Annotation:Jimmy Johnson
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JIMMY JOHNSON. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Virginia, West Virginia. A Major. AEae tuning (fiddle). AAB. A common West Virginia tune, and elsewhere, under different titles. In the repertiore of W.Va. fiddlers Melvin Wine and Ernie Carpenter (who learned it from his father Shelt Carpenter).
It was said to be Wine's favorite tune.
Source for notated version: Glen Smith (Galax, Va.) [Phillips] {who said he learned the tune from Johnny Johnson}; Melvin Wine (W.Va.) [Milliner & Koken]; Ward Jarvis [Milliner & Koken].
Printed sources: Milliner & Koken (Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes), 2011; pp. 337-339 (two versions). Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Music, vol. 1), 1994; p. 125.
Recorded sources: Augusta Heritage Records 003, Ernie Carpenter - "Elk River Blues: Traditional Tunes From Braxton County, W.Va." Field Recorders Collective FRC 402, "Ward Jarvis" (2004. Originally recorded 1977). Marimac AHS #2, Melvin Wine--"Hannah at the Springhouse." Marimac AHS #3, Glen Smith - "Say Old Man" (1990). Rounder 1504/1505, Burl Hammons - "The Hammons Family: The Traditions of a West Virginia Family and Their Friends" (featuring Maggie Hammons Parker beating straws to Burl's fiddling).
See also listings at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Hear Ward Jarvis playing the tune at Slippery Hill [2]
Hear Ernie Carpenter & Gerald Milnes' 1985 recording at Berea Digital Content [3]
Hear Melvin Wine's 1989 recording at Berea Digital Content [4]
See the clip of Lester McCumbers playing the tune in 2006 [5]
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