Tennessee Pulleybone
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 in Cookeville, Tennessee, United States |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Headquarters | Cookeville , United States |
| Products | Country music recordings |
Tennessee Pulleybone originated as a musical group in Cookeville, Tennessee. The founding members were "Big" Ken Smith on bass, Jerry Tuttle as an instrumentalist, Biff Watson handling guitar duties, and John Wolters on drums. Subsequent additions to the lineup included Dave Gillon on guitar, Tom Hamilton playing steel guitar, dobro, and banjo, along with Thomas "Bones" Kaelin on drums. Their rendition of "The Door Is Always Open" released through JMI Records (Jack Clement International) achieved a peak position of number 75 on the Billboard Country chart in September 1973. Other singles issued by JMI featured "I Ain't In A Long, Long Time" and "Clean Your Own Tables." Following the closure of JMI Records, the group secured a contract with RCA Records and embarked on tours alongside prominent artists such as Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare, Freddy Fender, and Gary Stewart. They are frequently recognized as the pioneering country band to be signed by a major label. Several tracks were composed by Dave Gillon, who also wrote successful songs for performers including Roy Clark and Kenny Rogers.
Watson, proficient in both keyboard and guitar, later supported Don Williams as a backing musician.
According to an article published in Hank Magazine, their musical approach was described as “country, R&B, bluegrass rock with Beach Boys overtones,” emphasizing their electric bluegrass style that merges classic and modern elements.
The band remained active from 1973 until 1979. Upon their dissolution, Wolters became a member of Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show.