Great Country Performer from the 1970s
Mike Lunsford and the Whiskey River band made the Lemon Tree Lounge one of the best places in Louisville, Kentucky for first class entertainment. The Lemon Tree lounge had a noticable magic to it. Mike and his backing band played superb music and the patrons in the club truly appreciated his talent.
Mike Lunsford was born on June 30, 1950 in Guyman, Oklahoma, USA. He gratuated from Panhandle State University in 1973, then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, USA where he worked local clubs and excelled in his music career. Lunsford was one of the many great entertainers who recorded for Starday Records, an independent label that didnt generate many major songs. By 1997, only ninety one Starday singles made the Billboard country music charts.
Mike made his chart debut in 1975 with Gusto Records. The following year, he charted his biggest single, “Honey Hungry “ (No. 16, 1976) on the Starday label. Breaking into he top-twenty was a major hit by Starday’s standards. A major label may have pushed the song to the top of the Billboard country music charts and did a better job of promoting him and his music. “Honey Hungry” is still available on various Starday and Gusto anthology CDs. During a five year chart run (1975 – 1980), Mike placed just ten singles on the charts with Starday and Gusto. His only other top-forty hit was “While the Feelings Good “ (1975), which charted on the Gusto label. Lunsford had a great cover of Sugar Sugar (1975), which was a number one pop hit for the Archies in 1969.
Mike performed at the Lemon Tree Lounge in Louisville, Kentucky for eleven years. Lunsford was a very talented singer, who had a fabulous house band during his stint at the Lemon Tree. His Whiskey River band included Rod Hamm (bass player), who also played bass for Connie Smith. Tommy White, who plays steel guitar for the Grand Ole Opry, was the steel player in the Whiskey River band. Thumper Bartlett who played for Little Richard was the drummer.
The Guymon Daily Herald obituaries column reported Mike Lunsford passed away in Guymon, Oklahoma on April 17th, 2006. The paper also reported his wife Sharon died one month before him. His survivors include his father, Marvin Lunsford of rural Hooker, Oklahoma, his daughter, Lisa Robertson of Vine Grove, Kentucky, his son, Ryan Lunsford of Los Angeles, his brother, Jerry Lunsford of rural Guymon; two grandchildren and his grandmother, Faye Lunsford of Guymon. Mike will be sorely missed by those that loved him and his music.
