Gene Mills on Dixie

 Native of Salem, Iowa, Gene Mills has been playing guitar most of his life and in his younger days was a good yodeler.   He played various venues in his home state including the Fort Madison Rodeo.and the Iowa State Fair.   He took off for the West Coast and spent many years living in Hollywood.

In the mid-sixties, he had DeVille Recordsreleasing "I Want To Be A Cowgirls Sweetheart" "Emotions".

I believe it's him also on Jin Records of Louisiana : "Chime Bells" /  "Rocking Rollin' Ocean" (Jin 284, 70s).

Mills says he's played the Grand Ole Opry and he's met Johnny Cash. His life sounds like a David Allen Coe song. In fact Mills - who spent many years living in Hollywood - was cast in a movie with the Man in Black. The movie was to be Jimmie Rodgers' life story. Rodgers is considered one of the fathers of country music. The movie was never put into production, however.

 Read more about Gene Mills here : 
Longtime country singer and native of Salem to take stage at Captain Kirk's