Vintage Rock Instrumentals: #6 "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" The Virtues (1959)
By John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109857)
Los Angeles, California
May 22, 2017 8:53am CST
The Virtues were named after founder Frank Virtue. The Philadelphia native played violin, guitar and bass and worked for the Philadelphia Orchestra. He joined the navy during World War II and led a navy dance band. Wile in service, Virtue met Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith who became his mentor. In 1947, he formed the Virtuoso Trio which toured playing backup to the likes of Rosemary Clooney and Patti Page. Virtue was astute in wanting to cash in on the rock and roll craze and added sax and drums to form the Virtues. Smith had enjoyed success with his “Guitar Boogie” selling three million copies in 1945. Virtue’s rock rearrangement shot to Billboard #5. The Virtues’ only other hit was “Guitar Boogie Shuffle Twist” stalling at Billboard #95. The group disbanded in 1962. Virtue would continue on as record producer and engineer until his 1994 death.
Guitar Boogie Shuffle (Smith) by The Virtues Adapted from Arthur Smith’s “Guitar Boogie” (see this channel’s 1948 HITS ARCHIVE collection), recorded as “Guit...
8 people like this
5 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
22 May 17
I like the gradual build up in this hit record John.
Frank was wise to cash in on this.
And went on to produce and engineer, seems like he really did what he truly wanted to do.
1 person likes this
