Fact #149778

Karl Victor Davis and Connecticut 'Harty' Taylor were both born in Mount Vernon, Kentucky in 1905. In 1929, Doc Hopkins enlisted Davis and Taylor for the Krazy Kats, a stringband that featured folk songs and pop tunes in their repertoire. Following a year with WHAS in Louisville, Davis and Taylor moved to WLS in Chicago where they became part of the Cumberland Ridge Runners on the 'National Barn Dance' radio show. Davis and Taylor were originally known as the Renfro Valley Boys and they recorded under that name for Paramount in 1932. It was because of their radio work that they became known as Karl & Harty. In 1934 the team began recording for the American Record Corporation labels. I'm Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail was their first hit. Later hits were The Prisoner's Dream and Davis's song Kentucky which was covered by The Everly Brothers and The Osborne Brothers and others.

In 1937 Karl & Harty joined WJJD's Suppertime Frolic in Chicago and then returned to WLS in 1947. In 1951 the duo split up amicably and Davis continued to write songs including the 1967 top ten hit for Hank Locklin, The Country Hall Of Fame. Karl & Harty, whose specialty was sacred and sentimental songs, influenced many country artists from their era including The Monroe Brothers and The Blue Sky Boys.