Now here is the original source of Texas Style Fiddle. Eck has the distinction of recording the very first country recordings in history. These date back to 1923 and are the source of all Texas Style fiddle as we know it!
Major Franklin
There are no published recordings currently avaiable of Major Franklin which is shame, as he shaped Texas Style fiddling like no other. He taught Dick Barrett and a few other's. Since then everyone in Texas Fiddling has tried to emulate his style.
Format: CD Price: $15.00 Shipping: $2.50 ($1.50 after first item) This great fiddle music comes from the hands, head and heart of Erwin Solomon, his brother Jim, his sons Vernon and Norman and his grandson, Mike (Vernon's son). Three generations of one family of truly outstanding Texas fiddle players. They won prizes in too many fiddle contests to count, both in and outside of Texas. Their fiddling enriched the lives of their many friends and neighbors where they lived and worked,providing all with good times while having great fun themselves.
If you are truly A Texas Style Purist you MUST have this CD!
Georgia Slim Rutlan - This is a new find for me and quite interesting....
hard to know what came from were after hearing this, but I do think it is worth a listen. It is rumored that Howdy Forester wrote a reel for this man -
Rutland's Reel... this can be heard on The Texas String Drive CD. Many speculations have been made about Mr. Rutland's connection to Texas style
and I suppose one day I will know the real story....This CD is totally RAW... no backup at all.... very interesting.
Beaumont Rag Kentucky Waltz Sally Goodin Texas Serenade And 15 additional tunes! $15.00 Daniel's latest recording capturing the essence of Texas-style contest fiddling. It contains eight rounds consisting of a hoedown, waltz, and tune of choice.
This is a good example of how rounds are played in a timed contest.
Matt Wyatt A new find for me... this stuff is waygood!
I was blown away by it! Get it NOW! This CD sounds like a Texas Jam if I ever heard one. How that got all the way to Missouri I don't know, but I do know you should hear it ! Matt has won many fiddle contests including State Championships in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi.The top 3 in the Tennessee State Championship,1st place in Branson Missouri and the top three in Mt. View Arkansas. In addition to contests, Matt plays for dances regularly.Matt learned directly from some of Missouri's best. "Picking the brains" of fiddlers like Pete McMahan, Gene Goforth, Taylor McBaine, Jr. Marriott, Charlie Waldon and many others. He heard a tape of Texas fiddler, Terry Morris, and it started his search for more fiddling like it. He traveled the country learning from other great fiddlers like JT Perkins, Kenny Baker, Orville Burns, and Louis Franklin to name a few.
LISTEN NOW
Listen to a "Song A Month" Matt has great recordings available to listen to on his website!
....Also taught by Benny, Shorty Chancellor's is known for the waltz his Father wrote, the wonderful "Chancellors Waltz"
If you knew Benny Thomassons music,
you may recognize his teachings in this recording,
as most of the breakdowns and rags recorded here
were learned from Benny. I first met Benny in 1956,
when I was 13 years old, and Benny had just
become the two time World Champion Fiddler
at Crockett, Texas. I got to know Benny, who,
in my opinion, is the greatest fiddler I ever met.
I had played the mandolin since I was six,
but after I met Benny, I couldn'tt get enough
of him or his music, and immediately started
taking fiddle lessons from him. Benny went on
to win his third World Championship at
Crockett in 1957, and, thanks largely to Bennys
tutelage, I was fortunate in following him to be
only the second ever to win that honor
three times consecutively in 1959, 60 and 61.
This CD was nominated for a Grammy! John O Lardinois Jr. is wonderful fiddler and a fine example of the instruction of Dick and Lisa Barrett. I strongly recommend his CD's. Click Cowboy Legacy CD above to ORDER. This CD especially good for the intermediate to advanced player.
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The Franklin Brother's who are noted for originating Texas Guitar Back up Join Matt and Danita for some laid back Texas fiddle and twin arrangements. Guitar players stick out your ear! Beginner fiddlers will find this CD easier then many to learn from due to the slower tempo's. Matt is a 2 time Grand National Champion and Danita is the first woman in history to become a Grand National Champ and she did it three times,1998 and 2000 & 2001!
* These CD's are a must for any fiddle recording library! Once you get to the site by clicking the link - some are not available but the year links above are some I managed to find!