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Don RichardsonDon Richardson - Arkansas Traveler (April 15, 1916)

A very early recording of the traditional country fiddle tune "Arkansas Traveler", played by Don Richardson, dating from April of 1916. There is a barely audible piano accompaniment. This is from the original 78rpm disk, which is not in great shape, and there is considerable noise. But this recording does not seem to be widely available even as a reissue, so I thought it worthwhile to post it despite the condition.


This audio is part of the collection: 78 RPMs & Cylinder Recordings

Artist/Composer: Don Richardson
Date: 1916-04-15 00:00:00
Source: Original 78rpm disk (Columbia A2140) digitized by old78collector
Keywords: Music; Folk; Old-Time Appalachian; Fiddle Tune; 78rpm; Oldtime

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Reviewer: double0picker - - September 23, 2009
Subject: Old 78's of Don Richardson
I am a Old Timey musician, and have haphazardly collected a bunch of old 78's over the years. I have always wanted to know who Don Richardson was, and thought it might have been a made up name for some other notable fiddler (as record companies often did). I'm from NC and am surprised to learn he is from there. He was a very accomplished fiddler, and you can hear "classical" training in his technique. Thanks for posting....I too have this 78 record, and now I know who he is.

Reviewer: ehermann - - July 12, 2009
Subject: Fascinating Recording
Thanks for posting this recording--very interesting.

Question: How does one obtain such a recording? Do you own the original 78 RPM, or is this from an old CD or LP issue?

Thanks,

Eric

Reviewer: stevewise55 - - July 11, 2009
Subject: earliest country recording?
fiddling john carson's 1923 recording of 'little old log cabin in the lane' uis usually quoted as the first 'country' recording - this is 7 years earlier.

The sound is pretty good I'd say - good fiddle playing - and a nice piano accompaniment.

Reviewer: Don Richardson - - February 17, 2008
Subject: Don Richardson
The Don Richardson on these Columbia recordings was born in Clinton N.C., (and did not die in WVA.,)in fact he was born in Clinton,NC in 1878 He was the son of the eminent Jurist M.C.Richardson,he moved to Charlotte at the age of 22.In 1910 moved to New York City where he stayed until 1919 playing with
different orchestras.He began Teaching atQueens College in Chsrlotte,was oldest living Teacher there in 1936.Died Charlotte,NC.,in 1953

Reviewer: hunters.green - - January 16, 2008
Subject: The Devil's Dream
Does anyone know much about his recording of "the devil's dream-reel"? I have a beat up 78 of this and I am going to put it online. The other side is "Miss McLeod-Reel". Any information would help, thanks.

Reviewer: CallahanNY - - June 15, 2007
Subject: Repetitive?!
He is a fiddler, not a violinist. And his version of this tune is hardly repetitive if you listen carefully to the variety of his runs, or have ever tried to play the song. Excellent item to have in the database. This kind of playing is very hard to find.

Reviewer: slawojarr - - June 5, 2005
Subject: old time
very excelent

Reviewer: Spuzz - - May 31, 2005
Subject: Packing it.
Pretty good, but overly repetitive song. The violinist sure knows his stuff. As for the recording, you hardly hear the piano, but the violin comes out just fine.

Reviewer: bluesbanjoman - - January 11, 2005
Subject: Arkansas Traveller
This is perhaps the very first commercial recording of this now famous fiddle tune, by an actual fiddler! The man Don Richardson, was born in Kentucky in 1898. He died in Fox River, West Virgina, in 1954.
The piano accomp is somewhat strong in this record.
Perhaps the first Country Music Record??
Don't know for sure, but, maybe