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 who is "Daddy Claxton?"
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| Author | Topic: who is "Daddy Claxton?" |
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daynawills Member From: Sacramento, CA |
posted 24 July 2006 02:36 PM
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In the song, Wabash cannonball. ------------------ |
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Petr Vitous Member From: Czech Republic |
posted 24 July 2006 02:49 PM
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"The Wabash Cannonball" first became a hit in 1938 for Roy Acuff (Vocalion 4466) — the follow-up to another of his best-known tunes, "The Great Speckle Bird." As originally written, with several additional verses, Daddy Claxton is the engineer of the Wabash Cannonball. Still, we know of no authenticated, real-life events involving anyone named Claxton and any train named Cannonball. Coincidence or not, Roy Acuff's middle name is Claxton and some historians believe that is why the name is respectfully included in "The Wabash Cannonball." Those who disagree contend that a man named Claxton was a friend of the Acuff clan, and that is where Roy's middle name came from. If so, there would be no connection to the fictional use of the name in the song. |
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Roy Ayres Member From: Starke, Florida, USA |
posted 24 July 2006 02:53 PM
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Dayna, Roy Acuff's middle name was "Claxton." "Daddy Claxton" was rumored to be the mythical engineer of the mythical Wabash Cannon Ball. (The Wabash Railroad Company later named one of its trains "The Wabash Cannonball" but up until that time, the train existed only in the song) Edited to say. Petr, that you posted while I was typing. ------------------ Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com [This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 24 July 2006 at 02:56 PM.] |
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Janice Brooks Moderator From: Pleasant Gap Pa |
posted 24 July 2006 03:06 PM
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A few years ago someone asked in trivia about Roy's middle name. I said Claxton as a guess. |
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Alvin Blaine Member From: Sandy Valley, Nevada, USA |
posted 24 July 2006 03:15 PM
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The song goes back to the 1800's, some version have it as 'Danny Clayton' or 'Daddy Clayton' or 'Boston Blackie' instead of 'Daddy Claxton'. More than likely Acuff changed that line because of his name. On the Carter Family version, recorded years before Mr. Acuff's, they sang it Daddy Clayton. Earlier version have it as Danny Clayton or Boston Blackie, both well know hobo's in the late 19th century. The song is thought to have been originally penned by a hobo, so I can understand him wanting to pay homage to a fellow train traveler. |
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Ron Page Member From: Cincinnati, OH USA |
posted 25 July 2006 08:57 AM
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Petr, I could not help but be impressed by your historical knowledge of country music. That's quite a web site you have. Nice work! Ron ------------------ |
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