|
 The Steel Guitar Forum
 Music
 The FIRST country record!
|
| next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: The FIRST country record! |
|
Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 01 January 2000 06:50 PM
profile
While listening to the radio today, I heard that the FIRST country song recorded was a fiddle tune recorded in Texas in 1922 by a "F. Samuels". This was a syndicated show (Country Countdown), so I assume it has been researched, and verified some way. So I guess Country Music is "officially" 78 years old! |
|
Gregg Galbraith Member From: Goodlettsville,Tn.,USA |
posted 01 January 2000 09:32 PM
profile
Donny, I haven't been able to verify any release-dates via "All Music Guide", but I've always heard that the first country artist was Vernon Dalhart, and that among his hits were "The Prisoner's Song" and "Wreck of the Old 97" You might want to check out his discography and see if these tunes were recorded prior to 1922. |
|
Perry Hansen Member From: Bismarck, N.D. |
posted 02 January 2000 04:33 AM
profile
Gregg, I think you're right. I have some Vern Dalhart cyclinders that my Grandmother gave me that dates way back there. They are in storage now, so I can't get the exact dates. Perry |
|
Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 04 January 2000 09:36 PM
profile
I think Vernon Dalhart originally recorded as a opera singer and tried doing tin pan alley stuff before trying country. You could call him the first Citybilly or if you likeurban country performer. Another fiddler Eck Robertson had sides out in 1923. ------------------ |
|
BJ Bailey Member From: Jackson Ms,Hinds |
posted 04 January 2000 09:53 PM
profile
When did Jimmy Rogers come in to the music world ? I thought he was named the father of country music ------------------ |
|
Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 05 January 2000 09:52 AM
profile
Well, for anyone that's interested, I did some research and came up with the following information. Probably the first country musician to record was Fiddling Bob Haines. He recorded "Arkansas Traveler" on a cylinder about 1908. The first country musicians on a record (disk records were developed about 1921) were Eck Robinson and Henry Gilleland. They recorded some fiddle tunes in 1922. However, the first really popular country record was "The Hen Cackled", by Fiddling John Carson, released a year later. Vernon Dalhart first recorded light opera and popular music in 1916, but he switched to "Hillbilly" in 1924 to boost his fading popularity. He was very influential in Country Music from 1925-1931, and he worked for many years afterward (until the late '50s) with songwriter Carson Robison. By the way, Frank Ferara who played on some recordings with Dalhart, claimed to have introduced the Hawaiian guitar to Country Music. Frank came to the U.S. from Hawaii about 1901. About the same time (1924), Cliff and Bill Carlisle were recording Country and Hawaiian songs. The Carlisle's were popular through the '40s. The overnight success, Jimmie Rodgers, first recorded in 1927. And in 1926, the original Carter Family group was formed. They recorded hundreds of records from 1927-1944. (This information condensed from "The Country Music Story", copyright 1966, by Shelton and Goldblatt) |
|
Kenny Dail Member From: Kinston, N.C. 28504 |
posted 05 January 2000 10:24 PM
profile
Donny, here is another item of interest for your topic. Bill and Cliff Carlisle recorded as a Brother act, as you previously stated, and Cliff was the Dobro/Hawaiian/Steel player on the Jimmy Rogers' sessions. ------------------ |
|
Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 06 January 2000 01:48 PM
profile
Right Kenny, I should have said "Carlisle Brothers", instead of "The Carlisles". Cliff Carlisle started recording in 1924, but Brother Bill didn't join him until 1930. In exchange for playing steel on a lot of Jimmie Rodgers' stuff, Jimmie taught him how to yodel. Cliff was one of the first in many categories. Before 1924, he worked a duo with Wilbur Ball, playing the then popular Hawaiian music, and the two were know as "The Lullaby Larkers". Cliff retired in 1947...he had done it all! |
|
Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 26 February 2000 04:38 PM
profile
(bumped up for a friend!) |
|
Mike Auldridge Member From: Silver Spring, MD |
posted 26 February 2000 07:17 PM
profile
Although several guys played steel on Jimmie Rodgers recordings, my uncle, Ellsworth T. Cozzens (my mother's brother), was the first. He recorded on Rodgers' first Victor sessions in February of 1927. I'm not sure if this is really accurate or not, but since all of the early country recordings featured one artist or a band, I've always bragged that my uncle was the first "session steel player" in country music. It sounds cool, anyway. ------------------ |
|
Marty Pollard Member From: a confidential source |
posted 26 February 2000 11:34 PM
profile
Wow, I get to post after THE Mike Auldridge! I thought 'All around the water tower, waitin' for a train' was the first biggie. ------------------ |
|
Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 27 February 2000 07:07 AM
profile
The late Sam McGee, old timey guitarist with McGee Brothers and many others has laid claim to be the first amplified guitarist on the Opry, he stated that in 1926 he played an amplified steel on the show, only for a song or two though. This has been questioned by some pickers and historians though. Interesting bit of trivia, Sam did not like bluegrass at all, in a 1970's interview he likened it to 'Crabgrass'....ow! ------------------ |
|
Terry Huval Member From: Scott, Louisiana |
posted 27 February 2000 07:45 AM
profile
Is the Bill Carlisle in Cliff and Bill Carlisle, the same Bill Carlisle who is still performing on the Opry? |
|
Janice Brooks Moderator From: Pleasant Gap Pa |
posted 27 February 2000 09:18 AM
profile
I think the answer might be further up the thread but it is the same Bill Carlisle. ------------------ |
|
Ric Nelson Member From: Silver Spring, Maryland |
posted 28 February 2000 06:30 AM
profile
Seems to me that Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman recorded "The Sinking of the Titanic" in 1924, Bristol, VA. |
|
Jerry Hayes Member From: Virginia Beach, Va. |
posted 28 February 2000 01:39 PM
profile
Hey BJ, I think you're right, Jimmie Rodgers is called the father of country music. But if my memory serves me correctly he first recorded with Ralph Peer around 1927. I believe Vernon Dalhart's stuff was before that. Jimmy R. had some diverse background music on his songs. Louis Armstrong even recorded with him. I believe he died in 1933 from Tuberculosis. I've heard that Kenny Dail did a session or two with Jimmy R. and Sleepy John carried his gear for him to the studio! ------------------ [This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 28 February 2000 at 01:40 PM.] |
All times are Pacific (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
 |
|
Contact Us | The Pedal Steel Pages
Note: Messages not explicitly copyrighted are in the Public Domain.
Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com © 2000
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46