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Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes Altamont The John Lusk Band from Warren County, Tennessee Read More Billy In The Low Ground Who is Billy? What is The Low Ground? Read More Bonaparte Crossing The Rhine The Most Played Old Time Tune Ever? Read More Boyne Water English Kings Battle Each Other A Ballad Is Born Read More Chinquapin Hunting What's a chinquapin? Why hunt it? Read More Duck River From The Playing Of John Salyer Read More Fine Times At Our House West Virginia Fiddler Edden Hammons Read More Going To The Free State From Virginia Fiddler John Ashby and The Free State Ramblers Read More Hangman's Reel A Popular Canadian Export Read More Knoxville Rag Richard Burnett, Byrd Moore, and Dick Taylor Read More Mountaineer's Love Song Goodbye Liza Jane Read More New Five Cents Buffalo Nickel, Ruffled Drawers, etc. Read More Sandy River North Carolina Fiddler Marcus Martin Read More Tennessee Girls John Dykes Magic City Trio from Kingsport, Tennessee Read More Anchored In Love Divine James Rowe and James Vaughan Read More Bob Taylor's March From The Playing Of Charlie Acuff Read More Booth Shot Lincoln From The Collection Of Bascom Lamar Lunsford Read More Calico Billy In The Low Ground Modern Version(s) Of A Classic From The West Coast Read More Dubuque A Midwest Favorite With Lots Of Different Names Read More East Tennessee Blues Charlie Bowman from Gray Station, Tennessee Read More Going Back To Israel A Birthday Gift From June Drucker (and nothing to do with Israel) Read More Green River March Roane County Ramblers Read More Hy Patillion Chattanooga Fiddler Jess Young Read More Mississippi Sawyer The Downfall Of Paris Read More Nail That Catfish To The Tree By Steve Rosen From The Volo Bogtrotters Read More Old Piss Sprightly March, Unfortunate Title Read More Shove The Pig’s Foot A Little Further In The Fire A Crafty Tactic To Conceal Porcine Pilferage? Read More

Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Fine Times At Our House West Virginia Fiddler Edden Hammons Editor's Note: Upon hearing that several members of our Knoxville Old Time community have recently bought or sold houses, this Edden Hammons tune came to mind. Only later did we find out that the title likely refers to a birth . So we looked again, but could not find any Old Time tunes about mortgages, escrow, inspections, etc. Go figure. However, this is a great tune and does have “house" in the title. May there be many "fine times" for all! This tune is from the playing of famed West Virginia fiddler Edden Hammonds . Musician and folklorist Alan Jabbour wrote, "This tune has turned up infrequently around the country, but its wide distribution shows it to be an old and once widely known fiddle tune." He says that the title appears to refer to a birth in the household, as reflected in a verse that has been collected with the tune from another West Virginia source: Fine times at our house, Kate’s got a little one; Bless its little soul, it’s another little pretty one. There’s quite a bit going on here musically, but don't let it intimidate you. Hammons plays the tune in the key of A in Mixolydian mode , (the 7th degree of the scale flatted). Don't roll your eyes just yet- here are some real world examples of songs in Mixolydian mode: Rock of Ages, When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, and L.A. Woman by the Doors. ​ In addition, Hammons tuned his fiddle ADAE, which is standard fiddle tuning, but with the 4th string tuned up a whole step from G to A. Although this is a common old time fiddle tuning for the key of D, its use for tunes in A is more unusual. And the doubling of notes and the featuring of a low D note gives the melody its unique character and makes it sound “old” or "archaic". Fitting, because the melody is old. Since Hammons was not formally trained, learning mostly from family members, he (like most of us) was probably not a music theory student. But he did know how to get the sound he wanted. ​ But wait- there's more! The A part is slightly crooked, with an extra beat at the end. Alternate tunings and crooked phrases are fairly common in Hammons' playing style. That is part of what makes him distinctive and interesting to listen to. Learn lots more about Edden Hammonds in the MUSIC section. EXTRA BONUS! 31 tunes from Edden Hammons courtesy of the Slippery Hill website. Edden Hammons Edden Hammons Edden Hammons Collection Volume 1 Edden Hammons 1/6 youtube.com Edden Hammons - Fine Times At Our House Edden Hammons Fine Times At Our House Fine times At Our House Rhys Jones youtube.com Fine Times At Our House - Old Time Fiddle Lesson 🎻 Support this lesson series by becoming a sustaining patron at http://Patreon.com/chancemccoymusicOr you can drop a tip here…..http://paypal.me/chancemccoy... Chance McCoy Teaches Fine Times At Our House Waynesboro Edden Hammons 00:00 / 02:36

Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Boyne Water English Kings Battle Each Other A Ballad Is Born The traditional tune (The) “Boyne Water” was suggested by Jeff and Julie from South Carolina as a good minor sounding tune with some interesting history to add to our Tune History collection. This tune is usually found in the key of G in written notation. It does, however, start and end with an A minor chord. Banjo players (and some fiddlers) may find their modal tunings fit this tune nicely. The song is very old, likely passed down originally through oral tradition as a ballad without instrumentation. The lyrics of the song reflect an account of the Battle of the Boyne (named for the Boyne River in County Meath, eastern Ireland ), fought July 1st, 1690, in which the English monarch King William III of Orange (pictured on horseback) defeated the Irish forces under King James II. It was seen as a politically and culturally divisive song, as the lyrics celebrated the defeat of the Irish Catholics by the Protestant English. Side note: King William III is also the “Billy” of “Billy In The Low Ground” fame. In the late 1600’s, written notation of the song was starting to appear, and it became very popular in the British Isles. Where the melody came from has many theories, and the same melody was adapted to dozens of other tunes over the years. Like many other popular ballads, “Boyne Water" made its way to America where the melody was again adapted to other tunes. These include the very well known ballad “Barbara Allen” as well as an 1815 hit minstrel song called "Back Side of Albany." The anti-Irish Catholic origins of the song also followed it to America. Musicologist Samuel Bayard wrote that Pennsylvania fifers declined to play the tune for him at gatherings, fearing to destroy the harmony of the group with "political pieces." This is just a brief introductory history of “Boyne Water.” There is a great deal of information regarding the lyrics, the melody, and other tunes that use the same melody. Start your exploration with the Traditional Tune Archive page - then go from there. For more perspective on the battle and politics of the Battle of the Boyne, start with the Britannica website, then check out the National Army Museum in London’s page. For some excellent photos of the battle setting, visit Heritage Ireland . Below is a video from Tatiana Hargreaves and Allison DeGroot performing “Boyne Water” from a 2019 show. Their version is likely to be very close to what would be heard at a Festival or jam. The other video is a more traditional take from Open The Door for Three from their 2017 “The Joyful Hour” album. The mp3 player features a very nice clawhammer rendition of Boyne Water by Jack Bunch from his 2019 release "Not A Flower On Dogwood Flats: The Music Of Jack Bunch & Laurel County" (Kentucky). The Battle Of The Boyne The Battle of the Boyne is a 1778 historical painting by the Anglo-American artist Benjamin West. It portrays the Battle of the Boyne which took place in Ireland in 1690. King William III of Orange on his white horse is depicted. King James II circa 1865 King of England, Scotland & Ireland Jack Bunch Not A Flower On Dogwood Flats: The Music Of Jack Bunch & Laurel County. A collection of 15 field recordings made by the late great multi-instrumentalist in Kentucky, Jack Bunch. Recorded at his home in London, Kentucky between 2017 and 2019. The Battle Of The Boyne The Battle of the Boyne is a 1778 historical painting by the Anglo-American artist Benjamin West. It portrays the Battle of the Boyne which took place in Ireland in 1690. King William III of Orange on his white horse is depicted. 1/5 Boyne Water Open The Door For Three The Joyful Hour (2017) Boyne Water Allison DeGroot & Tatiana Hargreaves 2019 Exploring the Battle Of The Boyne Visitor's Center Boyne Water Jack Bunch 00:00 / 03:03

Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Chinquapin Hunting What's a chinquapin? Why hunt it? What is a Chinquapin? Chinquapin, or "chinkapin," is a cousin of the American chestnut also known as a dwarf chestnut. The name comes from the eastern-dwelling Algonquian Indian language. There are several varieties, and chinquapin trees are known as far west as Texas. In East Tennessee and Western North Carolina the principal chinquapin tree is the genus Castanea, species pumila. Small and shrublike, and often with several trunks, a chinquapin seldom grows above 20 to 30 feet in height. The wood of chestnuts and chinquapins is extremely rot resistant and has been used in making railroad ties and posts and rails for fences. Why would you hunt it? Chinquapin husks contain a single kernel that, when ripe in the fall, produces a tasty nut for humans as well as animals. Chinquapin nuts were so plentiful that they were scooped up with shovels and loaded into wagons to be used as livestock feed, to eat, and to sell. According to the Encyclopedia of North Carolina, “...in the early 1950s it was possible to buy a bag of chinquapins at roadside stands in hilly, rural North Carolina counties such as Stokes and Surry. The bag was approximately the same size as a bag of peanuts sold at a ball game and usually cost a nickel.” I've never seen a Chinquapin tree or nut. What happened? The arrival of chestnut blight, a fungal pathogen from Asia which was introduced to the United States on imported chestnut trees during the late 1800’s, caused the steady decline of this species, as well as the disappearance of most all native chestnut family trees. There are many groups currently working on the breeding of blight resistant varieties of the chestnut family trees, including the Chinquapin. The Tune(s) There are four Chinquapins you should be familiar with. They are all completely different tunes. Chinquapin Hunting. This is a 3 part tune in the key of A, associated with the playing of Hillsville, Virginia (near Galax) fiddler Norman Edmonds (1889-1976). His version is the one that you will most likely encounter at a jam or Festival. The modern version's B and C parts differ slightly from Edmonds’ original, likely a result of “Festivalization” over the years. Listen to Norman Edmonds play Chinquapin Hunting . Watch Rachel Eddy and friends play the tune at a 2013 Clifftop jam . Bruce Molsky and friends are in the video below. Chinquapin Hunting. This is a 2 part D tune from the playing of Hiram Stamper (1893-1992), which was passed down to his son, Art Stamper (1933-2005), both from Hindman, Knott County in Eastern Kentucky. There is not much information on the history of the tune, but Hiram Stamper said he thought it was at least as old as the Civil War. Hiram Stamper’s version has a very old/archaic alternate tuning sound to it, with simple A and B parts. Listen to Hiram Stamper’s version . Art Stamper’s “Lost Fiddler” album (1982) has a fast studio version. Listen to Art Stamper’s 1982 recorded version . Modern Festival/jam versions seem to be generally close to Art Stamper’s album version. Watch Art Stamper play at a Clifftop jam (Video also below). Recorded in 2003, it is interesting that this Chinquapin Hunting sounds closer to his father’s version than Art’s 1982 album version. Also interesting- Art Stamper and John Herrmann play a GDGD tuned version . Chinquapin/ Chinky Pin . This is a two part tune from the playing of West Virginia fiddler Clark Kessinger (1896-1975). He and his brother were successful recording artists for Columbia records in the 1920’s. Clark was rediscovered in the early 1960’s, going on to win fiddle contests and record several albums. His last album was recorded in 1971 with plans for more, but a stroke robbed him of his ability to play the fiddle for the remainder of his life. The Kessinger melody comes from the British Isles, specifically a traditional fiddle and bagpipe piece, "My Love She's But a Lassie Yet." Published in 1756, “Miss Farquarson’s Reel,” also has the same melody. Kessinger plays this extremely notey tune at an incredibly fast pace in the key of D in his recorded version. Listen to Kessinger play it here. The title appears as “Chinky Pin” instead of "Chinquapin'' on the record label supposedly due to a Brunswick record clerk’s error. The Festival version popular now is recognizable as a descendant, but more moderately paced, much less notey, and easily settles into a first class Old Time groove. Watch Rhys Jones and friends play it at a 2013 Clifftop jam with fiddles cross tuned in A. (Video also below) Chinquapin Pie. This is a modal banjo tune from Hobart Smith (1897-1965) of Saltville, Virginia. Smith’s playing at the White Top Folk Festival in Grayson County, VA in 1936 attracted the attention of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who invited him to play at the White House. This led to recognition from folklorists and musicologists, notably Alan Lomax, for whom Smith recorded 40 tracks. He made several albums over the years and enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the 1960’s folk music revival. Listen to Hobart Smith playing Chinquapin Pie from his 1964 Smithsonian Folkways recording. Also in the mp3 below, it appears to be in an A modal tuning. Watch David Bragger’s instructional video on how to play Chinquapin Pie. David plays it in G modal tuning. Chinquapin Nuts Chinquapin Castenea pumila aka Dwarf Chestnut Hobart Smith Chinquapin Nuts 1/7 Chinquapin Hunting Bruce Molsky 3 Parts, Key of A, from the playing of Norman Edmonds Chinquapin Hunting Art Stamper 2 Parts, Key of D Chinky Pin/Chinquapin Rhys Jones and Friends 2 Parts, Key of A, modern take of Clark Kessinger's version Chinquapin Pie Hobart Smith 00:00 / 01:54

Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Tennessee Girls John Dykes Magic City Trio from Kingsport, Tennessee John R. Dykes (1868-1938) gave up his main occupation of coal mining in the mid 1920’s and moved to the new city of Kingsport, Tennessee. The town was nicknamed “Magic City'' because it had grown so quickly and was being built as a “model city” by the owner of the Clinchfield Railroad. Editor's note: There is quite a bit of information online about Kingsport being the “Model City”, but official/press references to “Magic City” were not readily available. Maybe only in local archives or lore? Kingsport people, let me know. ​ Dykes was invited to New York in 1927 to make records for the Brunswick label after he and banjo player Dock Boggs were chosen from over 800 other musicians who auditioned for Brunswick talent scouts at the Norton Hotel in Norton, VA. Dykes, autoharp player Myrtle Vermillion , and guitar player G. H. “Hub” Mahaffey made up “Dykes Magic City Trio”, and ended up recording 14 sides for Brunswick. Boggs is also credited in some of the recordings. Tennessee Girls can be found on Brunswick 120 B, which was recorded on March 27, 1927. The A side is Cotton Eyed Joe. These fiddle tunes were clearly aimed at the dance crowd; Hub Mahaffey's "vocal effects" on Tennessee Girls are dance calls. Researcher Charles Wolfe’s liner notes from Old Homestead Records 1987 release “Dykes Magic City Trio – String Band Classics - Volume I” are a great resource to learn more about the band. As one video commenter rightly observed, “(The Trio) are one of those groups that you don't hear too much about but really deserve more attention.” John Dykes is influencing fiddlers still today. Here is Fiddler Brad Leftwich on John Dykes from The Birthplace of Country Music's "The Root Of It" series. ​ For a detailed source of information on Appalachian fiddlers and their music, including Charlie Bowman and John Dykes, the Mel Bay publication “Appalachian Fiddle Music” is highly recommended. Written by Drew Beisswenger, Scott Prouty, and Roy Andrade, Director of Old Time at ETSU’s Department of Appalachian Studies, Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music. John Dykes Magic City Trio Brunswick 120 B Tennessee Girls 1927 Homestead Records Liner Notes John Dykes Magic City Trio 1/5 youtube.com Dykes' Magic City Trio Tennessee Girls (1927) I do not own the copyright to this recording. This video is for historical and educational purposes only. G.H. "Hub" Mahaffey:Guitar & CallsJohn Dykes:Fiddle... John Dykes Magic City Trio Tennessee Girls 1927 Foghorn Stringband Tennessee Girls Merlefest 2016 Golden Slippers Dykes Magic City Trio 00:00 / 03:01

Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Dubuque A Midwest Favorite With Lots Of Different Names The reel "Dubuque," or "Old Dubuque," is a representative of a large tune family that began in the Midwest, although it is now routinely found in other regions. There are numerous (!) variants and titles, but most have the same general feel and the characteristic first few measures of the first strain. The earliest known sound recording of the melody is by William B. Houchens (1923), under the title "Bob Walker." The Mississippi River city of Dubuque, Iowa , takes its name from Sieur Julien Dubuque (who some say was a fiddler), a French-Canadian who was one of the first white men to settle the area, which at that time was under the control of the Fox tribe of Native Americans and the Spanish monarchy. If you want a deeper dive into the history of the fiddle tune: https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Dubuque One of the criticisms we have all heard about Old Time music is that "All the tunes sound alike". This type of remark might come from a normally patient spouse who has endured a partner learning banjo and fiddle from scratch. Emphasis on the scratch. But as we all know, once familiar with the tunes, they are mostly identifiable and distinct. That being said, Dubuque and Duck River (from the playing of Kentucky fiddler John Salyer ) actually do sound a lot alike - enough to where you probably wouldn't play them back to back in a jam setting. Are they two distinct tunes - or variants of each other? Remember that Dubuque, Iowa and Magoffin County, Kentucky are quite a distance apart. Listen and decide for yourself. Dubuque, Iowa 1872 "Bob Walker" 1923 Gennett 5516-A by William B. Houchens Julien Dubuque Dubuque, Iowa 1872 1/4 Dan Levinson plays Dubuque in a small jam setting Dubuque A Fiddle Tune for String Orchestra Paul Hemmer 00:00 / 01:58

Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Bob Taylor's March From The Playing Of Charlie Acuff The Taylor Brothers Robert (1850-1912) and Alfred (1848-1931) Taylor were brothers from Happy Valley (near Elizabethton), Carter County, Tennessee. Their family members were some of the earliest settlers in the area (mid 1700’s) , and were very active politically. Alfred “Alf” Taylor, a Republican, continued the family political tradition by running for Congress in 1878, but lost in the primary election despite being favored to win. The resulting unrest inside the Republican Party enabled his brother Robert Love “Bob” Taylor, a Democrat, to surface as the Democratic candidate for Congress. Many of Alf’s Republican supporters crossed party lines to back his brother Bob for Congress, who won in a narrow victory. It was a one term stay though, and after losing re-election to Congress twice, Bob Taylor obtained an appointment as Federal Pension Agent in Knoxville. Taylor vs. Taylor In 1886, the Tennessee Republican party nominated Alf Taylor for Governor. The Democrats responded by nominating Bob Taylor for the same office. The resulting campaign between the two brothers came to be known as the “War Of The Roses”, with Alf’s supporters wearing a white rose on their lapels, and Bob’s camp wearing red. The incredibly popular brothers, both of them talented speakers and fiddlers, campaigned together across the state. Enormous crowds were entertained with their friendly rivalry, folksy wit, and rousing fiddle tunes. Bob won the election and became Governor, serving two terms 1887-1891, and a third term from 1897-1899. Alf went on to serve three terms in Congress from 1889-1895. He was also elected to the US Senate, serving from 1907-1912, and he himself was elected Governor of Tennessee in 1920. For more on Bob Taylor, please see this excellent article from political historian Ray Hill. For more on Alf Taylor, visit Tennessee Encyclopedia . The Tune While on the campaign trail in 1886, one of Bob Taylor’s (aka “Fiddlin’ Bob Taylor”) fiddle tunes became extremely popular. East Tennessee fiddler Charlie Acuff, the source of this tune, said he learned it from his grandfather. In a Tennessee Folklore Society’s video interview (below) , Charlie said that the tune’s original name was “The Screakin’ Old Fiddle,” but came to be called simply “Bob Taylor’s March.” This became one of Charlie’s most recognized and requested tunes. Surprisingly, very few other artists have recorded it. Charlie plays it in the key of D, and interestingly, this “march” is played in 3/4 (or 6/8) time with a clear waltz feel. Diane O’Brien, who played with Charlie for several years at the Museum of Appalachia, has a transcription for us in her 1996 book, “Fiddle Tunes Of Charlie Acuff”. (in the photo slider section below). The center video is from Dave Cannon, who met Charlie at one of John Hartford’s Christmas parties (“that lasted for about 6 weeks”) , where he sat down next to Charlie and began to play banjo. “You’re an old-time banjo player,” Charlie said. “You stay right here.” Dave eventually persuaded John Hatton to produce a CD for Charlie called “Better Times A Comin'” on which Dave played banjo. The mp3 file is a nice clawhammer banjo version from Josh Turknett. For lots more on Charlie Acuff, visit our MUSIC page. Robert Love Taylor Alfred Alexander Taylor Charlie Acuff's Better Times A Comin' album cover (2000) Robert Love Taylor 1/13 Charlie Acuff introducing and playing "Bob Taylor's March" Tennessee Folklore Society DVD (1997) Starts at 26:44 "Bob Taylor's March" From the album "Ahh You Done Good" Dave Cannon Playing the Music of Charlie Acuff and a Little More (2013) Charlie Acuff playing "Bob Taylor's March" after receiving the 2005 Tennessee Governor's Folklife Heritage Award Bob Taylor's March Josh Turknett 00:00 / 02:22

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

Music Exploring Old Time Recordings and Artists < Back To List David Bragger Old Time Tiki Parlour Big Fancy (2016) David Bragger first came to my attention via his 2016 solo album "Big Fancy" . Not recalling exactly how I found the album, but I do remember that I bought it immediately - and it is still one of my favorite records. There are 21 tracks described as "...golden old-time classics and rarities". The selection of tunes includes combinations of tunings and instrumentation ( including bagpipes, pump organ) that sound both old and new at the same time. However you choose to describe it-it works! David also released an album of fiddle duets in 2018 with Susan Platz called "King's Lament" . Old Time Central has a great interview and video on the making of this album. Fiddle duets doesn't mean Texas twin fiddling or bluegrassy double stops in this case- think two Old Time fiddlers playing in harmony, locked in as one unit. Good stuff. Below is "Davy Come Back And Act Like You Ought To" from the playing of West Virginia fiddler Delbert Hughes to get you started with the Big Fancy album. The title track from "King's Lament" is from the playing of Illinois fiddler Mel Durham. ​ Old Time Tiki Parlour ​ In 2014, David Bragger and partner Rick Hocutt started the independent record label Tiki Parlour Recordings, and The Old Time Tiki Parlour which, in their words, "... has served as the concert, workshop, jam, film and instructional epicenter for traditional old-time music around Los Angeles and beyond." Teaching classes in the ethnomusicology department at UCLA in old-time string band music, and coordinating the Santa Barbara Old-Time Fiddler’s Convention & Festival are also on the list. If you are looking for videos, instruction, or music to add to your own collection, Tiki Parlour has become a valuable resource for hard core traditional music. Their 2015 release of a CD/DVD set featuring Dan Gellert started them on their way. A sampling of artists in the Tiki Parlour catalogue now include Bruce Molsky , Hog Eyed Man , Squirrel Butter , Spencer and Rains , Paul Brown , and Kurt Sutphin . Tiki Parlour is west coast based, but, as we know, Old Time music has no boundaries. We have a local connection via another artist in their catalogue - our own Mike Bryant, who made an album of Old Time fiddle tunes with banjoist Paul Brown. David Bragger Big Fancy King's Lament back cover David Bragger 1/5 Peter Francisco David Bragger 00:00 / 02:11

Music Exploring Old Time Recordings and Artists < Back To List John Ashby The Free State Ramblers John Chilton Ashby (1915-1979, is one of the best-known fiddlers from Fauquier County, in northeast Virginia. He started playing fiddle when he was 11 years old, and had the advantage of learning from many family members, as the Ashby family boasts a musical heritage that dates back to well before the Civil War. Early Fauquier County history reveals that “The Ashby Boys” were playing for dances in the 1840-50’s. Some of the tunes that Ashby learned from his musical influences, and contained in his albums, include “Johnny Don’t Get Drunk,” “Rattlesnake Bit The Baby,” and the “Free State Hornpipe.” Ashby himself is credited with composing “Ashby’s Breakdown,” “Going to the Free State,” and the “Fauquier County Hornpipe.” John Ashby was known as a powerful and rhythmic long - bow fiddler. He considered rhythm and timing to be everything. So much so, that his son Skip remarked that he preferred his musicians to stay on the same chord and keep time rather than to change chords and lose the timing! Beginning in 1930, Ashby began playing in a group with his brother and a neighbor, and by 1937, the group became known as the Free State Ramblers. The Free State Ramblers gained an excellent reputation in the 1940s, winning competitions at multiple fiddlers’ conventions, playing for radio shows, and winning a national band contest in Cleveland, Ohio in 1946. In the late 40s, The Free State Ramblers opened many times for Patsy Cline and shared the same booking agent. During the early 1950s the band added Everett Ashby on electric steel guitar, influenced by the steel guitar craze in that period, and they played country and bluegrass mixed in with the Old Time fiddling tunes. Ashby’s son, Skip began playing in the band in the mid-50’s, and continues the tradition to the present day. Even with their success, Ashby still needed a “day job” to make ends meet, so he worked as a farmer and skilled carpenter. The Free state Ramblers took their name from the "Free State" of Fauquier County, Virginia (home of the Ashby family). It refers to an area of roughly 12 square miles located north and west of Warrenton that was known for its residents' defiance of authority and lawlessness dating back to colonial times. Disputes over property rights led residents to ignore rent and tax payments as they claimed ownership of the land they lived on. They declared themselves independent of the U.S. and even named a King. John Ashby’s uncle Charlie was King of the Free State in the late 19th century. Over the generations, stories were passed down about violence, fighting, bootleg liquor production, and tax avoidance in the Free State area. ( ed. note: Reads kind of like the early history of East Tennessee , doesn’t it?) In the 1970s, John made three albums. “John Ashby and The Free State Ramblers, Old Virginia Fiddling” was released in 1970 (County 727); “Down on Ashby’s Farm, Fine Old Fiddle Tunes” was released in 1974 (County 745); and the third album “John Ashby and the Free State Ramblers, Fiddling by the Hearth” was released in 1979 (County 773). In 2015 the Field Recorders Collective released an album (FRC108) of recordings made at a New York City concert in April, 1972. Toward the end of his life John received national recognition. In 1978 he won first place for old-time fiddler and best all-around performer at the Galax (VA) Old time Fiddlers Convention. He was also invited to play at the White House by President Jimmy Carter, but unfortunately had a heart attack and was not able to go. His niece described him as mild mannered, with a good sense of humor. She also said, “It was always so stunning to me, how very talented he was, and how much he was so low key about it! He would always take the time to help a young fiddler, if he was asked”. John Chilton Ashby (1915-1979 John Ashby Skip Ashby John Ashby's son, carrying on the tradition John Chilton Ashby (1915-1979 1/10 "Sugar In The Gourd" John Ashby and the Free State Ramblers John Ashby and the Free State Ramblers Video by The Daughter of the Stars Theater and Cultural Center "Snow Shoes" John Ashby and the Free State Ramblers Going To The Free State John Ashby and the Free State Ramblers 00:00 / 01:45

Music Exploring Old Time Recordings and Artists < Back To List Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band Debut (2008) Chance McCoy has made one solo album to date, and it sure is a good one. Around 2007, Chance had basically given up on a music career, deciding to become a carpenter. His dad convinced him to give it one more try and gave him the money for the recording session. Chance then sold the album out of the trunk of his car and during his (3 day) “world” tour. Unfortunately, not much happened with either the album or Chance's music career until a 2011 phone call from Sketch Secor , leader of the (somewhat popular !) string band Old Crow Medicine Show. Chance was invited to join the band, replacing Willie Watson . It's a good thing that call didn't go to voice mail, as a Grammy Award and induction into the Grand Ole Opry followed. Editor's Note: Only one potential downside can be seen regarding this good fortune - the countless times playing “Wagon Wheel”. There could have been only one thing worse. It could have been “Rocky Top”. With the “Wooo” At the same time, more and more Old Time players were discovering the solo album, consisting of 19 tracks of Old Time tunes, recorded live around one mic. You will probably recognize most, if not all of them, as Chance’s versions have become almost “standards”. The Appalachian String Band was made up of Adam Hurt-banjo, Danny Knicely-guitar, Mark Hellenberg-banjo uke, Ralph Gordon-bass, Aimee Curl, harmony vocals, and Matthew Olwell-flatfooting. Here is an excellent 2018 interview with Chance, including video, from The Bluegrass Situation. Chance McCoy on stage Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band back cover Chance McCoy on stage 1/3 Dance All Night With A Bottle In Your Hand The Appalachian String Band Twin Sisters Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band 00:00 / 02:50

Tune History The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes < Back To List Duck River From The Playing Of John Salyer Taken from the playing of Eastern Kentucky fiddler John Salyer (1882-1952), Duck River and many other tunes were recorded by his sons in 1941-42 on a portable disc cutting machine. Thank goodness for the recordings done by Salyer's sons, because they are the only recordings that exist. In 1933 Salyer, while working with his horse in the fields, was approached by a record company scout to make commercial recordings. After hearing their pitch, he reportedly said "Get up Kate; we can make more money plowing than making records!" Interesting to note how little has changed in the relationship between musicians and record companies. It is unknown if Salyer first heard the melody somewhere or wrote it himself, but as with a lot of Old Time tunes, the person who named/renamed it, recorded/registered it first gets the credit for it being "their" tune. Dubuque and Duck River sound a lot alike - enough to where you probably wouldn't play them back to back in a jam setting. (Having said that, below is a solo clawhammer banjo slow medley of the two tunes that works well.) Are they two distinct tunes - or variants of each other? Remember that Dubuque, Iowa and Magoffin County, Kentucky are quite a distance apart. Historically, geographic distance was a major factor in tune sharing. But it only takes one traveling fiddler to change that! As always, listen and decide for yourself. Berea College sells a 2 volume CD set of Salyer recordings taken from the original discs. You can also listen to all the Salyer recordings on the Digital Library of Appalachia website. By the way, the Duck River is the longest river located entirely within the state of Tennessee. Learn more about John Morgan Salyer in the MUSIC section. John Salyer John Salyer approx. 1901-1904 Phillipines-WW1 Salyer cassette liner notes 4 John Salyer 1/9 Matt Brown Plays Duck River Duck River - Old Dubuque Clawhammer Banjo Medley Duck River John Salyer 00:00 / 01:37