s and appeared on radio over WOHS, from Shelby, North Carolina. The band made its first records in 1949 for Mercury Records, their first session producing ‘Why Am I So Lonely’. The band also appeared on WNOX’s Tennessee Barn Dance. In 1950, Gibson and his band recorded for RCA Victor Records and it was at this time that Gibson directed the band into a different genre, preferring honky tonk and concentrating upon his considerable, although as yet unrealized, talent as a songwriter. It was at this time that the leader not only relocated his band, to Knoxville, Tennessee, he also renamed it as Don Gibson And His King Cotton Kinfolks. (NB: An Australian country band named Sons Of The Soil was formed in 2002 by Jim Phelps and Tony Adams.)