Originally from Virginia guitarist / vocalist Ralph Johnson hosted a country music television program on WOAY and a radio show in Bluefield, West Virginia. With a limited number of venues to play Johnson quit his television program and headed for Richmond where he appeared on the WRVA “Old Dominion Barn Dance” television show. Unfortunately, the show cancelled after he had been there only two weeks.
In search of work Ralph moved north to Washington where he worked the local club circuit. He released a 1955 rockabilly single on his independent Ralph Johnson label. In 1958 he moved to Baltimore.
Johnson set up a recording studio on Fleet Street and assembled a backing band called the Good Luck Charms. Ralph and his group could be seen performing at Sid’s Ranch House on Baltimore Street in the ‘60s. The Good Luck Charms also worked as the studio group on most of the Wedge label country records. Eventually the studio was moved to Eastern Avenue right next store to Yeager’s Music. As a writer, producer, arranger, and performer Johnson was responsible for making many recordings by many local artists available during the ‘50s and ‘60s on his Fleet, Wedge, and Dome labels. Pianist/singer Joey Welz was involved with many of the recordings.
The Fleet Records label was set up to record pop artists, orchestras, folk… including releases by George Counts, Paul Kosty, Jonathan Peartree…
Wedge Records was a country and bluegrass label featuring releases by John Hall of the Country Gentlemen, Delmer Delaney, Roane Brothers, L.C. Smith, Green Valley Trio, Veltones (an R&B group), Rampages (a rock group), and many others. Ralph’s eventual wife Joanie (nee Smallwood) also sang and recorded on Wedge. The Wedge studio staff musicians included Lynn Strauff (steel guitar –see Roane Brothers, Ron Goodwin, Virginia Breeze), Don Henry (piano –of Kentucky Playboys, Freddie Rick’s PA Nite Hawks), Joey Charles (drums –see bio), Joan Smallwood (bass), Roy Hargrove (guitar), and Hoy Breedlove (guitar). Ralph released a compilation album of local artists on his Wedge label titled “Country Music North of Nashville” (Wedge 1023). The album featured country artists from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Ralph’s song “When You Came in My Life” was also included on the album. In 1968 the Johnson’s moved their studios to Nashville. They continued to release recordings on their Wedge label by many country artists including several early releases by Stella Parton. Wedge 1033 listed below is a Nashville recording featuring Ralph and Joanie together.
Dome Records was established in the mid-’60s for recordings of rock bands and R&B artists. Records were released by Larry Angel, Joey Charles (drummer for the Good Luck Charms), Johnny Soul & the Manchesters, Limits, Septors, 24 Karat Five, Bobby J & the Generations, Night Walkers, Rysing Sun, Denny & the Chadwicks, Summer’s Misfits, and many others. A collection of Dome recordings was released on the album “Baltimore’s Teen Beat a Go Go” (Dome 4007) in 1967. The album, featuring mostly classic ‘garage’ style teen bands, was later reissued on vinyl and CD.
Records by Ralph Johnson:
1955 Ralph Johnson 639 Henpecked Daddy /
1963 Wedge 1007 Automation / Hemphill Mine Blues
1965 Wedge 1019 The 3rd Party / She Knows
1982 Wedge 1033 Yankee Lovin’, Southern Style / Just Like Them (Ralph & Joanie Johnson)
