Pappy Daily

Pappy Daily was one of the most important record executives and producers of the postwar era. He didn't have a distinctive production style, nor was he much of a musician, yet he had an ear for talent and was instrumental in cultivating the careers of George Jones and Gene Pitney, among others. Along with his partner, Jack Starnes, Daily established Starday Records, which was one of the most successful Texas independent labels of the '50s. During the '60s, he founded Musicor with Art Talmadge. Throughout both labels, Daily's fortunes were forever tied to those of Jones. Daily's career was strong as long as he had an association with Jones, and when the singer left the producer and Musicor in 1971 for Billy Sherrill and Epic Records, Musicor and Daily quickly faded from view. After returning from fighting in the Marine Corps during World War I, Daily (born Harold W. Daily) was voted the Commander of the American Legion during 1931 and 1932. Following his service in the American Legion, he began working in the country music industry in the early '30s, but he didn't have much of an impact until 1953, when he founded Starday Records with his partner, Starnes. Based in Beaumont, TX, all of Starday's records were originally made at Starnes' house. Early in 1954, the label had its first hit, when their fourth single, Arlie Duff's "You All Come," climbed to number seven. The following year, Starday signed a young singer named George Jones, whose "Why Baby Why" reached number four in the fall of the year. Shortly before Jones joined the label, Starnes left Starday and was replaced by Don Pierce. Daily and Pierce concentrated on cultivating the career of Jones, and by 1957, Mercury Records was interested in the singer and the duo's production talents. That year, Jones signed to...