Uncle Dave Macon

Uncle Dave Macon

Source: Bob Dylan Commentaries

Banjo player, Uncle Dave Macon (the Dixie Dewdrop), was a hillbilly born in Smartt Station, Tennessee, on 7 October 1870. Macon began playing banjo at age fifteen, learning the instrument from a circus comedian. Though not a virtuoso, he could play his banjo in enough different positions to qualify as tricky with an instrument. He wasn't yet twenty years old when he married in 1889, whence he is found farming.

Around 1900 Macon formed The Macon Midway Mule and Mitchell Wagon Transportation Company, which he ran for twenty years, playing banjo as he hauled freight by mule. During that period his son, Dorris, was born on 22 July, 1910. Dorris preferred guitar to banjo and would record several duets with his dad in 1930. Meanwhile, the invention of the truck eventually put Uncle Dave out of the freight business in 1920. Many a mule became despondently pleased during that period as well. "Now what?" they aimlessly asked, no longer needed in the world. As for Macon, he was above fifty years old when he finally made his first professional performance at a church benefit in 1921.

Uncle Dave began to tour for the Loews Theatres chain doing vaudeville variety in 1923. Being paid several hundred dollars a week, he and the Loews circuit got along tremendously. Macon and vaudeville were made for each other. He might at least have written 'Nobody Asked About My Mule' since it's likely that relatively few inquired. But he didn't. He joined fiddler, Sid Harkreader, for a tour of the southeastern portion of the United States that '23 instead. In 1924 the same pair headed to (where else for country music?) New York City to record a number of tracks. Going down on the 8th of July were solo titles by Macon. Per Tony Russell's 'Country Music Records' (CMR) in matrix order: 'Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy' (Vocalion 14848), 'Hill Billie Blues' (Vocalion 14904), 'Old Maid's Last Hope' (Vocalion 14850), 'All I've Got's Gone' (Vocalion 14904) and 'The Fox Chase' (Vocalion 14850). A session on the 9th witnessed 'Papa's Billy Goat' (Vocalion 14848) with four others unissued: 'Muskrat Medley', 'Old Ship of Zion', 'Just from Tennesee' and 'That High Born Gal of Mine'. Harkreader joined Macon on the 10th for six titles to issue: 'I'm Goin' Away to Leave You Love' / '(She Was Always) Chewing Gum' (Vocalion 14847) and 'Jonah and the Whale' / 'The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane' (Vocalion 14864). Come the 11th for 'Bile Them Cabbage Down' / 'Down by the River' (Vocalion 14849). Macon strung numerous titles in sessions three to several times a year after that into 1934, recording little afterward: one session in '35, one in '37 and a couple in '38 including several titles with Smoky Mountain Glenn Stagner (guitar).

'Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy'   Uncle Dave Mason

Recorded 8 July 1924 in NYC   Debut recording issued on Vocalion 14848

Composition: Dave Macon

'Love Somebody'   Uncle Dave Mason w Sid Harkreader (fiddle)

Recorded 10 July 1924 in NYC   Issued on Vocalion 14887 A

Composition: English traditional

'Soldier's Joy'   Uncle Dave Mason w Sid Harkreader (fiddle)

Recorded 10 July 1924 in NYC   Issued on Vocalion 14887 B

Composition: Scottish traditional

'Bile Dem Cabbage Down'   Uncle Dave Mason

Recorded 11 July 1924 in NYC   Issued on Vocalion 14849 A

Composition: Dave Macon

'Tom and Jerry'   Uncle Dave Mason w His Fruit Jar Drinkers

Recorded 9 May 1927 in NYC   Issued on Vocalion 5165

Guitar: Sam McGee  Fiddles: Kirk McGee & Mazy Todd

Composition: Traditional

'From Earth to Heaven'   Uncle Dave Mason w Sam McGee (guitar)

Recorded 25 July 1928 in Chicago   Issued on Brunswick 329

Composition: Dave Macon

'Over the Mountain'   Uncle Dave Mason w Sid Harkreader (guitar)

Recorded 21 June 1929 in Chicago   Issued on Brunswick 349 / HLP-8006

Composition: William Scanlan   1882

'Over the Mountain'   Uncle Dave Mason w the Delmore Brothers (guitars/vocals)

Recorded 22 Jan 1935 in New Orleans   Issued on Bluebird B-59266

Composition: William Scanlan   1882

Macon's first performance for the 'Barn Dance' show on WSM Radio in Nashville had been on October 15, 1925, only about a month after the program, which would begin to be called the 'Grand Ole Opry' in 1927, began. (See DeFord Bailey as to how 'Barn Dance' became the 'Grand Ole Opry'.) He later appeared in the film, 'Grand Ole Opry' with his son, Dorris.

'Take Me Back to My Old Carolina Home'   Uncle Dave Mason w Dorris Macon (son / guitar)

From the film 'Grand Ole Opry' released 25 June 1940

Woman in glasses probably June Weaver

Composition: Dave Macon   First recorded by Riley Puckett in 1927

Macon later toured with Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs in the forties. It's said he wasn't real impressed by Scruggs, nor cared for the direction that the newer bluegrass in general was taking mountain country music [Wikipedia]. Howsoever, he died on March 22, 1952, never having learned to drive an automobile but having released above 175 recordings. The last of those had been eighteen years prior to his demise, CMR listing his last commercial name session on January 6, 1938, in Charlotte, North Carolina: 'Give Me Back My Five Dollars' (Bluebird 8325), 'Railroadin' and Gamblin'' (Bluebird 8325), 'Cumberland Mountain Deer Race' (Bluebird 7951), 'Johnny Grey' (Bluebird 8379) and 'The Gayest Old Dude That's Out' (Bluebird 8379). Macon recorded privately following those. Bluebird 7951 is credited to the Carter Family per their rendition on Victor 27494 later in 1941.

Macon was the tenth inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966. In addition to songs above, he composed such as 'Down by the River' ('24) and 'Going Where the Sugar Cane Grows ('34). His son, Dorris, died on 13 Feb 1982.