Pre World War 2 Mandolinists.

[journeybear]

Be careful what you wish for! The first time I made it onto a recording - crikey, nearly 30 years ago, now - was on the B side of a single (remember 45s?) that ended up using a tuba instead of bass. They didn't quite know what to do with my wah-wah lead so they doubletracked the two takes. It actually came out interesting. Oh, and I mention the B side because I got cut out of the A side.

But back to the topic ... An odd combination like mandolin and tuba made sense then, given the economic situation. People would make music on whatever was available to them. This is one main factor in the rise of jug bands - instrumentation was inexpensive for the most part, and even what we would think of as hifalutin' instruments like mandolins and fiddles were probably being picked up at pawn shops for a fraction of their list prices.

[bluesmandolinman]

BTW, bluesmandolin, didn't Carl Martin play mandolin too?

yes he did , but his Pre WW2 recordings are "only" with guitar so for this special list we are discussing here he can´t be included

cheers René

[journeybear]

AHA! I knew there had to be a reason you would leave someone in your signature out. Really nice work on your website, BTW. Chock full of information. I can see you've done your homework - and plenty of it! It is really gratifying to see someone is so devoted to his interests, and sharing with all.

[DrEugeneStrickland]

The site is a solid work of devotion,passion sweat and blood.
www.bluesmandolin.de is a fine resource,for lovers of Blues Mandolin!

[journeybear]

And tears - blood sweat and tears - - it's the blues, after all ...

[bluesmandolinman]

thanks for the kind words , I apreciate it

[allenhopkins]

...Please educate me on which songs recorded by any version of The Memphis Jugband where the mandolin is featured or even audible?...

Here's one:

[journeybear]

That Ragtime Dorian Henry put a bunch of these up, including this gem: "You May Leave, But This Will Bring You Back." This is a great mandolin feature, and it was one of my features in my old jug band. I played it on the banjolin, actually. Love that ascending riff in the stop time in the B part.

Nice to see that bowlback in the cover photo.

[DrEugeneStrickland]

Thank You Allen I am noting this one ... a fine version of this old song BTW

[DrEugeneStrickland]

Thank You Journey Bear,of course the banjolin is loud and clear... anymore?

[catmandu2]

Thank You Allen I am noting this one ... a fine version of this old song BTW

Love the song, and the Crumb artwork. A winning combination.

[Samjessin]

Don't leave Earl and Bill Bollick off this list!

Luke Baucom, George Wade, and Reid Summey from the Three Tobacco Tags. Double mandolin!

The nephew of Lurry Hensley from Walker's Corbin Ramblers got in touch with me in response to some Youtube videos I recorded.

Grinnel Giggers

Was Charlie McCoy on your original list?

Rabbit hole.

[JeffD]

This is a great thread. Not just interesting, but more useful as it goes along.

[Paul Lucas]

... The Mississippi Mudsteppers/Mississippi Blacksnakes featured on the now out of print CD from the Document label entitled,Mississippi Stringbands and Associates 1928-1931...

FYI... emusic.com, a subscription based itunes-like website, has the Mississippi Stringbands and Associates 1928-1931 CD, and a large portion of the Document catalog, available for download.

[gus garelick]

Did someone mention Kenny Hall? He's still around (probably pushing 90), but most of his recorded music was done post 1970 (although he was definitely around pre-World War II) . He certainly has a unique old time style, and plays a 'tater bug' without picks (uses his fingernails). A walking encyclopedia of old time tunes. Recordings with the Sweets Mill String Band are still in print.
I wonder if some of the pre-Bluegrass mandolin players qualify in this category. The Blue Sky Boys had a very mellow, old time sound in the mandolin/guitar duets they played in the 1930s and 40s. Even early Monroe Brothers stuff had some great mandolin playing, just before the whole Bluegrass concept started to gel (with Earl Scruggs). Red Rector is another old-time style mandolin player. Not old enough to be WW II, but he had a unique style, more old time than Bluegrass.

[DrEugeneStrickland]

I wonder if some of the pre-Bluegrass mandolin players qualify in this category. The Blue Sky Boys had a very mellow, old time sound in the mandolin/guitar duets they played in the 1930s and 40s. Even early Monroe Brothers stuff had some great mandolin playing, just before the whole Bluegrass concept started to gel (with Earl Scruggs). Red Rector is another old-time style mandolin player. Not old enough to be WW II, but he had a unique style, more old time than Bluegrass.

I believe any American mandolin playing or players recorded before WW2 is an expansive enough topic to generate much interesting discourse.
I would certainly include Mac and Bob,The Monroe Brothers,The Callahan Brothers,The Blue Sky Boys and The early Louvin Brothers.
Red Rector a fine mandolin player who was certainly much more then a Monroe imitator might be an interesting thread entitled "Early Bluegrass Mandolin Players besides WSM"... could be a great topic right there!

[allenhopkins]

Did someone mention Kenny Hall? He's still around (probably pushing 90), but most of his recorded music was done post 1970 (although he was definitely around pre-World War II) . He certainly has a unique old time style, and plays a 'tater bug' without picks (uses his fingernails). A walking encyclopedia of old time tunes. Recordings with the Sweets Mill String Band are still in print...

I LOVE Kenny Hall -- still playing beautifully on his ol' Vega bowl-back, at the age of 87! Born blind, a master fiddler as well as mandolinist, worth seeing if you ever get the chance. I think I saw him for the first time at the old Fox Hollow Festival back in 1970 or '71. Picks with his index fingernail, mandolin held vertically on his knee. Here's a recent video:



Don't know that he qualifies as "pre-WWII," since he might not have been performing or recording in his twenties.

[Charles E.]

Allen, that is fantastic. Thanks for the link.

[Samjessin]

Jaybird Coleman and the Birmingham Jug Band. Not sure of the mandolinists name.

[DrEugeneStrickland]

Thanks Samjessin
I'll try and figure out who played on these recordings... time to consult with my Dixon and Goodrich book!