Joe Bob Rag (AKA Kill ‘um) – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 353

The First Time I heard Kill ‘um, also known as the Joe Bob Rag, was at Weiser. Gary Lee Moore was on the Stage, and he referenced Louis Franklin when he played it. It was such a cool tune.

I have heard 2 recordings of it.  Weldon Turpin plays it on an album where he and his son Ricky Turpin played (I don’t remember the album’s name), and it’s also on on The Solomon Family Three Generations of Texas Fiddlers.

You may think I’m silly for saying it, but I think that Joe Bob Rag has a Texas drawl to it. The notes hang on just a touch longer than you expect. And the drones really give it that extra oomph, and drag.

Needless to say, I dig it. If you know anything more about this tune, drop me a comment to let me know.

 Update from Facebook:

Ed Carnes: It was swing tune played by Bob Wills band, from Joe Holley and Bob Wills – hence the name “Joe-Bob Rag” – it is usually spelled this way although you see if sometimes “Jobob”. I don’t recall where the alternate title Kill’em came from. I have a good tape of Normon Solomon playing this in the ’60s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRdPfXwn6UY