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Johnson City Sessions Roundup Mountain Music Roundup By John Lilly he Golden Era of old-time well-designed, and substantial. yodeling duo Earl Shirkey and country music, the late 1920’s Produced by Ted Olson and Tony Roy Harper, guitar/mandolin duo Tthrough the 1930’s, was punctu- Russell, this attractive package Robert Hoke and Vernal Vest, and ated by some illustrious remote includes informative notes, biog- string bands the Weaver Brothers recording sessions sponsored by raphies of all of the musicians, and the Moatsville String Ticklers. major commercial record labels lyrics to all of the songs, discogra- All but one of these came from and run by legendary producers. phy, chronology, bibliography, and the Beckley area; the Moatsville Ralph Peer and the 1927 and 1928 vintage photographs along with group hailed from Barbour Coun- Bristol Sessions loom large, due digitally remastered tracks from ty. Eighteen of the 28 tunes or primarily to the discoveries of 37 recording artists from across songs they cumulatively recorded singing stars Jimmie Rodgers and the Appalachian region. included the talented, ubiquitous the original Carter Family for the West Virginia is very well repre- Roy Harvey — Roy recorded as Victor label. [See “Mountain Music sented. While at the earlier Bristol both Harvey and Harper, and as a Roundup,” by John Lilly; Winter Sessions only two West Virginia member of the Weaver Brothers. 2011.] acts participated (fiddler/singer Richard Harold, the first of these But there were others. Ralph Blind Alfred Reed and the West to record, was a blind street singer Peer went to Asheville, North Virginia Coon Hunters string from the Princeton area, who was Carolina, in 1925. OKeh Records band), there were six at Johnson often associated with Blind Alfred conducted field recordings in City. They included singer Richard Reed. [See “The Blind Man’s Song: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Harold, guitar duo Roy Harvey Recalling Alfred Reed,” by John in September 1927. The Bruns- and Leonard Copeland, vocal and Lilly; Winter 2008.] On one song, wick label did likewise “Sweet Bird,” an uncred- in Ashland, Kentucky, ited fiddler is presumed and Knoxville, Tennes- by Olson and Russell to see, in 1928, ’29, and ’30. be Mercer County fid- Among the most signifi- dler Fred Pendleton — cant and eclectic of these to my ear it could just as expeditions, however, likely have been Alfred were two that took place Reed, though Pendleton in Johnson City, Tennes- is an equally strong pos- see, in 1928 and 1929 for sibility. Columbia Records with Roy Harvey recorded producer Frank Walker. more than 200 songs in The Johnson City a five-year period for a Sessions 1928-1929: variety of labels and in “Can You Sing or Play any number of bands. Old-Time Music?” is [See “’Daddy Loved a new boxed set from Music’: Recalling Gui- Bear Family Records tarist Roy Harvey,” by that documents these Matt Meacham; Winter Johnson City Sessions in 2007.] In Johnson City grand style. Featuring he recorded with guitar- 100 tracks on four CDs ist Leonard Copeland, and a 135-page book, the yodeler Earl Shirley, collection is detailed, and the Weaver Brothers 66 Winter 2014 The Moatsville String Ticklers. From the left are Floyd Frye, Zel Frye, Doyle Shaffer, Harold Ritter, Brooks Ritter, Gordon Frye, Marshall Summers, and Cecil Frye. Photographer and date unknown. band. The four guitar instrumen- loved anthem, “The West Virginia Wiley Weaver and fiddler Odell tals with Leonard Copeland were Hills” — a comic takeoff called Smith to record two numbers spirited and precise — “Beckley “We Have Moonshine in the West each as the Weaver Brothers and Rag” is a highlight. Using the thin- Virginia Hills.” the Weaver Brothers String Band. ly veiled pseudonym Roy Harper, A straight-ahead reading of “The Only two of their four songs were Harvey recorded 10 songs with West Virginia Hills” was recorded released. yodeler Earl Shirkey — far more later the same day by the Moats- Neither of the two songs re- than any other artist. Yodeling ville String Ticklers — one of the corded by Robert Hoke and Vernal was all the rage at the time, and highlights of the collection for Vest was released. None of the Shirkey possessed the skill and any West Virginian and among unreleased titles is included in this the tonality to yodel full choruses the most satisfying recordings of collection, unfortunately; they are between Harvey’s verses. Their that song ever made. The flip side, presumed to be lost. collaboration resulted in the run- “Moatsville Blues,” is also well For fans of early country mu- away bestseller of the two Johnson worth a listen. Two other titles re- sic, especially those interested in City Sessions — “When the Roses corded that day went unreleased. early country music from West Bloom for the Bootlegger,” a 1928 The Moatsville String Ticklers Virginia, The Johnson City Ses- parody of a popular sentimental were guitarists Floyd Frye, Doyle sions 1928-1929: “Can You Sing or song that sold an amazing 72,545 Shaffer, and Marshall Summers; Play Old-Time Music?” is a trove copies, eclipsing the next best- banjo players Brooks Ritter and of little-known and seldom-heard seller fourfold. Invited back in Zel Frye; fiddlers Cecil Frye, Gor- recordings. The boxed set is avail- 1929, the pair cut six more songs, don Frye, and Harold Ritter; and able through County Sales; phone including another parody, this an unnamed vocal chorus. (540)745-2001 or online at www time a swipe at West Virginia’s be- Roy Harvey joined Vance and .countysales.com. Goldenseal 67.
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