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Across the Blue Ridge #82- Tennessee Music, Bluegrass Singing, Banjo & Percussion

by Paul Brown

Renowned blues singer Bessie Smith was born and raised in Chatanooga, Tennessee, where she busked on the street as a girl to help support herself and her siblings. She’s one of the artists featured this week, in a segment showcasing Tennessee musicians. Carl Van Vechten for the Library of Congress. Public Domain.

Our summer listening sessions continue this week with a selection of music from Tennessee, some soulful and satisfying bluegrass singing, and a banjo song that's as much about percussion as melody.  It's hard to even scratch the surface of Tennessee's musical riches in one segment of a radio show, but ATBR host Paul Brown pulls out some little-known gems including a bluesy fiddle tune by Johnny Dacus, a respected player whose name seldom surfaces these days.  Also … the impact of the blues on the music of Tennessee leads us to a song by the great Bessie Smith, pioneering recording artist who was born and grew up in Chatanooga.  Also on the show, a segment chock full of soulfully satisfying bluegrass songs from Dale Ann Bradley, Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder, and others.  Listen to Segment 3 for an interesting banjo tune with percussion, and a trip back in time to an early recording of the classic “Corrina, Corrina” by Clarence Ashley.

Playlist

  1. John's Fiddle Blues
    Johnny Dacus
    Tennessee Mountain Fiddle
     
  2. Tennessee Girl
    Dykes Magic City Trio
    Dykes Magic City Trio
     
  3. Frankie
    Dykes Magic City Trio
    Dykes Magic City Trio
     
  4. Hesitating Blues
    Arthur Smith
    Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners
     
  5. Man In The Moon
    Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers
    Southern Ramble
     
  6. Saint Louis Blues
    Bessie Smith
    L'Art Vocal V. 3
     
  7. Break 1 - Maysville
    Adam Hurt
    Artifacts
     
  8. Rusty Old Halo
    Dale Ann Bradley
    Don't Turn Back
     
  9. Fifty Miles Of Elbow Room
    Dale Ann Bradley
    Don't Turn Back
     
  10. Bluegrass Album Band
    Lonesome Wind Blues
    The Bluegrass Compact Disc V. 2
     
  11. Weathered Gray Stone
    Johnson Mountain Boys
    At The Old Schoolhouse
     
  12. When It's Time For The Whippoorwill To Sing
    Wade & Julia Mainer
    In The Land Of Melody
     
  13. Once Upon A Time
    Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder
    The Last Dirt Road
     
  14. Break 2 -Bye Bye Blues
    Wayne Henderson & Clay Lunsford
    Thumb to Thumb
     
  15. Folding Down The Sheets
    Bobby Taylor
    Plays "Ragged Shirt" & Other Favorite Fiddle Tunes from WV
     
  16. Coo Coo
    Evie Ladin Band
    Jump The Fire
     
  17. Honey Lou
    Evie Ladin Band
    Jump The Fire
     
  18. Corrina Corrina
    Tom Ashley
    Greenback Dollar
     
  19. Rose In The Mountain
    Adam Hurt
    Artifacts

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