USED CD - That'll Flat ... Git It! Vol. 8: Rockabilly From The Vaults Of Fabor, Abbott & Radio

1CD - USED - Like New - Jewel Box - Import on Bear Family Records

The Fabulous Fifties were wide open for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit -and this was especially true in the business of making records. The major labels were not really in tune with what was happening. Almost by default, they let the independents develop the innovators, then bought in hits. When an indie label had a pop hit, each of the majors would take one of their artists and cover it. As a result, there would be three or four versions charting at the same time. Great for the publishers, but less so for the artist's sales.

The independent labels had to beat the bushes to discover their own artists and hits. They usually liked to cut themselves in on the song or at least have the publishing in the event that a major label would cover them and steal the hit with superior distribution. It was an exciting time when Fabor Robison could discover Jim Reeves on the suggestion of a Tom Perryman, or find Mitchell Torok in Nacogdoches, Texas when enquiring about local songwriters.

Fabor Robison was from Beebe, Arkansas, and worked as a cook in the Army during the Second World War. He moved to California after the War, and worked as a cook and a prop setter at MGM. Setting himself up as an agent, Fabor signed country singer Les 'Carrot Top' Anderson. Anderson was born February 20, 1921 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and Robison placed him with Les McWain & Corydon Blodgett's Cormac label before moving on to the major Decca label.

When Fabor began managing Johnny Horton, it was inevitable that Horton would sign with Cormac as well. Robison was a hustler, but he was on the mark when he started the Abbott label with funding from Sid Abbott, proprietor of Abbott Drugs. After Cormac folded, Robison acquired the Horton masters and Abbott was off and running with distribution by Bill McCall's 4-Star Records.