Major Franklin - June Bug on a Barbed Wire

This is my favorite Major Franklin tape. Actually, it's probably my favorite tape, period. I had assumed everyone had this, but just in case you didn't, here it is. There are multiple copies of this floating around, mostly labeled "June Bug on a Barbed Wire" due to Major's unforgettable version near the end of the tape. I tried to reassemble the tunes in the original order to preserve that old cassette vibe.

Recorded on 4-track tape by Bartow Riley and dated January 26, 1967 (tracks 1-17) and January 28, 1967 (tracks 18-32). Accompanists include Omega Burden, Bartow Riley, and Pete Osborne.

Download Link: Major Franklin - June Bug on a Barbed Wire (155 MB)

Orville Burns with Royce Franklin

Orville Burns playing in the parking lot at a fiddle contest sometime in the early 1990's. There is a lot of joy in this video. Accompanists include:

Anthony Mature - guitar
Royce Franklin - guitar
Matt Hartz - tenor guitar
Carl Hopkins - guitar

VCR recording by Bartow Riley.

Direct YouTube Link (for a larger picture):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E04NDHwJV2g&t=110s

Eck Robertson - Radio Theme Song

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Here is an Eck Robertson song that has never been released digitally. This is the last track from the 1976 Sonyatone release, "Eck Robertson: Master Fiddler." Taken from a field recording in 1965, this track didn't make it onto to the 1920's Victor-era CD compilation that you can buy directly from County Sales. Be warned, this song gets stuck in your head!

Direct YouTube link (for a larger picture):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP169sO4hgk

Lyrics:
Well friends, we're on the air
Please listen everywhere
As I would like to please you
Don't think that I don't care

I've played my way to fame
Eck Robertson is my name
And if you like my program
Well, I'll come back again

Call if you will, and tell us who you are
And I will try to see you, no matter if it's near or far
Or drop me just a line, or see thee on your way
And I will always love you, until my dying day

Texas Shorty/Terry Morris: Backstage at Hallettsville

Texas Shorty

Blogger: Grant Wheeler

This audio was originally recorded sometime around 1985-86 by Bill McNeil in one of the contestant warm-up rooms that flank the stage at the Fiddler's Frolics in Hallettsville, Texas. Audiences can always expect to witness fierce competition at this contest, but as can be heard on this recording, there was some incendiary fiddling going on back stage, as well. As Bill so eloquently states at the 1 minute 8 second mark on the very first track:  

"Aww...SOOEY!"

The fiddlers are the incomparable Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor and the late, forever great, Terry Morris. The faded hand writing on the cassette lists a first string, dream team trio of backup pickers: Bobby Christman and the legendary Franklin Brothers power duo, Royce and Ray. (Other guitarists pinch hitting here are there on a few tunes are Shorty's brother Robert Chancellor and Gerald Jones. And you don't have to listen too closely to hear the gleefully maniacal laughter and thumping stand-up bass lines of Alfred Eugene Mouledous.)  

Shorty (Tracks 1-11) lights the fuse, laying a blistering 4 minute long smack down on "Tug Boat" and later serves up a few deep cut tunes like "Liverpool Hornpipe" and "Old Sport," and gets his swang on with "Kansas City Kitty" and "Brown Skin Gal." 

Terry Morris

Terry (Tracks 12-16) keeps it cookin' doing what Terry does; pulling rabbits out of his hat on standards "Sally Johnson" and "Dusty Miller" and executing exquisite acrobatics on "Wednesday Night Waltz".  We close out the set of tunes with a bonus track of Terry taking a second run at "I Don't Love Nobody." 

Thanks to Brother Sumner for re-discovering the cassette tape from which this audio was digitized and to Brother Matthew for filling in some details about this recording. This music lives on and continues to inspire when it is shared. 

Aww...Sooey.

Download Link: Texas Shorty/Terry Morris: Backstage at Hallettsville (36MB):

In memory of Royce Franklin...gentleman picker extraordinaire.

Louis Franklin Video

One of my favorite fiddlers. I wish I had that much groove. I love to watch his bow arm.

Direct YouTube Link (for a larger picture)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11DegPEV24Y 

Credits:

Louis Franklin - fiddle

Guitar - Bill Butler, Zipp Durrett

Benny Thomasson and Dick Barrett

Here is an out-of-print VHS tape produced in 1977 by the Seattle Folklore Society and released commercially in the 1990's. There is even an amusing Major Franklin story at the end.

Direct YouTube link (for a larger picture):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT_DhQrQBcY

Credits:
Benny Thomasson - fiddle
Dick Barrett - fiddle
Aaron Lowe - guitar and fiddle
Markie Shubb - bass
Rich Levine - guitar

Source:
Texas Fiddle Legends: Benny Thomasson and Dick Barrett
Yazoo 517 (VHS), 1996

Orville Burns at Hallettsville, Texas 1994

Orville Burns entertaining and jamming at the Texas State Championship Fiddlers' Frolics, Hallettsville, Texas, April 1994. When you watch Orville's bow arm, you start to understand why so many fiddlers considered him to be an unmatched creative genius.

VHS recording graciously shared by Julie Amundson.

Direct YouTube link (for a larger picture):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo3RNu-KZEY