Fiddlin Frank Nelson was a moniker used by the great southern fiddler, Doc Roberts. Doc was a farmer first and a musician in his spare time. Although he only played and recorded on weekends, he cut over 70 sides! “Buck Creek Gal” is an upbeat number, and you can hear how his style influenced early country music. Unpretentious and infectious, this is some pure old time instrumental hillbilly music fun.
An American music institution, The Memphis Jug Band was active from the 1920’s all the way through the late 1950’s. Their repertoire over the years encompassed a wide variety of styles – folk, ballads, blues and jazz – and of course, jug music! “Stealin’ Stealin'” was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1928, with bandleader Will Shade presiding on harmonica. A great track from the early stages of this storied band, from the vinyl 78RPM to your eardrums in hi-res mp3 format.
Gus Cannon and his Jug Stompers helped define jug music, and how the banjo was used in popular music, in the early 1900s. Derived from spiritual and early folk music, its influence is still felt today.
