R. Victor Williams Jr. '53 (mandolin) organized the Tiger Blacknotes in the fall of 1950 (his Sophomore Year). The original personnel also included Dick Shallberg '54 on the banjo and Jim Denny '54 on the guitar. In the fall of 1953 Dick Shallberg switched to perform with the Stan Rubin Tigertown Five. Shalberg was replaced by Brooks D. Jones '56 on guitar. When Williams graduated in spring 1953 Brooks Jones '56 assumed the role of bandleader. Davey Robb '56, Jerv Janney '56, and Fred Prichard '56 joined the group upon the graduation of Williams and Denny in the fall of 1954, expanding the trio to a quartet. The Blacknotes group performed ragtime and Dixieland. This group started two years earlier than the Stan Rubin Tigertown Five and lasted one year longer.

1951-1952: R. Victor Williams Jr. '53 - Banjo, James M. Denny '54 - Mandolin, Richard R. Smallberg '54 - Guitar.

1952-1953: R. Victor Williams Jr. '53 - Banjo, James M. Denny '54 - Mandolin, Brooks D. Jones '56 - Guitar.

1953-1956: Davey Robb '56 - Banjo, Jervis S. Janney '56 - Guitar, Frederick W. Prichard Jr. '56 - Mandolin, Brooks D. Jones '56 - Guitar.

The Tiger Blacknotes self published a 10” mono LP in 1955. The recording featured here is "Steel Guitar Rag."