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Bryant and Brown (2018) Music Exploring Old Time Recordings and Artists < Back To List Mike Bryant and Paul Brown Bryant and Brown (2018) Bryant and Brown is an album of 15 Old Time tunes, released through the Tiki Parlour label in 2018. Mike told me that around that time, he and Paul were playing, teaching at workshops and festivals, and had even embarked on a tour in Australia (Mike remembers "lots of driving!"). They had been talking about making some recordings, and had even scheduled some studio time at one point, but seemed to never find the right time to actually sit down and do it. The right time came one day when Paul reminded Mike that "...we're not getting any younger..." The recording was done at Joe "Joebass" DeJarnette's Studio 808A in Virginia. However, it was only after the recordings were made that the Tiki Parlour connection occurred. Mike met David Bragger at the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention, and Tiki Parlour offered to take on the production and release. Mike also said he did some additional recording while at Tiki Parlour, but he's not sure where those files ended up. Hopefully, we'll be able to hear those one day! The CD comes complete with extensive liner notes that describe the origin of the tunes, along with the tunings used for both the fiddle and banjo. The New Dixie Entertainers Before the self-titled release, you may remember Mike with The New Dixie Entertainers, who put out a cassette called "Maybelle Rag" in 1994. That tape is now as rare as hen's teeth. Enjoy the videos made in 1991 at Mt. Airy, and in 2019 when the band reunited for the 50th Jubilee Festival at Knoxville's historic Laurel Theater. The New Dixie Entertainers won the Traditional Band contest at Clifftop three times. Mike is a multi-year Clifftop fiddle champion, including first place honors in 2007. Paul Brown, Terri McMurray, Mike Bryant, Marcia Bryant Mike Bryant New Dixie Entertainers Maybelle Rag cassette cover Paul Brown, Terri McMurray, Mike Bryant, Marcia Bryant 1/4 Old Aunt Jenny With Her Nightcap On Mike Bryant and the New Dixie Entertainers Mt. Airy 1991 The New Dixie Entertainers At The Laurel Theater 50th Jubilee Festival Roscoe Bryant and Brown 00:00 / 02:52

Left Handed Fiddler Music Exploring Old Time Recordings and Artists < Back To List Charlie Acuff Left Handed Fiddler Charles Boyd “Charlie” Acuff (1919-2013) was born in Maynardville, Union County, TN just north of Knoxville. His unassuming ways, legendary story-telling ability, his fiddling skills, and a seemingly unlimited supply of old tunes made him a well known and very popular East Tennessee fiddler. (Ed. note:) There must be something in the water, as Union county is also the birthplace of several other prominent country music musicians including Charlie’s second cousin Roy Acuff , Chet Atkins , Carl Smith , Lois Johnson , and Kenny Chesney . As a boy, Charlie suffered from allergies which were worsened by living in the country. As a result, he moved in with his grandparents, who lived in the Fountain City community. (Now a part of the City of Knoxville due to a controversial 1962 annexation) Charlie's grandfather, Charlie Boyd Acuff, for whom Charlie was named, was himself a fiddle player and is the person who taught Charlie how to play. Charlie was left-handed, and learned to play a right-handed fiddle left-handed. This reversing of the fiddle’s usual string order gave Charlie a distinct playing style and sound, along with him eventually being known as the “Left Handed Fiddler”. In the learning process, hundreds of his grandfather’s tunes were passed along, with some tunes pre-dating the Civil War. In his teens, Charlie played anywhere he could, including local events and square dances. In 1938, Charlie and his brother became backing musicians for another Maynardville (Union County) hillbilly musician, Esco Hankins . Because Hankins had a car, this enabled them to travel and play almost daily on radio station WROL in Knoxville, often under the sponsorship of legendary supermarket owner and music promoter Cas Walker . Charlie and his brother were also known as “The Hub Spinners” during this time. Due to his fiddling skills and notoriety from the radio, Charlie became even more in demand for square dances and socials. His popularity was such that he had to eventually slow down his musical ambitions because playing was taking so much time that it affected his school work. Unfortunately, the start of WWII further hindered playing opportunities. Charlie was turned down for the draft due to back problems, but because everyone was expected to assist in the war effort, he moved to Blount County and took a job at the huge Alcoa aluminum plant, which was supplying war materials. He worked at Alcoa during the day, but fiddled at night, playing a fiddle made by his father, Evart. Charlie played this fiddle his entire life, just one of the 36 fiddles his father made. Over the course of the next 40 years of working at the factory and playing at night, Charlie honed his musical and performance skills. Charlie Acuff played at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville , appeared in several episodes of the TV series “Christy,” and played twice a week at the Museum of Appalachia for several years. Starting in 1989, he played with a band called “The Lantana Drifters” from Cumberland County (Crossville) TN. The Drifters won first place five times at the Smithville (TN) Fiddlers Jamboree. A teen fiddler named Joseph DeCosimo was a student of Charlie’s during that time, and sometimes played gigs with the Drifters. John Hartford also reportedly learned a large number of his Old Time fiddle tunes from Charlie. He and Hartford made a recording together in 1990 called “Left Handed Fiddler”, a privately issued cassette tape run of only 50 copies, which was sold in the Museum of Appalachia gift shop. (You can now listen to that recording HERE . ) Currently, there is only one commercially available recording of Charlie’s tunes, called “Charlie Acuff-Better Times A Comin’” (2000). For more information on one of Charlie's signature tunes, "Bob Taylor's March," visit our TUNE HISTORY page. In 2005, Charlie was honored with the Tennessee Governor's Folklife Heritage Award . (He played “Bob Taylor’s March” at the ceremony.) When asked about this award, Charlie said, “At first, I just sat on the couch, shocked. Then I got to thinking about all the friends that I have that said all those nice things about me to make this possible. I really think they should have this award, not me. They did the work, and all I did was just fiddle.” When Charlie passed away in 2013, his son Boyd said, "If you judge him by money or financial success, he was a failure - but if you look at how good of a fiddle player he was, the friends he had and all of the places he played, then he was a very successful man." Charlie Acuff 1997 From Tennessee Folklore Society's "East Tennessee Fiddler Charlie Acuff" 1997 DVD Charlie Acuff 2003 From 2009 Mother Jones Article Charlie Acuff 1919-2013 Obituary in photo link Charlie Acuff 1997 From Tennessee Folklore Society's "East Tennessee Fiddler Charlie Acuff" 1997 DVD 1/13 Charlie Acuff with The Lantana Drifters "Old Molly Hare" filmed early 1990's Tennessee Folklore Society's "East Tennessee Fiddler Charlie Acuff" (1997 DVD) Tunes in order: Old Yeller Dog, Down In Union County, Going To Chattanooga, Two o'clock, Goodbye Liza Jane, Leather Britches, Josie Girl, Jim & Me, Bob Taylor's March, Ruffled Drawers, Turkey Buzzard Songs Of Appalachia: Fiddler Charlie Acuff (2012) Walking In The Parlor Charlie Acuff 00:00 / 02:10

A Birthday Gift From June Drucker (and nothing to do with Israel) Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Going Back To Israel A Birthday Gift From June Drucker (and nothing to do with Israel) If you are seeking the unique sound of minor tunes to add to your setlist, June Drucker’s “Going Back To Israel” is an excellent choice. June is a multi-instrumentalist, best known for her bass playing with a number of Old Time and Contra bands over the years. This original tune was included on her 2003 “Tumble and Leap” album. “Going Back To Israel,” is slightly crooked and in the key of A minor (played in standard tuning). It has become a Festival favorite and has been covered by several other bands. We reached out to June for some insight on the tune’s origin. She said, “...it was written in about 10 minutes sitting on the counter in Godfrey Daniel’s Cafe in Bethlehem, PA on the way up to the Hudson River Festival. It was almost written as a joke for my friend Tara Nevins who had written some tunes and we were both going to be at the festival, so I gave that tune to her as a birthday present. There was really no thought put into it, just a noodle and ended up a tune.” June credits Tara Nevins’ playing as contributing to its popularity, because, “...she is a much better fiddler than me…” As for the title, June stated that she didn’t name it. A friend of hers suggested “Going Back To Israel” after joking that the tune sounded like something some of their other fiddler friends would play - and as June explained, “...that was that. It really has nothing to do with Israel. So that’s about it. Not too exciting a story, but hope this helps.” Included below is the original from June’s album, and a version performed by June with Bruce Molsky, Rose Sinclair, and The Horse Flies’ Judy Hyman and Jeff Claus at the 2001 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Goshen CT. A high octane rendition by The Mando Mafia from their 2004 “Get Away” album, and (on the mp3 player) , a unique jammy rock/electric fiddle interpretation from Seattle’s Celtic/Surf/Roots band “The Irish Experience,” provide additional takes on the original. June Drucker The Renegades 2008 recording on Field Recorders' Collective label. "The Renegades are veterans of notable old time bands (Richie Stearns of the Horse Flies, June Drucker of the Heartbeats, Carol Elizabeth Jones of the Wildcats, and James Leva of Plank Road and the Hellbenders)" The Mando Mafia Get Away album (2004) June Drucker 1/5 Going Back To Israel (fast forward to 39:15) (then go back and listen to the whole set!) Bruce Molsky, June Drucker, Judy Hyman, Rose Sinclair, Jeff Claus 7/29/01 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Going Back To Israel June Drucker Tumble and Leap (2003) Going Back To Israel The Mando Mafia Get Away (2004) Going Back To Israel The Irish Experience 00:00 / 03:43

Charlie Bowman from Gray Station, Tennessee Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List East Tennessee Blues Charlie Bowman from Gray Station, Tennessee East Tennessee Blues was written by fiddler Charlie Bowman from Gray Station , Tennessee. Now called Gray, the town was once a rural train stop. Today, most consider it to be a suburb of Johnson City due to the tremendous growth of the area. If you have ever been on I-26 near where it merges with I-81, you went right through Gray. Bowman became known as the "champion fiddler of East Tennessee," having claimed to have won 28 of 32 fiddle contests he entered throughout the south during the 1920s. The now-famous 1925 Fiddler's Convention in Mountain City, Tennessee is where Bowman met Al Hopkins and joined "The Hill Billies" (aka " Al Hopkins and the Buckle Busters"). The band had been discovered six months prior by legendary music pioneer Ralph Peer . The group moved to Washington, DC, where the Hill Billies performed over the powerful radio station WRC, gaining national exposure. They toured heavily, leading them to New York City and recording contracts with the recently merged Brunswick and Vocalion Records. Vocalion was primarily known for race records , but was one of several record companies trying to capitalize on the popular, developing market for country music. According to most sources Bowman led, or was associated with, no less than eight professional string bands between 1925 and 1941. He reportedly wrote East Tennessee Blues a few years before performing with the Hill Billies, although it was not named so until suggested by Al Hopkins during the recording session. Bowman agreed to the name, but was supposedly reluctant because he did not think it was a blues number. Bowman is also credited with writing several other well known tunes, such as “Roll On Buddy'' and “Nine Pound Hammer.” Vocalion A 5016 East Tennessee Blues 1925 Upper East Tennessee Fiddlers Convention Mountain City, TN The Hill Billies Vocalion A 5016 East Tennessee Blues 1/5 East Tennessee Blues Charlie Bowman/The Hill Billies 1926 Charlie Bowman & His Brothers Roll On Buddy, Roll On The 1925 Mountain City Fiddlers Convention Texas Gals Al Hopkins and His Hill Billies 00:00 / 02:54

28 Tunes With Presidents' Names plus bonus Leap Year tune for 2028 Music Exploring Old Time Recordings and Artists < Back To List Presidential Fiddle Tunes 28 Tunes With Presidents' Names plus bonus Leap Year tune for 2028 The month of February is home to a federal holiday for presidents, and below, there's lots more history of Presidents' Day ... or is it George Washington's birthday? Coincidentally, it seems presidents and fiddle tunes go together, as a quick check of Old Time tune titles reveals quite a few named after presidents. So, in honor of George Washington, whose original birthday and holiday celebration in February was "adjusted" for mainly economic reasons, please enjoy a “presidential fiddle tune” for each day in February. Plus one extra for leap years. Included are links to video, and/or some history of the tune. Presidents' Day or Washington's Birthday? In 1879, a federal holiday was created to honor the first president of the United States, George Washington. It was initially celebrated on his birthday, February 22nd. However, in 1968, the US Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and changed the holiday from Washington's actual birthday to the third Monday in February. (This act also affected Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and eventually, Columbus Day, and was not without controversy .) Ironically, this guaranteed that the holiday would never be celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, as the third Monday in February cannot fall any later than February 21st. Officially, the federal holiday is still called "Washington's Birthday," but most now recognize the day as “Presidents’ Day,” since President Lincoln’s birthday (February 12th) has never itself been a federal holiday, but has come to be included. Furthermore, merchants have fully embraced that name for their 3 day weekend sales events. Interestingly, individual states are not required to adopt federal holidays, so some have changed the name, some have changed the date, some have added presidents, and some have no state holiday at all. 28 Presidential Tunes For February Washington’s March https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irYc6bG78lw https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Washington%27s_March_(3) George Washington https://www.loc.gov/item/afc9999005.16922/ Stonewall Jackson https://dla.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/berea/id/632/ https://tunearch.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson_(1) Jackson’s Victory (Eighth Of January) https://www.knoxvilleoldtime.org/tune-history-10/the-eighth-of-january Jackson's March/ Jackson’s Grand March https://www.loc.gov/item/2023797400/ Jackson Walking To The White House https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/jackson-walking-white-house Stonewall Jackson https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/stonewall-jackson-0 https://tunearch.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson_(1) https://dla.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/berea/id/632/ Taylor’s Quickstep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB5p80Rn-7E Death Of Abraham Lincoln https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/death-abraham-lincoln Booth Shot Lincoln https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQveux304rk https://www.knoxvilleoldtime.org/tune-history-10/booth-shot-lincoln Booth Shot Lincoln Polka https://thesession.org/tunes/17701 President Lincoln’s Hornpipe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ3BLLeJYVI *Jeff Davis https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Jeff_Davis_(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKIYuVFiw8o *Jefferson Davis' Reel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfEfUji-w7g https://www.folktunefinder.com/tunes/167436 *Jeff Davis County Reel https://www.oldtimefiddletunes.net/tunes/JeffDavisCounty.pdf *President of the Confederate States of America 1861-1865 President Grant/President Grant’s Hornpipe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XOC0FnTIzY President Garfield/President Garfield’s Hornpipe https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/president-garfield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KorMMFauwI Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGyn4PQs_SY https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Blackberry_Blossom_(4) Garfield March https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/garfield-march Garfield https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/garfield Garfield’s Funeral March https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/garfields-funeral-march Cleveland’s March To The White House/Cleveland’s March https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/clevelands-march-white-house https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LXRfY0ieq4 McKinley’s March https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FEhCwQJu9g https://tunearch.org/wiki/McKinley%27s_March President Kennedy’s Waltz https://tunearch.org/wiki/President_Kennedy%27s_Waltz President Richard Milhous Nixon’s Hornpipe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inQQf5bMQVM Nixon’s Farewell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ_AqJWMBoc https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Nixon%27s_Farewell Obama’s March To The White House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlseV_lIhYs Obama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSiQeru6vPE&list=OLAK5uy_lLA2P4faToc6Y8HKU72ht9DhOrpZrJWv4&index=7 Just in case it's a leap year: *Getting George Bush Upstairs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBc5dtE76Kw https://tunearch.org/wiki/Getting_George_Bush_Upstairs *Pre-dates, and not about either President George Bush, but it’s a good tune George Washington First President of the United States Who moved my birthday holiday? Now the third Monday in February 3 day weekend, appliance & bedding sales, and (checks notes) Washington's birthday George Washington First President of the United States 1/4 Washington's March Edden Hammons Booth Shot Lincoln Uncle Earl Obama's March To The White House Canote Brothers Garfield's Blackberry Blossom Louise Steinway, Isaac Callender 00:00 / 02:09

A Crafty Tactic To Conceal Porcine Pilferage? Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Shove The Pig’s Foot A Little Further In The Fire A Crafty Tactic To Conceal Porcine Pilferage? Shove/Push That Pig’s/Hog’s Foot A Little Closer To/Farther In/Further Into/The Fire/Bed/Under The/ Bed/Cover Is this fiddle tune based on an old tale about stealing a pig? Is it about a tool? Is it about cooking? How is a bed involved? As in many old tunes, the history is pretty murky, but here are some possibilities for this Old Time staple, usually played in the key of G: 1. A pig’s foot is another name for a fire poker or smithing tool. Sorry, but despite what we have all been told over the years, multiple blacksmithing sources and lack of a companion fiddle tune put this theory in last place. 2. A pig’s foot describes a particular kind of crowbar. There are lots of references to a pig’s foot in crowbar world because of what the tip looks like. In fact, a railroad spike extraction tool is commonly called a pig’s foot . Depending on the tip shape, many other crowbar animal descriptions abound - starting with Crowbar itself, there's also Cat’s Claw, Crow Foot, Gooseneck, etc. The Italian term for crowbar is “un piede di porco” (a pig's foot) and in Portuguese, it is a "pé-de-cabra" (a goat's foot). Sounds like we are on the right track, but what is missing? None of these implements have anything to do with a fire, a bed, or, more importantly, a fiddle tune. 3. Pig’s foot refers to an actual pig’s foot. Pig’s feet are commonly eaten and need to be cooked, so now we have a strong premise that combines the foot and the fire. There are even some old song lyrics via Joel Shimberg via Mike Seeger that say “ Shove that pig’s foot into the fire, do it now Miss Liza”. Now we have a lyrics, and a fire to put the pig's foot closer to, or further in, etc. 4. The title of the tune has a specific origin, but changed over time. Old Time Party presents this possibility: This song derives from an old slave folktale which later became a chant and finally a tune. The story goes like this. A slave had just stolen from his master’s larder a shoat (in other variants just its haunch) and had hidden the meat beneath his bed sheets (again in other variants it was hidden under the bed itself). The slave was in his cabin telling his wife of his prize when the master, along with a friend, appeared in the door of the slave’s cabin, requesting that the slave demonstrate his fine skill on the fiddle. Aware that the pig’s foot was exposed and its discovery, which appeared imminent, would cost him a whipping or worse, the slave quickly took down his fiddle and began to play and sing: Shove that pig’s foot further in the bed Further in the bed Further in the bed Shove that pig’s foot further in the bed Katie, Katie, Katie, can’t you hear me now The master and his friend watched the performance with glee while his wife Katie heard the message (hidden in plain sight) and covertly slid the pig’s leg beneath the bedsheets. At the end of the song the master exclaimed, “well, there’s a song I’ve never heard before!” and he and his friend gave the fiddler a short round of applause before making their exit. Not that Old Time Party was trying to be a scholarly research journal, but there is no documentation listed to support this story and the link for the cited source does not exist any longer. But all is not lost - The title “Push The Hog's Feet Under The Bed” is referenced in the book Negro Folk Rhymes Wise and Otherwise (collected in the early 1900’s -published in 1922) by Tennessee author Thomas Washington Talley. Unfortunately there are no other details, but it does lend a degree of support to the slave story origin. Over time, the “under the bed/covers” morphed to “closer to/further in the fire”. We do not know why but, as you know, words are changed in folk music all the time. Western North Carolina fiddler Marcus Martin is often cited as the source for the "...Closer To The Fire” title and the melody commonly played today. He said he learned it from his father, Rowan, who learned the tune while employed as a logger and rail worker. Rowan would have had to gotten it prior to the early 1880’s in order to pass it on to Marcus, who was born in 1881. A Marcus Martin version, credited to "Traditional" appeared on the “Cold Mountain” (2003) movie soundtrack, but was renamed “Ruby with the Eyes that Sparkle.” ed. - Maybe Ruby was someone's very special pig. John Hartford does a version called “Shove That Hog’s Foot Further In The Bed '' which he got from West Virginia fiddler Ed Haley (1885- 1951). On the “In Search Of Ed Haley” site, Lynn Davis , friend and Haley biographer says, “Well, I know about the hog’s foot thing. He said they went someplace to play and they didn’t have anything to eat and those boys went out and stole a hog and said they brought it in and butchered it and heard somebody coming. It was the law. They run in and put that hog in the bed and covered it up like it was somebody sleeping. And Ed was sitting there fiddling and somebody whispered to him, said, ‘Ed, that hog’s foot’s stickin’ out from under the cover there.’ So he started fiddling and singing, ‘Shove that hog’s foot further under the cover…’ He made it up as he went.” As you see, the Haley story line is remarkably similar to the slave folk tale, and his lyrics are the same ones reported by Old Time Party. Draw your own conclusions. The Haley melody is not the same as Marcus Martin's, is fairly notey, and in A modal tuning. There are no known recordings of Haley playing the tune, but we will assume that Hartford, who studied Haley extensively, plays it like the original. We will likely never know the exact origin of this tune, and that's OK. It's much more important to play it with friends and have a good time! Pig's Feet Close To The Fire Pig, With Feet, Under The Bed Pickled Pig's Feet supposedly very tasty Pig's Feet Close To The Fire 1/8 Shove The Pig's Foot a Little Further In The Fire" Marcus Martin "Shove That Pig's Foot a Little Farther Into the Fire" Fiddle Tune Forensics with Hayes Griffin “Shove That Hog’s Foot Further In The Bed '' John Hartford Ruby With The Eyes That Sparkle Stuart Duncan & Dirk Powell 00:00 / 03:24

2024 New Album Releases All available for streaming except where noted With help from The Old Time Zone radio show with Dale Brubaker ! ARTIST ALBUM Evie Ladin (with guest fiddlers) Riding The Rooster 2 George Jackson & Tristan Scroggins Old Time 100 Vol. 1 George Jackson & Brad Kolodner Shady Lane Darrol Anger & Bruce Molsky Lockdown Breakdown The Hazel Nuts Uncut Gems From Missouri Joseph Decosimo, Luke Richardson,& Cleek Schrey Beehive Cathedral Andy Cahan and Joseph Decosimo Rare Old Fiddle and Banjo Duets (Bandcamp) Late 2023 Releases Snowglobe String Band Snowglobe String Band (Bandcamp) Bosco Takaki Bosco Dram County Dram County (Bandcamp) Brendan Taafe Can’t Hold The Wheel (Bandcamp) See the 2022-23 album releases 2024 New Album Releases March From The Editor March has arrived - Did it come in like a lion ? This month's addition to the Tune History page comes from a discussion at a Laurel Theater jam regarding the Westphalia Waltz , and is dedicated to the memory of our friend and fellow musician Ron Stoner, as this was his favorite waltz. After we played this beautiful waltz, banjo Nick asked if anyone knew where the tune came from. Well, the short version is that no one knew for sure. I guessed that Westphalia was in Germany, and that's maybe where it came from. Close - but no cigar. Westphalia is indeed a region within Germany, but we will learn this month that Texas fiddler Cotton Collins (Lone Star Playboys) memorized the melody while stationed in Germany during WWII, but never knew the name. We will also discover that the Westphalia that ultimately gave this waltz its name is located not in Germany, but in Texas, near Waco. It was, however, settled by German immigrants, so now we have come almost full circle. I say almost, because the melody of this waltz has been linked by many researchers to an old and humorously risque Polish drinking song. How can you not love Old Time tune history? Festival season gears up in March with The Tommy Jarrell Celebration in Mount Airy, NC on March 1-2, and Breakin' Up Winter in Lebanon, TN on March 7-9. Next up - the 7th annual Upper East Tennessee Fiddlers Convention in Flag Pond, TN on April 25-26. More details on Festivals are on the Calendar Page. The Laurel Theater’s 56th Jubilee Festival is happening March 7,8, and 9 with a deep lineup of Old Time music. And just a heads up, local fiddle legend Mike Bryant will make a rare appearance at the Laurel with Joseph Decosimo and Reed Stutz on April 5th. This is a must see event for any serious fan of Old Time music! There’s lots more info on other shows on the Calendar Page. I added a list of 2024 Old Time album releases, with the help of The Old Time Zone Radio Show with Dale Brubaker . If you have not already done so, you should make his show part of your weekly listening! The music community was saddened to learn of the passing of Charles Jean Horner, who had been making fiddles and mandolins in the shop next to his home in the Westel community of Rockwood, TN for more than 75 years. I had the privilege of meeting him and visiting his shop on a few occasions, and am the proud owner of two of his fiddles. Learn lots more about this Tennessee legend , who made more than 500 fiddles in his lifetime. A website dedicated to him has been created, with more information coming soon. Mark February From The Editor February is home to the Washington’s Birthday/ Presidents' Day holiday and, not coincidentally, the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In 1879, a federal holiday was created to honor the first president of the United States, George Washington, on February 22nd, his birthday. However, in 1968, the US Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and changed the holiday from Washington's actual birthday to the third Monday in February. This created a 3 day weekend for federal employees, and allowed merchants to seize this time to have Presidents’ Day Sales Events, which have come to be associated with appliances, furniture, and tech items. The official federal holiday name is still Washington’s Birthday, but that reference seems to be fading in popular usage. Let’s put all this in perspective: George Washington was a soldier who became a farmer. He then gave up that life to become General of the Continental Army, and was instrumental in defeating the British in the Revolutionary War. He was so highly thought of that he was unanimously elected as our country’s first president. He was re-elected for a second term, but refused to run for a third term, and ensured the peaceful transfer of the presidency to John Adams in 1797. He then returned to his farming life. As one source aptly puts it, “Without Washington, America would never have won its war of independence; he was the catalyst of the American founding. Even more significant, he proved that republican government was not only possible but indeed noble.” “No one did more to put the United States on the path to success than Washington. No one did more to assure a government with sufficient power to function but sufficient limits to allow freedom to flourish. No one walked away from power with more dignity or did more to assure the prosperous society we enjoy today. This is why Washington and Washington alone - not Jefferson, not Madison, not Hamilton - is the father of this country.” “If Americans wish to honor George Washington, they should recall his deeds, recollect his advice, and once again call the holiday celebrating him what it is, in fact: Washington's Birthday.” I agree. While we are on the topic of presidents, you have probably noticed that there are quite a few Old Time tunes named after presidents. So, in memory of George Washington’s lost birthday holiday, let’s appreciate him by enjoying 28 “presidential fiddle tunes” - one for each day in February. Bonus leap year tune included for 2028! Mark January 2025 From The Editor HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to 2025! I bet you didn't know: *Only 15% of Americans spend New Year’s Eve at a party or public event. *45% of people ring in the New Year with friends and family, while 24% prefer to stay at home, and 3% don’t celebrate at all. *Lots of people make New Year’s resolutions. But only 31% of people stick with the promises. A whopping 81% fail by February. 43% of us do not make any resolutions at all. *Probably as a sign of our economic times, the most popular resolution for 2025 is to save money. Of course, eating healthier, exercising, and losing weight are still annual favorites. In January, a little closer to home: *Dolly Parton was born on January 19th, 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee. *On January 17th, 1864 Confederate General Longstreet fought General Sturgis in and around Dandridge in Jefferson County, forcing the Union troops to leave the area. Less than 2 months earlier, on November 29th, 1863, Longstreet was defeated at the battle of Fort Sanders in Knoxville by Union General Burnside. Music History The Music History page has a January theme, with three tunes that have dates in January as their titles. The first is “8th of January” which was originally known as “Jackson’s Victory.” This was penned to celebrate General Andrew Jackson’s defeat of a vastly superior British force at New Orleans during the War of 1812. Due to the popularity of a song written to this tune, the melody is now better known as “The Battle of New Orleans.” Then comes “9th of January” which is attributed to the playing of Missouri fiddler Bob Holt. But, we find that this is a popular variation of “8th of January” that has been around for quite a while. Then we have “28th of January,” which is attributed to the playing of Frank George from West Virginia. This tune is not related to “8th of January” at all, but is thought to be a minor key version of “Miller’s Reel.” But as it happens, an alternate title for this tune is “22nd of February,” which is Washington’s birthday. Folklorists think this was confused over the years with “Jackson’s Victory” on the 8th of January - giving us “28th of January.” Stay tuned for Presidential tunes in February! Events The pace of events picks up to start the year, with Laurel Theater appearances by Blind House, Nora Brown, Ed Snodderly, Stillhouse Junkies, Roux du Bayou, The Local Honeys, and in February, Cody Bauer and Jonathan Maness as “Fiddles and Flatpicks.” More info on the Calendar page. As a reminder, while shows are updated on the site as info becomes available, due to touring schedules and weather, please verify all events with the provided website links and/or directly with the venue. Happy New Year to everyone! Mark