Across the Blue Ridge #47 - A great and overlooked fiddler and the harmonica in old time music

Tommy Jackson established the Nashville studio session fiddle style with his long bow, fluid double stops, and virtuosic fingering.  But he died in his 50s in 1979 nearly forgotten – because of his success.  So many other musicians copied him and fought for studio work that Jackson, perhaps overexposed, found it hard by the 1970s to get studio work of his own.  This week we hear some of his music, including great square dance tunes, and come to understand how many people he influenced.  Also on the show, some wonderful heart songs, and a consideration of the harmonica in old time music, from blues to dance tunes to ballads. 

Episode 47 Playlist

1. Crazy Creek
   Tommy Jackson
   Square Dance Tonight
    
2. Tomahawk
   Tommy Jackson
   Square Dance Tonight
    
3. Tomahawk
   Ward Jarvis
   Ward Jarvis
    
4. Icy Mountain
   Ward Jarvis
   Ward Jarvis
    
5. Willow Tree
   Riley Baugus
   Long Steel Rail
    
6. Long Time Gone
   Dixie Chicks
   Home
    
7. Break 1
   Cider
   Riley Baugus
   Life Of Riley
    
8. Waynesboro
   Chance McCoy 
   Chance McCoy & The Appalachian String Band
    
9. Sunny Side of Life
   Strange Creek Singers
   The Strange Creek Singers
    
10. I Heard The Bluebirds Sing
    Beverly Smith & John Grimm
    The Sound Of The Whip-Poor-Whill
     
11. Stepstones
    Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin
    Blue Lightning
     
12. Carolina Hornpipe
    Tim Smith
    Straight From The Heart
     
13. The White Dove
    Ralph Stanley & Porter Wagoner
    Clinch Mountain Country Vol. 2
     
14. Fisher's Hornpipe
    Bob Carlin & Kirk Sutphin
    The Boys From North Carolina
     
15. Break 2
    Big Foot
    Rafe & Clelia Stefanini
    Never Seen the Like
     
16. Brownsville Blues
    John Cephas & Phil Wiggins
    Masters Of The Piedmont Blues
     
17. Low Down Blues
    Neal Pattman
    Classic Harmonica Blues
     
18. Barbara Allen Blues
    Roscoe Holcomb
    Classic Harmonica Blues
     
19. Cripple Creek
    George Pegram & Walter Parham
    Good Old Mountain Dew
     
20. Mule Team
    Garry Harrison
    Red Prairie Dawn