Album Share: The Populaires – Country Roads
During a recent rescue sweep, we uncovered yet another album by that fabulous mystery lounge band The Populaires. This will be the fourth album from the boys that we have shared and this time around we are happy to be able to give you some backstory on the group. Seems that one of the drummers from the group, Bill Purcell, saw that we had been sharing the Populaires’ albums and that were looking for info about the group. He responded with a very nice email with a wonderfully detailed history of the band.
We were correct in our assumption that the group was the house band at the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The original group started playing in the ‘Old White Club’ (the cocktail lounge of the hotel) around 1949. The original line up consisted of Bill Walz on bass and vocals, Bill Sloane on keyboards and vocals, Chuck Bills on sax and vocals and Mike Powers. Eventually Mike Powers and Chuck Bills left to be replaced by Constantine ‘Conny’ Thymius playing multiple woodwinds and trombonist/vocalist Kenny Martin. Mr. Martin had a successful career in the big band world prior to joining the Populaires playing trombone and singing with Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Dorsey, and Guy Lombardo (that’s him singing on the Lombardo band’s recording of ‘Hello Young Lovers’, a hit in 1951). Mr. Purcell joined the group in 1975 and played with them until 1978, but continued to sit in with the band periodically. The group retired from playing in the late 80s/early 90s.
With this album, we again find the boys playing a mix of older standards mixed with contemporary (for 1970) hits. The put a boppy spin on ‘Proud Mary’, take a stab at ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’, and offer up an odd version of ‘My Sweet Lord’. There’s also a nice, mellow instrumental arrangement of ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’ that really grew on me with repeated playings. Have fun listening and as always, Enjoy!
Download all the mp3s and cover art in one 50MB Zip file.
December 18th, 2006 at 12:40 am
Just spent a weekend at the Greenbrier where I spent 10 years as a musician in the Old White Club on the populaires night off (Sundays). The club is beautiful and is about to be moved and remodeled so a piece of history is disappearing. Bill Walls is now blind but a true gentleman. How can I get Mp3s of the other releases you have done for this group? Thanks-this band was VERY popular for decades with the guests.
Michael Pierson
December 26th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
Original Populaires member Mike Powers is alive and well and living in Santa Maria, CA. He just celebrated his 90th birthday. (I am his youngest son). He still sings in local churches and sang quite well at his birthday party this past October. Due to arthritis he does not play the guitar as much as he used to. Unfortunately he sold his trademark D’Angelico guitar a number of years ago. I possess a copy of “Greenbriar Favorites” , a 2-disc 78RPM set that the original group recorded sometime in the early 1950′s. This music has really become part of our family history and traditions.
December 28th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
I am the youngest son of Bill Walz and happy to also report that Bill Walz is happy and living in Florida in the Winter and West Virginia in the Summer. He is still singing for his friends and family and playing the piano and bass whenever he can.
Richard J. Walz, Middle Island, New York
January 29th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Hi, Mike. We still haven’t talked recently, but I’d like to throw in my two cents about the Populaires. I subbed with the Populaires during the 70s and 80s at the Greenbrier Hotel, and went on the road with them in the off-season to Texas and Virginia. They were truly an outstanding group, and the vocal harmonies were always excellent. Three of the members, Bill Walz, Kenny Martin, and Bill Sloane are still active members of our AFM Musicians Union, and reside in Florida. (Bill Walz returns to WV during the summer). It was such an honor to play drums with them, they taught me the “society” music business. I have several of their albums, which I will try to convert to mp3s. When Bill Sloane retired from the music business, he gave me many copies of his sheet music. I speak to Bill Walz when he is in West Virginia, and not long ago at one of our Union meetings, it was a joy to hear Bill play bass with other musicians. Bill also advised me on the arrangement of “Fabulous Shack” (which he wrote for the Greenbrier) which the West Virginia Jazz Orchestra in Lewisburg performs. Let’s not forget Connie Thymius, who performed for many years at the Greenbrier with the Populaires, and who can be heard on some of their albums. Don Braton, (sp?) played longer than any other drummer, as the Populaires originally did not have a drummer. Chuck Bills was an original member (sax) who passed away in the late 60s. Also, remember that they played at Pier 66 in Boca Raton, during the off season.
Does anyone have any pictures of the Populaires, or album covers you could post? One of our members is working on a history of our Local, and would love to include them.
It was great finding this information about the Populaires. They truly exemplified music of that Era.
Gary Williams
July 1st, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Dear Fellow Admirers of the Populaires,
My sister, Fran, and I grew up at the Greenbrier where my dad was Executive Controller from 1948- til his retirement in 1970. The Populaires were like family and we so enjoyed our visits to “The Old White”. Bill Walz gave me my first job working in his book and music shop at the Greenbrier. I LOVED it! I used to own all their albums but they were all damaged in a typhoon while my husband and I were stationed in the Philippines in 1968. Would love further news of them and for you family members, please pass on my best wishes!
Thank you for this website!
Judy Mills Uebbing
January 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
hi —
I’m trying to get in touch with Connie Thymius —
He is one of the most cherished persons in my memory bank —
He and I were at the University of Miami together in the fifties — we were both in phi mu alpha sinfonia — I’m a composer — in the fifties I also played sting bass and tuba — now I play guitar and piano — my primary career, since 1960, has been as a novelist, playwright, poet and journalist — I’ve published novels with Random House, Dutton, British/American, Bel Esprit, Permanent — and short fiction in Esquire, Atlantic, Paris Review, etc. —
If you can put me in touch with Connie, I’d be grateful –
yours,
Bart Midwood
516 431 2209
4 October Walk
Long Beach, NY 11561
August 11th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I grew up visiting The Greenbrier with my parents. The highlight was always evenings in The Old White Club listening to the sounds of The Populaires. Sadly, the club no longer exists. How can I get a copy of their recorded music? I am especially interested in “Cabdriver” and “The Greenbrier Song.” Help.
Thanks.
Tommie Sue (Roncaglione) Roberts
1573 Nottingham Road
Charleston, WV 25314
304-744-4315
tsr1573@yahoo.com
February 6th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
My father was Connie Thymius’s. He left my Mother and I in 1965. I was 5 years old. He paid no child support nor did he try and contact us at any time since. He got another woman pregnant in 1966, had to marry her and then hussled off to West Virgina to escape child support.
His time in Miami was used to sell all the furniture and at least one piano he stole from my Grandparents. Which, paid for his collage.
Please contact my web site at http://www.jonathanthymius.com/deadbeatdad
March 14th, 2009 at 6:48 am
My father is Conny Thymius. As Jonathan says he is his father as well, but he has the facts wrong! My father and his mother didn’t get along so they got a divorce. My father sent Jonathan child support every month in the form of a postal money order. He also sent Christmas and birthday presents to Jonathan every year only to have them returned by his mother, who no doubt filled Jonathan’s head with everything that is bad and not true about my father. It sure is interesting how the presents were returned, but not the money. Go figure.
Bart, you can email me at doc_thymius@suddenlink.net and I will send you dad’s email address.
June 26th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
My parents went to The Greenbrier regularly in the 50′s and early 60′s, and while they wouldn’t take the kids along, they did bring back the music of the Four Populaires.
I still have three of their albums – and today am converting them to mp3 so I can listen again to the music I grew up with. As I played their “at the Greenbrier II” album I still (50 years later) anticipate the next song and could hear it before the music began. That’s how much we enjoyed them then, and I do still today.
This was from the era when the group was Bill Walz, Kenny Martin, Bill Sloane and Chuck Bills. Two of my albums are signed.
Blessings and joy,
don farr
August 31st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
i have an old album of the populairs with for autographs chuck bills,bill walz, bill sloane but the for the i cant place rod miller can anybody tell me who he is thanks you can email terry.m@suddenlink.net
December 14th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Does anybody know where Bill Walz is?
January 12th, 2010 at 7:56 am
I have a signed album by them recorded live at Pier 66 – titled Dance the Night Away – anyone interested?
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
My grandfather is Kenny Martin! He lives in South Florida and is getting ready to celebrate his 90th birthday in September. His wife Estelle, my Grammy, passed away two years ago.
My family and I are actually going to The Greenbrier next week. Thanks to my grandfather and The Populaires, the resort has and always will be a huge part of our lives. Despite the fact that it has undergone changes and the original Old White Club no longer exists, it holds a special place in all of our hearts.
My grandfather passed down his love of jazz and big band to me as well as most of The Populaires albums. They are my most cherished possessions.
August 21st, 2010 at 4:37 pm
My Grandfather knew The Four Populaires as they frequented Palm Beach, Florida. I have a black and white signed photo, 8 X 10, that says, “To Charlie Smith, Thanks for being so thoughtful and considerate . . . Your friends, The Populaires”. Each player also signed in ink on the photo (Bill Walz, Mike Powers, Chuck Bills & and Bill Sloane). I also have a signed album by The Four Populaires, it is signed by each member. It is the album “Dance the Night Away,” recorded at the Pier of 66, in Fort Lauderdale. It also has a signed note, “To the Smith’s, what fun to see you again! Best Wishes, The Four Populaires.” These items were signed for my Grandfather, Charlie Smith at The Everglades Club in Palm Beach, when they came there in the 60′s. We are thinking of selling these items if anyone is interested. They are nicely displayed in frames. Charlie at Simqhorse2@att.net
November 13th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
I have the Live At Pier 66 album as well. I found it in a South Florida thrift store. It is also signed by the guys. Interesting to note that the album was engineered by Mac Immerman (sp?) who owned Criteria Studios. Their version of “When I Take My Sugar to Tea” always makes me smile. That and their Phil Silvers outfits on the cover. If I can shoot a photo of the cover and rip the audio someday I will send it to you.
June 19th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
I regret to tell the many friends of The Populaires that my father and founding member Mike Powers passed away on June 9, 2011 at the age of 94, due to complications from surgery. Here is an obituary excerpt:
“Additionally Mike was a professional musician who was a founding member of the house band at the Greenbrier Hotel, The Populaires, performed for several different Presidents including Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, and Hollywood celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Stewart, and Don Rickles. He was a member of Musician’s Union Local 47 for over 50 years, and was associated with Joe Moshay/Music by Moshay for most of that time. Mike was a devoted Christian and sang in churches throughout Southern California for over 40 years, and performed at many crusades in Central and South America with evangelist Alberto Mottesi. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Latin Institute of Theology in 2004″.
Bob Powers
Riverside, CA
bobareebop@charter.net
July 3rd, 2011 at 1:38 pm
My mother and father used to visit The Greenbriar ever year and listen to The Populaires in the 60′s and 70′s. My mother’s 90th birthday is in August and I am trying to track down “Cab Driver” by them. I have a signed copy of “The Populaires Today!” but unfortunately the “Cab Driver” track is badly scratched. The signatures are Kenny Martin, Bill Sloan (?), Don Blanton, Bill Graly and Tom Williams. If someone has an mp3 of it I’d love to get a copy. Thanks.
July 3rd, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Correction to my proir posting: signatures on the album are Kenny Martin, Gary Williams, Bill Walz, Don Blanton and Bill Sloane
August 22nd, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Hello: 8/22/2011
Chuck Bills is my uncle on my mothers side of the family. I have four of the Populaires albums and would like to get the remaining albums including Chuck Bills as a player. Please contact me. My phone number is 949-770-2038. I live in Mission Viejo, CA.
Thanks, Charles
November 13th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
My father, Kenny Martin is now 91 years of age… living in Jupiter, Florida year round.. He is doing fair and continues to love listening to all recorded albums of the Populaires. Having retired from the Greenbrier and working with the group for 30 years, he found his retirement years playing with various pops groups in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.. Mostly retired musicians who enjoyed geting together to play and share stories of the “good ole’ days… My father is a great man who loved his family and instilled in us good values.. As the youngest of four children and living the closest to him in Jupiter, my wife, Fran and I enjoy caretaking over him during his final years.. WE love going back to the Greenbrier and recently bought a second home on property.. But the Greenbrier will never be the same place as it was in it’s glory days when Truman Wright, Herman Rusch and many other top professionals knew what hospitality was all about.. Today, the hotel is run by kids, who don’t get what real service is all about.. They unfortunately forgot the motto of Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen.. but we still love the spirit there and scenery. I had the pleasure of working in the Old White Club for five years and listened to the group every night.. They knew how to entertain the guests and I learned so much by just watching how they interacted with titans of industries.. I know that they are missed by so many who went to the Greenbrier in the 50-80′.s