Annotation:Fort Smith Breakdown (2)

Back to Fort Smith Breakdown (2)

---

FORT SMITH BREAKDOWN [2]. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Arkansas. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. There are some similarities to the Kentucky tune "Across the Plains," aka "Old Red Rooster," and is vaguely reminiscent of the similarly titled "Fort Smith (1)." The first strain is cognate with "Old Fort Smith." Banjo and harmonica player Luke Hignight (1898-1940) formed a string band playing out of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and recorded several sides in Memphis in 1928. The fiddler for the group is Frank Gardner, about whom little is known. Milliner & Koken (2011) note that Hignight's name is often mistakenly spelled 'Highnight'.

Source for notated version: Luke Hignight's Ozark Strutters (of Hotsprings, Ark., who originally recorded the tune in 1928) [Beisswenger & McCann, Brody, Milliner & Koken]; Chuck Silberstein [Phillips].

Printed sources: Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; p. 185. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 111. Milliner & Koken (Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes), 2011; p. 216. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 91.

Recorded sources: County CD 3506, Luke Highnight's Ozark Strutters- "Echoes of the Ozarks, vol. 2" (1995. Various artists). Folkways 31062, Ship in the Clouds- "Old Time Instrumental Music" (1978). Vocalion 5339, Luke Hignight's Ozark Strutters (1928). Voyager 301, Fay Sneed- "Fiddle Jam Session."

See also listing at:
Hear Luke Hignight's recording on youtube.com [1]
Hear/see the tune played by Roscoe P. & Coal Train on youtube.com [2]

---