Bert Haney (the Critter) with Jimmy Heap and the Melody Masters: Hey Hey Hydi Ho - Empire Records!

The multi-talented Bert Haney was just getting started in the broadcast business in 1954-1950 when he found himself as a character DJ at radio station KTAE in Taylor, TX. The station was also home to Jimmy Heap and the Melody Masters, who would later have a top 5 Billboard hit with "Release Me" in 1954. At this time, the Melody Masters had a recording contract with Imperial Records. Bert launched his own label, Empire, which saw around 8 releases. Most of the recorded songs were composed by Haney. The Melody Masters "moonlighted" as the backing band on some of the releases, appearing on the label as either "Melody Masters" or "Melody Texans." Featured artists included Haney himself, Bill Dowdy of Lexington TX, Cactus Pryor of Austin TX, and TD Bell and his Be-Bop Boys, also of Austin. Haney also recollects recording the Southwestern University band from Georgetown, TX.


Not only was Haney a record producer and radio station host, he later owned his own radio station in Brady TX, and went on to become a TV news reporter, anchorman, talk show host, game show host, and personality on stations all across the United States. He became the head news director on several stations, and at one point roadside billboards even carried his face, promoting the TV channel he was on! He was also a part of QUBE TV in Columbus, Ohio, which was Warner Bros’ first cable network in 1977 – the forerunner of Time Warner. QUBE was “interactive TV” – subscribers had a box that had several buttons they could push during a cable broadcast that allowed them to participate in the show.


 During his retirement, he also wrote and composed all the songs for a country & western musical entitled, "Possum." He still hopes someone will eventually produce his show. He has several more songs that he wrote and recorded, but never released.
Don’t get too excited over the wall of Empire records. Most are generic 78s with Empire labels glued on them. All of the originals melted in a storage shed years ago.
As of 2016, Bert’s son was working for CNN, and one daughter is a foreign correspondent for another news outlet.


And yes, this is the same Bert Haney who composed "Happy Ghoul Tide" with Ray Oddis.