In October 1961, his single "The Hellbound Train" / "Judy Lynn" was released on Epic Records (Epic #5-9479). His follow-up singles at Monument, “It Only Costs A Dime” (Monument #45-414) and “Cowpoke,” (Monument #45-427-V) received little airplay. Both versions found simultaneous success on the charts with The Browns' version reaching number one, and Flood's peaking at number 23. In 1959, he recorded a cover version of The Browns' song "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)", which was released almost a month after The Browns' version was released ( RCA Victor #47-7555). In addition to songwriting, Flood also found success as a recording artist. In 1960–61, Flood was invited to sing almost every Saturday night for the Grand Ole Opry. While in Nashville, Flood landed a spot on the radio show Ernest Tubb Record Shop, and from there earned a spot performing on Friday Night Frolics (a Friday night spin-off of the Grand Ole Opry). His preference was for songwriting, but his work as singer and entertainer was more profitable. The Country Lads split up in 1958, and in 1959 Flood moved to Nashville to pitch his songs to the popular recording artists he had met on The Jimmy Dean Show. The Country Lads remained on the Jimmy Dean show for three years until 1958 when the show ended. In 1957 the Country Lads signed a contract with Columbia Records and released the single, “Alone In Love”/“I Won’t Beg Your Pardon” (Columbia #4-41062) and in 1958 they released the record “Anything”/”Lonely Lover” (Columbia #4-41212). Like most of the Jimmy Dean Show performers, The Country Lads participated in a USO tour of Europe and Africa. In 1956, The Country Lads were given a regular spot on The Jimmy Dean Show, which aired on CBS every weekday morning. Dean asked them to perform together, so they formed the duo The Country Lads. The Jimmy Dean Show Ī few years later, Flood and army buddy, Billy Graves, auditioned for The Jimmy Dean Show. On one occasion they performed for the Philippine president, Ramon Magsaysay. The Luzon Valley Boys played at the various military clubs on Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands. During this time he also began writing songs, some of which were performed by the band. Army, Flood organized his first country music band, The Luzon Valley Boys. After the campers were in bed, he would practice guitar and perform for his fellow counselors.Ĭareer in music Military tours Īfter serving in Korea with the U.S. Richard Flood was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and began playing music while working as a counselor at a YMCA summer camp in the Blue Mountains. In 1981, Flood changed his name to Okefenokee Joe, and in 1989 he hosted and narrated the Emmy award-winning documentary Swampwise on Georgia Public Broadcasting. In 1973, Flood moved to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp and became a professional naturalist and environmentalist. In 1962, The Wilburn Brothers recorded his song "Trouble's Back in Town", which peaked at number 4 on the US Country Chart and was named Cashbox Magazine’s "Country Song of the Year". His songs have been recorded by other artists, including Roy Orbison, Anita Bryant, Billy Grammer, Kathy Linden, and The Wilburn Brothers. In 1959, Flood's cover version of " The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)" reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the mid-1950s he was part of the duo The Country Lads and made regular appearances on CBS' The Jimmy Dean Show. Richard " Dick" Flood (Novem – January 9, 2023), also known as Okefenokee Joe, was an American country music singer-songwriter, entertainer, and environmentalist. American country music singer-songwriter (1932–2023)
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