History:

Curly Gibson And The Sunshine Play Boys (also known as Curly Gibson's Sunshine Playboys) were a country outfit based out of either Allentown or Pennsburg Pennsylvania. The group’s origins are unknown other than they formed in the mid to late 1940’s and were active until the early 1960’s. They were led by Richard “Curly” Gibson of Freemansburg, with other known members including Colin Prevette of Pennsburg (born in North Carolina) and Rudy Perkins of Allentown. Gibson and Perkins were both World War 2 veterans who saw combat. The group (perhaps Colin Prevette himself) possibly helped form the Pennsylvania Record Co., an independent label from Pennsburg. The label's roots lie with the label Schleigel’s Recording Company, the probable studio where they recorded. Curly Gibson, prior to the formation of his own band, made several appearances on said label backed by Willis Meyers And His X-Ranch Boys. Many other local country and hillbilly acts performed on Schleiger's Recording Company, where a multitude of songs that would later be redone by Curly Gibson were recorded.

The group’s style changed over time. During their tenure on Pennsylvania Record Co., the group stuck to a hillbilly and pop influenced country style that was unpopular throughout the Lehigh Valley. Most groups, unlike The Sunshine Play Boys, stuck to a traditional sound featuring heavy accordion and no drummer. Elements of primitive rockabilly were spruced throughout their work during this period courtesy of some fast paced songs and raw guitar and piano solos. The band was on the label possibly until 1956.

The band then moved to, recorded, and did work with other groups on Leo Records. The label was based in Allentown. The group’s lineup changed during this period: the outfit abandoned the fiddle and electric guitar for a lap steel guitarist. The band’s style changed to straight country and recorded their first record for Leo Records. Soon after, capitalizing on the Rockabilly sound that was sweeping across parts of the valley (and probably being influenced by artists recording at Joe Resestar’s Elsan Records in Hellertown), the outfit recorded their popular single “The Hillbilly Hop” / “Change Your Love”. The song, despite being very hip at the time, was not a success. Rudy Perkins then wrote two songs for Chuck Barr And The Rock-A-Billys, another Lehigh Valley based Rock & Roll outfit. The song was recorded at Elsan in Hellertown and became a local hit. The Rock-A-Billys  eventually changed their name to the playboys, so a connection may lie between the two groups. Colin Prevette and Rudy Perkins would appear on other local records as songwriters.

It’s unknown what happened to the group, but Curly Gibson joined John Stokes III (his grandson) in forming a band in the late 80’s. All members of the group have apparently passed.

Reviews:

Whispering Pines / Hand Me The Mustard (1954, Pennsylvania Recording Co.)

Rating: 5/10

"Whispering Pines" is a pretty poor ballad however "Hand Me The Mustard" is a classic. A hillbilly bopper with some hilarious lyrics and a great guitar solo. A little too much fiddle though. 

I Want You Back  / They’ll Never Make A Monkey Out Of Me (1953?, Pennsylvania Recording Co.)

Rating: 6/10

Two fast paced hillbilly boppers. "I Want You Back" has several solos, including a fiddle solo, mandolin solo, and electric guitar. "They’ll Never Make A Monkey Out Of Me" is another classic and is the group’s first somewhat rockabilly effort. Lots of tinkling piano, another good guitar solo, and political lyrics about the ridiculousness of evolution (not a joke).

Dic-Dic-Dixie  / I Will Love You (As Long As I Live) (1953?, Pennsylvania Recording Co.)

Rating: 5/10

Probably the group’s best 78 single. "Dic-Dic-Dixie" is a pretty good primitive poppy rockabilly effort with a ton of great piano work and a nice jazzy guitar solo. It’s a bit similar to their later “Change Your Love” tune but that isn’t a bad thing. "I Will Love You" is a good ballad.

If They Do  / One Way Track (1954?, Pennsylvania Recording Co.)

Rating: 5/10

“If They Do” is a fantastic hillbilly bopper with more absurd lyrics about cowboys however “One Way Track” is a pretty lame ballad.

The Hillbilly Hop / Change Your Love (1957, Leo Records)

Rating: 9.5/10

Near perfect single and the group’s last release (at least known release). “The Hillbilly Hop” is a standard rockabilly tune with some good bass work. “Change Your Love” is one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s a good bopping pop tune with some fantastic piano work and great lyrics like “she changed the bills so I’d get sued”.