AROUND the TOWN FREE! SHOPPING - ENTERTAINMENT - DINING - SERVICES - SALES & MORE! FREE! AroundTheTown.usAroundTheTown.us 936.554.5822 ADVERTISE! [email protected]@mail.com NACOGDOCHES COUNTY - ANGELINA COUNTY SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY - SHELBY COUNTY APRIL 2019 Born to Swing – The Four Mints – East Texas’ Own Early Rock Stars by Terri Lacher [email protected] Deep in the woods, off a Shelby County road, rock and roll was about to around the East Texas area, but did not form the group officially until they were make a name for itself in the group of young musicians who later became known much older and out of school. as The Four Mints. They broke ground in the music industry, introducing their An outdoor performance at Stephen F. Austin University attracted the at- version of Rhythm & Blues and became one of the more popular early doo-wop tention of a well-known musician at that time, Mitchell Torok. He was very im- quartets in the mid 1950’s. The lives of James Paul Wilson, brothers Noah Eu- pressed with their talent and was able to get them a booking into the Plantation gene and Alden Lee Warr, and Aubie Jean McSwain would never be the same. Club in Nashville in 1955. They took the name The Four Mints and began to Music was a vital part of their lives growing travel across the country from Nashville, Birmingham, Biloxi, Mobile, Chicago, up in Center, Texas. Leon McSwain, Aubie’s father, Atlanta and at the famous Palace Theater in New York City, as well as other loca- was an accomplished musician. He played piano tions. and violin, and was part of a quartet along with They were later booked in the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas and also in clubs Buford Wilson, Joe Wright, and Zelma Askew. The in Los Angeles, California. Through their travels, they had top bookings along- group would gather together every Tuesday eve- side of other very popular musical artists like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean ning at the McSwain Hill residence for rehearsals. Martin, and Elvis Presley, often on the same stage with these musicians. Their The young boys, then nine and ten years of age, music was fresh and new in the rock and roll style, and their voices blended in would sit around and listen to their fathers sing- harmony to create a sound that became quite popular during the late 1950’s and ing together, and then go outside and sing together, early 1960’s. bringing their own unique style to the same old It was an exciting time for the four young men from Shelby County, Texas. gospel tunes. They had a heavy schedule traveling across the country by car and playing in Aubie was no stranger to singing. When his father realized he could sing at some venues for several shows per evening, often well into the wee hours of a very early age, he worked with him, teaching him to sing hymns in church at the morning. They grew up and married and continued performing, their fami- the age of three. As he grew up, he sang with his older sister, Jackie, as a duet, lies often traveling caravan style to their next venue. They even had a movie and their father, Leon later joined with them forming a trio that sang in various made, called “Born to Swing” which was filmed in Shelby County; Birmingham, churches wherever they went. When Leon discovered the boys were talented mu- Alabama; and Atlanta, Georgia. The movie was never released, and all that re- sicians and had a great sound of their own, he began working with them, training mained from the film was the title song, “Born them to sing the popular gospel songs of that time. He was so confident in their to Swing.” abilities that he had the group enter a singing contest out of Texarkana, Arkansas, The Four Mints continued to be a popular which they took first place from close to a hundred other singing quartets. musical quartet drawing large crowds to all of For nine and ten year old boys, this was quite an accomplishment. The first their venues. They were not just singers, but place prize was $100 in cash and a trip to Nashville, Tennessee to sing. While were entertainers, bringing their showmanship they were sitting eating breakfast that morning in a Nashville hotel, Roy Acuff off the stage into the audiences, something walked in and sat down with the boys. He later attended their performance and that wasn’t done until Elvis Presley came praised them for the quality of their quartet. They continued to get bookings along. Their songs included “Night Air,” “Lit- FOUR MINTS - Page 2 Page 2 April 2019 FOUR MINTS tle Mama Tree Top,” “Hey Little Neil,” “You Belong to My Heart,” and the title song, “Born to Swing.” Their first recording was a Gainsville, Texas label with Lin Records. Aztec Records released “The Fabulous Four Mints,” a high-fidelity album released in the late 1950’s. They also recorded popular songs like “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Lonesome Road,” and “Scarlet Ribbons.” They were also picked up by Decca which gave them the exposure they needed to bring them to a national level. In 1960, Aubie McSwain left the quartet to continue to study music, and later pursue what he said was “a calling into the ministry” to serve the Lord. He was replaced by another very talented musician, Roz Stevens, and the quartet sang for another two years before disbanding completely. The rise to fame and popularity didn’t change the four young singers who began as nine and ten year-old boys who loved to sing. They all returned to their roots in Shelby County with the wonderful memories of good times and experi- ences that would remain with them the rest of their lives. The music industry embraced the doo-wop movement in songs, proving that rock and roll was there to stay, paving the road for other young talented musicians to follow. (Excerpts used by permission from an article by David Swanzy of “We the People of Shelby County” and interview with Aubie McSwain.) Millard’s Crossing Historic Village Announces New Executive Director NACOGDOCHES, TX- Jessica Pinkert has been named executive director Around the Town gets the of Millard’s Crossing Historic Village, effective March 18, 2019. Pinkert will word out! I would strongly oversee the education, preservation and organizational administration of Millard’s Crossing. suggest any business “Millard’s Crossing is thrilled to announce the selection of Jessica Pinkert as the new Executive Director of the historic village,” said Ryan Russell, president taking a look at what they of the Millard’s Crossing Board of Directors. “Our board has full faith that Jessi- can do for you! ca will use her diverse skills and background to breathe new life into our beloved Ray Perry – Mike Perry Motors Nacogdoches landmark.” Nacogdoches Pinkert graduated from the Hospitality Administra- tion program at Stephen F. Austin State University in Good News Only Featured in 2018 and is currently work- ing towards her master’s degree in Mass Communi- Around the Town cation. Prior to accepting the position with Millard’s Crossing Historic Village, Pinkert served as the Main Street and Communications assistant for the City of Nacogdoches. As an engaged member in our community, Pinkert serves on the Shop Nac First committee and is a member of the University Professional Women of Stephen F. Austin State University. Pinkert plans to continue her activism with the Main Street program through its respective committees. When she is not working or volunteering, Pinkert enjoys knitting, strengthening her photography skills, spending time with her family and supporting local businesses. “I am thankful for the opportunity to work with Millard’s Crossing,” said Pinkert. “I fell in love with our community when I moved to Nacogdoches and feel honored to tell our story. I believe that combining my admiration of local attractions with my talent in media specialization will help me to create quality content for destination marketing.” FREE! Millard’s Crossing Historic Village is a private, non-profit 501c3, dedicated to connecting people to the past in a meaningful and memorable way. Established AROUND the TOWN by the late Lera Millard Thomas, the village comprises a broad sampling of 19th century East Texas architecture from simple log cabins to Victorian homes. FREE! SHOPPING - ENTERTAINMENT - DINING - SERVICES - SALES & MORE! FREE! The mission of Millard’s Crossing Historic Village is to portray the spirit and AroundTheTown.us ADVERTISE! [email protected] ingenuity of pioneer settlement in East Texas and to connect present generations AroundAround thethe Town Town is is published published and and distributed distributed on on the the first first day day of of each each to those of the past. month.month. 12,000 7,000 FREE FREE copies copies are are available available in inmore more than than 200+ 70 locationslocations Millard’s Crossing is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Angelina,in Nacogdoches Nacogdoches, County San andAugustine it may &be Shelby viewed Counties. online FREE The atpaper and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, please email info@mchvnac. may also be viewed onlinewww.AroundTheTown.us. FREE 24/7 at www.AroundTheTown.us. com. Publisher - David Stallings - 936.554.5822 - [email protected] PublisherAdvertising - David StallingsSales & Distribution- 936.554.5822 - Jodie - aroundthetown@mail Stone - 936.552.9862.com AdvertisingAdvertising Manager Sales - -Sharon Lynda RobertsWillard - -936.5 936.552.675856.4900 AdvertisingGraphic SalesDesign - David- James Stallings Aston -- 936.553.1927936.554.5822 SHOP LOCAL Graphic Design & Distribution - James Aston - 936.553.1927 Page 3 April 2019 Hardware on the Square - Your One Stop Shopping for Nearly 100 Years by Terri Lacher [email protected] Hardware on the Square, located right on the corner in downtown historic San Augustine, was originally opened in the early 1900’s.