Porky Freeman

Quilla Hugh "Porky" Freeman (June 29, 1916 in Vera Cruz, Missouri, United States – July 8, 2001) was an American Western swing performer, bandleader, and songwriter. He was also an electric guitar pioneer and inventor.

In the 1940s he led the Californian based band, the 'Porky Freeman Trio'. One of his early hits, "Porky's Boogie Woogie on Strings", began rock and roll's evolution out of Western swing. As a session musician he backed many of the popular musicians of the time.

His early experimentation with the electric guitar led to several patents for the instrument. One of the patents, 'Single Pickup Frequency Control For String Instrument', led to legal wrangling with Fender.

Discography Year Part # Titles NotesMorris Lee Records 1944 115/116 Red Murrell & The Rhythm Boys: What The Sergeant Said [W-471] (v: Red Murrell [Porky's rhythm guitarist]) // The Rhythm Boys: Porky's Boogie Woogie On Strings [W-472] (i) ARA (American Recording Artists) Records 1945 114 Bob Crosby & His Orchestra: On The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (v: Peggy Lee) // Porky Freeman Trio: On The Night Train To Memphis (i) 1945 118 Rum And Coca-Cola (v: Ruth Foxe) // Boogie Woogie On Strings (i) as 'Porky Freeman Trio' 1946 133 Boogie Woogie Boy (v: Merle Travis) // Tiger Rag (i) as 'Porky Freeman Trio' 1946 4009 Porky's Boogie Woogie (v: Tommy Sargent) // I Love You Too Much (v: Al Barker [Porky's bass player]) as 'Porky Freeman Trio' 1946 4012 I Left My Heart In Mississippi (v: Jesse Ashlock) // That Baby's Changed (v: Jesse Ashlock) as 'Porky Freeman Trio'4 Star Records 1948 1233 Everybody Loves That Boogie (v: Porky Freeman) // Spanish Bells (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' 1948 1246 That Baby's Changed (v: Jesse Ashlock) // (The Original) Boogie Woogie On Strings (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' 1949 1287 I Left My Heart In Mississippi (v: Jesse Ashlock) // Electric Guitar Rag (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' 1949 1315 The New Look (v: Porky Freeman) // Pecos Polka (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' 1950 1423 I Had A Little Wife (v: Porky Freeman) // Tiger Rag (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' 1950 1478 Strumming Up A Boogie (i) // Night Train (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' 1950 1523 Indian Love Call (i) // Slick Chick Boogie (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' 1951 1569 Electric Guitar Blues (i) // Pickin' 8 To The Bar (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio' 1952 1598 Rollin' South [1827-A] (i) // Chicken Pickin' Boogie (i) as 'Porky Freeman & His Trio'

note: [bracketed numbers] = matrix numbers, (v) = vocal, (i) = instrumental track

Compilations The Boogie Woogie Boy (Cattle Compact [Germany] CCD-294, 2000)