Poems

Damon Recording label is affixed to Side 1 of Record 1. There are no labels on any other side. Numbers written in grease pencil on all records, and the uniformity of the recording quality across the set, make it clear that it is indeed a set. Con A. Aikman was a successful Wichita, Kansas businessman who wrote poems as an avocation. He published small collections in 1934 and 1940 and his verses were occasionally printed in publications and poetry anthologies. He reads thirty-two of his poems on this acetate set, recorded by Victor Damon. In 1952, Damon recorded two of Aikman's poems set to music, performed by Dave Thomas accompanied by Gene Moore: "Sweetheart Of Uncle Sam" b/w "Kansas" [url=https://www.discogs.com/release/29341411](Damon D-12105).[/url] "Sweetheart Of Uncle Sam" is one of the poems Aikman reads here. "Kansas" was copyrighted by Aikman in Auguat 1949 as a song for voice and piano and a May 1950 [url=https://www.discogs.com/release/22014616]acetate recording of it performed by gospel singer J. Byron Crouse[/url] accompanied by pianist Ralph Sherman, who arranged it, was found along with this acetate set.