Laughing Boy – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 338

Laughing Boy is a classic old-time fiddle tune. And, it’s cross-tuned, which makes it all the more fun.

I have heard Laughing Boy many times, but the recording I used to work it up tonight is a recording of Benny Thomasson playing it.

Never let it be said that Benny was not well rounded in his fiddling. From Hornpipes to cross-tuned old time, Benny played it, and he played it well.

Laughing Boy according to Fiddler’s Companion

LAUGHING BOY. Texas Style, Breakdown. USA; Texas. A Major (Phillips, Silberberg): G Major (Beisswenger & McCann). AEae or Standard tuning. AB (Silberberg): AABB (Beisswenger & McCann, Phillips). Known as a Texas tune, but popularised by Kenny Baker in his 1968 recording so that it has become more widespread. Usually played in the key of ‘A’, crosstuned. Sources for notated versions: Kenny Baker  [Phillips]; Carthy Sisco [Silberberg]; Cleeson Box (b. 1919, Wright County, Missouri [Beisswenger & McCann]. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozark Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. 172. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), 1994; pg. 138. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 88. County 719, Kenny Baker – “Portrait of a Bluegrass Fiddler” (1968. Learned from Benny Thomasson). County 724, Benny Thomasson.