Annotation:Laughing Boy

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LAUGHING BOY. Texas Style, Breakdown. USA; Texas. A Major (Phillips, Silberberg): G Major (Beisswenger & McCann). AEac# (Benny Thomasson), AEae or Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Silberberg): AABB (Beisswenger & McCann, Phillips). Known as a Texas tune (played by Benny Thomasson and others in AEAc#), but popularised by Kenny Baker (standard tuning) in his 1968 recording so that it has become more widespread. The reel is usually played in the key of 'A', crosstuned, and features plucked or pizzicato notes.

Sources for notated versions: Benny Thomasson [1] (1909-1984) via Kenny Baker [Milliner & Koken, Phillips]; Carthy Sisco [Silberberg]; Cleeson Box (b. 1919, Wright County, Missouri [Beisswenger & McCann].

Printed sources: Beisswenger & McCann (Ozark Fiddle Music), 2008; p. 172. Milliner & Koken (Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes), 2011; p. 375. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 138. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 88.

Recorded sources: County 703, Benny Thomasson - "Texas Hoedown" (1965). County 719, Kenny Baker - "Portrait of a Bluegrass Fiddler" (1968. Learned from Benny Thomasson). County 724, Benny Thomasson. Voyager VRCD 345, Benny Thomasson - "Say Old Man Can You Play the Fiddle?" (1999).

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Hear Benny Thomasson playing the tune at Slippery Hill [3]

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