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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMACON, Uncle Dave(b David Harrison Macon, 7 Oct. 1870, Smart Station TN; d 22 March '52, Murfreesboro) first singing star of the Grand Ole Opry, billed as the Dixie Dewdrop; humour and banjo playing over 40 years of appearances made him 'King of the Hillbillies'. Grew up in Nashville, where his parents ran the Broadway Hotel, home for travelling entertainers. He married Mathilda Richardson (1889), bought a farm near Murfreesboro and set up a Macon Midway Mule and Wagon Transportation Company (later immortalized in a song, 'From Here To Heaven'). Until '18 he enjoyed local affection as a comic and a banjo player; a pompous farmer asked him to play at a party, he demanded $15 and was surprised to be accepted. An agent from a theatre chain was there and he began touring in the South; when he joined the Opry (with band the Fruit Jar Drinkers, name probably chosen by George Hay), he was 56 years old, a repository of banjo styles, songs full of social commentary. He recorded America changing, beginning in '24 with fiddler Sid Harkreader and tunes like 'Hillbilly Blues' (the first title using the word 'hillbilly') and 'Keep My Skillet Good And Greasy'. He popularized classics like 'Arkansas Traveller' and 'Soldier's Joy', carried on until '38 with songs about political corruption, economic depression, trains, the coming of the automobile and much else, accompanied by Sam and Kirk McGee, the Delmore Brothers, fiddler Mazy Todd, his son Dorris, incl. solo sides and duets with Sam. He toured with Opry stars late '20s--30s; was featured in film The Grand Ole Opry '40 and toured as a comedian with Bill Monroe's tent show '46--50. He remained a regular on the Opry until not long before his death at 83. His joy at performing was captured in his whoops and hollers on the records; he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame '66. Compilations incl. Wait Till The Clouds Roll By ('26--39) on Historical, Uncle Dave Macon: Early Recordings on County, First Featured Star Of Grand Ole Opry on Decca, The Dixie Dewdrop on Vetco, Original Masters on Folkways, Laugh Your Blues Away on Rounder, First Row, Second Left and At Home on Bear Family. |