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Across the Blue Ridge #46 - Early Grand Ole Opry Fiddlers Influence Today’s Players

by Paul Brown

Brothers Sam (l.) and Kirk (r.) McGee with Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, early stars of the Grand Ole Opry whose music continues to influence roots music players today. Grand Ole Opry

This week's Across the Blue Ridge gives us a sense of the continuity of an important southern American fiddling tradition.  Host Paul Brown traces the influence of Fiddlin' Arthur Smith and the McGee Brothers, early Grand Ole Opry stars, on fiddlers of later generations.  Along the way, we hear great fiddling from John Dykes, Chubby Wise, Ralph Blizard, Benton Flippen and Andy Edmonds.  Also on this week's show, samples of some great new recordings from Courtney Granger; Joe K. Walsh; Zoe & Cloyd; Arnie Naiman; and Gillian Welch. 

Episode 46 Playlist

  1. Billy In The Lowground
    Sam & Kirk McGee
    Live 1955-67
     
  2. Milk 'Em In The Morning Blues
    Sam & Kirk McGee
    Live 1955-67
     
  3. Cheatham County Breakdown
    Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners
    Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners
     
  4. What Does The Deep Sea Say?
    Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers
    Southern Ramble
     
  5. Lost Indian
    Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers
    Southern Ramble
     
  6. Tennessee Girls
    Dykes' Magic City Trio
    78 RPM disc
     
  7. Break 1 - Bonaparte's Retreat
    Mac Benford
    Half Past Four
     
  8. Pretty Little Girl
    Benton Flippen & The Smokey Valley Boys
    Benton Flippen Old Time New Times
     
  9. More Pretty Girls Than One
    Benton Flippen & The Smokey Valley Boys
    Benton Flippen Old Time New Times
     
  10. House Of David Blues
    Andy Edmonds
    Me And My Fiddle
     
  11. Dark Hollow
    Buckstankle Boys
    Round Peak Home
     
  12. Stone's Rag
    Chubby Wise
    An American Original
     
  13. Break 2 - That There Boogie
    Karen Collins & The Backroads Band 
    No Yodeling On The Radio
     
  14. Lovin' On Backstreets
    Courtney Granger
    Beneath Still Waters
     
  15. Never More Will Roam
    Joe K. Walsh
    Borderland
     
  16. South River Dam
    Arnie Naiman
    My Lucky Stars
     
  17. Lazy Man Blues
    Zoe & Cloyd
    Equinox
     
  18. Dry Town
    Gillian Welch
    Boots No. 1: The Official Revival Bootleg

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