Annotation:Red Bird Reel

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RED BIRD REEL. American, Reel (cut time). USA; Iowa, Nebraska. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. "Red Bird Reel" is an imitative melody from the playing of eastern Nebraska fiddler biography:Bob Walters (1889-1960). It is perhaps a version of the West Virginia “Red Bird (2)” recorded by Clark Kessinger, related to “Karo” and “Bull at the Wagon.” Collector R.P. Christeson, who recorded Nebraska radio fiddler Bob Walters playing the tune in 1950, apparently did not think much of the tune as he requested Walters play his version after Christeson heard a live band playing a "Red Bird" tune over station KFNF, Shenandoah, Iowa. He included the tune in his volume "as part of the record, but there are other tunes more desirable."

Additional notes

Source for notated version: - Bob Walters (Burt County, eastern Nebraska) [Christeson].

Printed sources : - R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; No. 20, p. 16.

Recorded sources: -Missouri State Old Time Fiddler's Association MSOTFA 109, Bob Walters - "Paddy on the Turnpike."

See also listing at:
Hear Christeson's field recording of Bob Walters playing the tune at Slippery Hill [1]

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