Annotation:Bill Cheatum (1)

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BILL CHEATUM [1]. AKA – "Bill Cheatem," "Bill Cheatham," "Cheatum," "Cheat 'Em," "Old Bill Cheatum." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, widely known. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (most versions): AA'BB' (Kaufman). Krassen and others note this is a common fiddle tune throughout the Southern part of the United States, where it probably originated (Christeson says he did not hear the tune in Missouri until the mid-1940's). The title ("Old Bill Cheatum") appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. The tune was a fiddle contest "category" tune in 1899 in Gallatin, Tenn.—each fiddler would play a version, with the best rendition being awarded a prize (C. Wolfe, The Devil's Box, vol. 14, No. 4, 12/1/80). The earliest sound recording of the tune is by Texas fiddler Eck Robertson, in 1922, played as part of his "Brilliancy Medley." The Allen Brothers recorded it as "Cheat 'Em." Tennessee's "Fiddlin' Arthur Smith" recorded it in 1940. "Charter Oak" is a related melody.

Sources for notated versions: Floyd Smith (Cole County, Missouri) [Christeson]: Max Collins (Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma) [Thede]: Krassen credits the Texas based Red Headed Fiddlers and Henry Reed (Va.) for the version he gives in his book: A.L. Steeley & the Red Headed Fiddlers [Kaufman]; Glen Bilyeu (1919–1977, Taney County, Missouri) [Beisswenger & McCann].

Printed sources: Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; p. 171. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 41. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddler's Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; No. 34, p. 24. Kaufman (Beginning Old Time Fiddle), 1977; p. 61. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; p. 68. Lowinger (Bluegrass Fiddle), 1974; p. 16. Phillips (Fiddle Case Tunebook: Old Time Southern), 1989; p. 5. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 24. Reiner (Anthology of Fiddle Styles), 1977; p. 31. Silberberg (93 Tunes I Didn't Learn at the Tractor Tavern), 2004; p. 5. Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; p. 103 (appears as "Bill Cheatem").

Recorded sources: Alcazar Dance Series ALC 202, Sandy Bradley – "Potluck & Dance Tonite!" (1979). Brunswick 470 (78 RPM), Red Headed Fiddler. County 515, "Mountain Banjo Songs and Tunes." County 542, Blind Joe Mangrum (b. 1853, Paducah, Ky.) – "Nashville: the Early String Bands, vol. 2" (originally recorded in 1928 for Victor). County 719, Kenny Baker – "Portrait of a Bluegrass Fiddler" (1968). Folkways 2492, New Lost City Ramblers – "String Band Instrumentals" (1964. Learned from recordings of the Red Headed Fiddler and Eck Robertson). Front Hall 010, Fennigs All Star String Band – "The Hammered Dulcimer Strikes Again." Kicking Mule 202, John Burke – "Fancy Pickin' and Plain Singing." Library of Congress recording, 1939, W.A. Bledsoe, Meridian, Mississippi. Mountain 301, Kyle Creed – "Blue Ridge Style Square Dance Time." Rounder 0016, Vasser Clements – "Crossing the Catskills." Rounder 0093, Jerry Douglas – "Fluxology." Rounder 7002, Graham Townsend – "Le Violin/The Fiddle." Victor 40298A (78 RPM), Eck Robertson – "Brilliancy Medley."

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]

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