• Home
  • Snapshot By Year
  • View by Location
  • About Project
  • Contact Us

Lane County Music History Project

Explore Our Rich Music History

  • Musician/Band
  • Venue
  • Festival
  • Studio/Label
  • Promoter
  • Store
  • Association
  • Inventor

Willamette Records

Categories: 1950s, 1960s, Eugene, Recording Studio/Label

Located at 2272 Roosevelt Blvd in Eugene, Oregon, Orbit Sound Company (country acts), Willamette Records (1959-1960) and Myrtle Mountain Publishing Company were founded by Lloyd “Grandpappy” Smith, an upright bass player and bandleader of the Western Valley Boys, the Melody Ranch house band.

Located at the same address Melody Ranch was a country western dance hall operated by Grandpappy Smith from 1947 to 1957.

Building History

Originally an old barn

1947 – Lloyd “Grandpappy” Smith converted it into the Melody Ranch “honky tonk” / country dance hall

1957 – New Years Eve was the last event before closing their doors as a music venue.

1958-1960 – Used location as a recording studio (Orbit Sound and Willamette Records)

1959 – Reopened as a dance hall, Rendezvous

Later became Sherm’s grocery store?

Recordings:

101 – Leon Smith, son of Grandpappy Smith, recorded “Little 40 Ford” and it was released in May of 1959 on Willamette, the master was sold to Columbia later that year and released on the Epic label.

102 – Jackie Johnson With Leon Smith & His Guitar, May 1959

Tagged With: Melody Ranch, Orbit, Willamette Records

View by Year

  • 1850s
  • 1860s
  • 1870s
  • 1880s
  • 1890s
  • 1900s
  • 1910s
  • 1920s
  • 1930s
  • 1940s
  • 1950s
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • 1990s

View by Location

  • Blue River
  • Cottage Grove
  • Creswell
  • Dexter
  • Eugene
  • Glenwood
  • Goshen
  • Jasper/Fall Creek
  • Junction City
  • Mohawk
  • Oakridge
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Springfield
  • Veneta
  • Wendling

View by Genre

  • Alt. Rock
  • Big Band
  • Bluegrass
  • Blues
  • Brass Band
  • Cajun/Swamp Rock
  • Classical
  • Country
  • Folk
  • Funk
  • Garage Rock
  • Jazz
  • Latin
  • Punk
  • R&B
  • Reggae
  • Rock
  • Rockabilly
  • Soul
  • Surf
  • Swing
  • Underground Rock

Copyright © 2025