The Speer Family are pictured here admiring one of their early recordings.

Was this the first record the Speer Family ever released?

Why or why not?

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Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music says their first recordings in 1947 were on the Bullet label so I guess they could be looking at their first recording.

They did radio work prior to then so there might be earlier radio transcriptions.

After Bullet, they recorded for major labels Columbia and RCA Victor as well as various gospel labels.

Lee Roy Abernathy cut the Speer Family`s first record in 1936.

So the record pictured wasn`t their first record.

I don't think this would be their first as that appears to be Faye in the picture with Brock and I would think that they made some records before they were a couple. I have an old 78 on Speer label but don't know how it measure up in time with the other 78's.

Everyone has some great ideas here. Norm, unfortunately the Encyclopedia of Gospel Music is incorrect.

The Speer's first recordings were on the Columbia label with Rosa Nell, Mary Tom, Brock, Ben, Mom and Dad. I verified this with Ben Speer. These vocals on these recordings sound very primative compared to those on the Bullet label.

The Bullet recordings followed the Columbia recordings and then came recordings on RCA Victor and the Speer Family private label.

James: Can you provide any more information on he 1936 recording made with Lee Roy Abernathy? Were the Columbia recordings (which John says were the first) made prior to 1936?

Norm, the book "The Music Men"-page 58, tells that Lee Roy bought recording equipment in 1933 but didn`t learn to use it until 1936-he cut Speer Family`s first record. Now their recording with Columbia may have been earlier, I certainly can`t dispute John and John verified it with Ben Speer. What I read in the book could possibly be a mistake. But since you ask,Norm, that`s what I found.

Lots of the "history" books aren't always accurate. If Lee Roy recorded the Speer Family in 1936, I have no idea what it nor do I know the label. I do know that there were two "Speer Family" groups during this time. I also read that statement in the "Men of Music" book, but I have never located this record. I hope someone can find it and let me know the label and song titles.

The Columbia sides were recorded in January of 1947. Although the Speer Family book, "Let the Song Go On" states that their very first records were on the Bullet label followed by the Columbia recordings, if you listen to them, it's obvious that this is an error. This is what Ben Speer verified for me.

All I know is that many years ago, in a D/FW used record and tape store, I paid $50 for a mint copy of the Speers' 1955 RCA album "The Speer Family Album"....glad I did though.