Cyril Vetter is an American songwriter with a career has spanned a variety of industries, including music, broadcasting and publishing. He owned TV and radio stations, a television production firm, newspapers as well as music recording and publishing companies. He may be best known for the popular song "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)", co-written with Don Smith.[1]

Career

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Vetter performed as drummer for the Greek Fountains, a 1960s group composed largely of Baton Rouge youths. As the British Invasion dominated rock and roll and Rhythm & Blues in the mid-1960s, the members wore moptop hair and Madras pants. The band was popular in the Gulf Coast region in many venues. They opened for such concert performers as The Animals, Sonny and Cher, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and the Dave Clark Five. Their Mercury Records single of "Countin' the Steps" was a regional hit with noteworthy airplay in the Southeast.[2] In January 2010, songwriter Vetter was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.[3]

"Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" was originally recorded by Dick Holler & the Holidays, and later recorded by The Swingin' Medallions who released it as their second single in 1966. The song became a Top 20 hit for the group, peaking at #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song has since been recorded by other artists, including Joe Stampley.[4]

Vetter's most recent project was Dirtdobber Blues, a fictionalized biography of longtime friend singer/songwriter/actor Charles "Butch" Hornsby, a multimedia package complete with 14 song CD, sheet music and photographs of his artwork.[5]

In addition to Dirtdobber Blues, (release March 2011), LSU Press has published two of Vetter's previous books. Fonville Winans' Louisiana: Politics People and Places, a biography of the legendary Louisiana photographer Fonville Winans, includes historical subjects such as Huey P. Long and unmistakably iconic Louisiana figures and locales. "The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town", another Vetter collaboration with Gould vividly records through drawings and photographs Town's major contributions to the vernacular of original Louisiana architecture.[6]

Personal life

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In 2003, Vetter wrote and produced Deacon John's Jump Blues, a critically acclaimed and award-winning music CD, concert video and documentary film.[7]

A U.S. Army veteran, Vetter served in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He earned political science and law degrees from Louisiana State University.[citation needed] Vetter practiced law in Louisiana from 1973 to 2012.[8]

Discography

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Year Main Artist Title Label Role
1965 The Greek Fountains Well Alright / That's The Way I Am Bofuz Enterprises, Inc. Co-Writer on 'That's The Way I Am'
1966 Blue Jean / Countin' The Steps Philips Co-Writer
The Swingin' Medallions Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) / Here It Comes Again Co-Writer on 'Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)'
I Don't Want To Lose You Baby / Night Owl Smash Records Co-Writer on 'Night Owl'
The Flying Cavarettas / Jimmy Cavaretta I Tried To Treat You Right / I Want To Be Free V&O Co-Writer on 'I Tried To Treat You Right' & Co-Producer
The Dry Grins You're Through / She's A Drag Montel Michelle Co-Producer
John Fred Leave Her Never / Doing The Best I Can Paula Records Co-Producer & Writer on 'Doing The Best I Can'
John Fred And His Playboys Outta My Head / Loves Come In Time Co-Producer
1967 34:40 Of John Fred And His Playboys Writer on 'Doing The Best I Can'
Up And Down / Wind Up Doll Co-Writer on 'Wind Up Doll'
Agnes English Writer on 'Most Unlikely To Succeed'
The Uniques Groovin' Out (On Your Good, Good Lovin') / Areba Co-Writer on 'Groovin' Out (On Your Good, Good Lovin')'
J. J. Stately Another Saturday Night / The Skill Of The Magician Josie Writer on 'The Skill Of The Magician', Co-Producer
The Greek Fountains I'm A Boy / She Does It Pacemaker Records Co-Writer on 'She Does It' & Co-Producer
I Can't Get Away / An Experimented Terror Montel Michelle Co-Producer
1977 John Fred And His Playboys Juke Box Guinness Records Writer on 'Keep It Hid'
1979 Irma Thomas Safe With Me RCS Records Co-Producer on 'Safe With Me', 'Take What You Find', 'Don't Stop' & 'Looking Back'
1990 Various Beyond The Calico Wall Voxx Records Co-Writer on 'An Experimented Terror'
2003 Deacon John's Jump Blues Vetter Communications Corporation Co-Producer

References

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  1. ^ "Billboard - Music Charts, News, Photos & Video". Billboard.com.
  2. ^ "Cyril Vetter profile". Archived from the original on May 21, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  3. ^ Shepherd, Mike. "Louisiana Music Hall of Fame - CYRIL VETTER". Louisianamusichalloffame.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  4. ^ "Billboard - Music Charts, News, Photos & Video". Billboard.com.
  5. ^ "Dirtdobber Blues". Dirtdobberblues.com.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Deacon John's Jump Blues: Music From the Film". Billboard.com. 28 June 2003. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  8. ^ Louisiana State Bar Association Membership Directory Archived 2019-05-02 at the Wayback Machine (Note: no dedicated links for individual members. Name must be entered.)
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