Black Mountain Rag – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 327

Black Mountain Rag is one of the top Show Fiddle Tunes of all time. It would definitely make my top 5 list.

And, this recording I found of Buddy Spicher playing it is hands-down the best rendition of Black Mountain Rag that I have ever seen or heard.

Before tonight, I hadn’t ever worked up Black Mountain Rag, but it’s such a cool tune that Fiddle Tune a Day wouldn’t be complete without it.

Black Mountain Rag according to Fiddler’s Companion

BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG. Old‑Time, Bluegrass; Rag. A Major (Brody): G Major. AEac# or GDac tuning. AA’BB’CC’. “One of the most popular fiddle tunes in modern history…” (C. Wolfe). The piece became popular in the late 1930’s. It was claimed by fiddler Leslie Keith (who is featured on the very first recordings of the Stanley Brothers), who said he wrote it in the early 1940’s after taking “a little bit of” ‘The Lost Child’, and ” a little of two or three of the Carter Family’s tunes.” He named it “Black Mountain Blues” after the name of a mountain in Cumberland County, Tenn., however, “The Lost Child” is the basic melody for the tune. Curly Fox changed the name from “Black Mountain Blues” to “Black Mountain Rag” on his 1947 recording for King, which eventually sold over 600,000 copies (Charles Wolfe, The Devil’s Box, Dec. 1982, pgs. 3‑12). Several ‘black mountains’ have been suggested as the one referred to in the title, including one of the tallest peaks east of the Mississippi, Mount Mitchell. Mitchell was apparently called by various names in the past, beginning with Grey Eagle (due to a rock formation on its side). Later it became known as Black Mountain because of the dark appearance of the balsams at the top. The tune appears in a list of “traditional” fiddle tunes common to the Ozark Mountains, compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph in 1954. It was also a favorite “trick” fiddling tune in the Texas tradition. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 48. United Artists 9801, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” (various artists). Rounder 0073, “The White Brothers, Live in Sweden.” Vanguard VSD 45/46, “The Essential Doc Watson.” Vanguard VRS 9152, “Doc Watson.” County 703, Benny Thomasson ‑ “Texas Hoedown.” Elektra 7285, The Dillards with Byron Berline ‑ “Pickin’ and Fiddlin.'” Antilles 7014, “Country Gazette, Live.” Mercury SRM 1‑1058, Vassar Clements ‑ “Superbow.” County 730, Kenny Baker ‑ “Baker’s Dozen.” Folkways FA 2398, “New Lost City Ramblers, vol. 3.” Folk Star 613(2764) ‑ “Glen Neaves and the Grayson County Boys (Va.).” Mercury 6246 ‑ Tommy Jackson. King Records 562, Curly Fox (Ga.) {1946}. Caney Mountain Records CLP 228, Lonnie Robertson (Mo.) ‑ “Fiddle Favorites.”