Jerry Behrens (2)

Born in Madisonville, Louisiana, Born March 23, 1908. Died in Madisonville, Louisiana in 1993. Born into a musical family. Dad was a left-handed fiddle player and mom played the piano. Taught himself to play the guitar. Won an amateur talent contest that got him a gig on radio station WWL in New Orleans. Spent time at WLW in Cincinnati and KWK in St. Louis as well. Around 1940 , part of a group called The Range Riders who were entertaining radio audiences in St. Louis, Missouri over KMOX. But they decided to set out for the Renfro Valley area in Kentucky and join John Lair's troupe. The Range Riders then consisted of Guy Blakeman on fiddle, Roland Gaines doing vocals and playing guitar and Jerry also doing vocals and playing guitar. Jerry would stay in Renfro Valley for some twenty years, appearing on the weekly barn dance show as well as other programs such as the Sunday Mornin' Gatherin'. He remained at Renfro Valley until 1972.