Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
Blue River Entertainers – 1931
These five men made up the vocal and instrumental group known as the Blue River Entertainers. Although their order in the photograph is unknown, members of the group were R. T. Ellis, Harley Baylor, Buch Armstrong, Wilson Kennedy, and Carl Rippy. The musicians were from Fredericksburg and were a popular group of the time that played engagements throughout surrounding counties. The group gained air time on WGBF and WHAS radio, and won a $50.00 prize in a musical contest at Purdue University.
The Blue River Entertainers performed in Corydon at the Harrison County Fairgrounds on August 4, 1931, at a large event hosted by Hopkins Fertilizer Dealers. A convention of sorts, the event drew representatives of the company and their families and friends from twenty counties in Southern Indiana and ten counties in Western Kentucky. Over 3,000 people attended the event, which had a day-long program featuring a variety of entertainment and music.
Visit the Music and Entertainment section of HCPL’s Corydon Photograph Collection.
I think the one on the far right side is Wilson Kennedy. He had wavy hair. We lived close to them and his son, Martin, worked for my mom and dad in high school.