Recordings and books of the southern mountains and rural American music

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Old-Time & Bluegrass Music of the Southern Mountains

Rural Americans have always loved a good tune played on a banjo, a fiddle, a mandolin or a guitar. Here are the very songs and square dance tunes that have moved rural Americans to tap their feet and make their voices ring. Many of these old melodies conjure up images of a simpler America where a good tune, a good tale and a good laugh were all it took to be entertained. Click to listen to an MP3 file.

"Thanks for working to keep the old traditions alive." G. Dunn


Rural Roots of Bluegrass Songs, Stories & History by Wayne Erbsen *Click HERE for a sample page of Rural Roots of Bluegrass* as a pdf file.** SPECIAL: Order Rural Roots of Bluegrass CD with the book and save $5.00 *		Book $14.95 Book & CD $24.95
Rural Roots of Bluegrass is a songbook and history book that takes a deep at the roots of bluegrass music: ballads and fiddle tunes of Scots-Irish pioneers, black spirituals, plantation melodies, blues, murder ballads, sentimental parlor songs from Tin Pan Alley, North Carolina banjo styles and gospel songs. This book is richly illustrated with 107 vintage photos and includes history, lyrics to 94 songs, musical notation, chords, playing tips, and historical sources for each song. Includes profiles on the Bill Clifton, Bill Monroe, the Blue Sky Boys, Bradley Kincaid, the Callahan Brothers, Carolina Tar Heels, the Carter Family, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, the Coon Creek Girls, Earl Scruggs, Eck Robertson, Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman, Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, Fiddlin’ John Carson, G. B. Grayson & Henry Whitter, Jimmie Rodgers, Karl and Harty, the Lilly Brothers, Monroe Brothers, the Morris Brothers, Riley Puckett, Samantha Bumgarner, Vernon Dalhart, Snuffy Jenkins and Wade & J. E. Mainer. 6" x 9", 180 pages. The perfect companion to the CD "Rural Roots of Bluegrass." "Wayne did a good job! He certainly knows how to tell a story." Wade Mainer, 97 year old music legend For More reviews of this book, Click HERE! Includes words, music and history of: A Beautiful Life, All the Good Times Are Passed And Gone, Amazing Grace, Angel Band, Are You Tired of Me My Darling?, Banjo Pickin’ Girl, Banks of the Ohio, Blue Ridge Mountain Blues, Bury Me Beneath the Willow, Careless Love, Columbus Stockade, Cotton-Eyed Joe, Cripple Creek, Cumberland Gap, Darling Cory, Dig a Hole in the Meadow, Don’t Go Out Tonight, My Darling, Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down, Don’t This Road Look Rough and Rocky, Down in the Willow Garden , Dream of the Miner’s Child, Drifting Too Far From the Shore, East Virginia, Footmarks in the Snow, Girl I Left in Sunny Tennessee, Give Me the Roses, Going to Georgia, Handsome Molly, He Will Set Your Fields On Fire, I Wonder How the Old Folks Are At Home, I’ll be All Smiles Tonight, In the Pines, Jealous Lover, Jesse James, Jimmie Brown the Paper Boy, John Hardy, Johnson Boys , Just Over in the Glory Land, Katy Cline, Katy Dear, Knoxville Girl, , Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Leather Britches, Life’s Railway to Heaven, Little Bessie, Little Log Cabin in the Lane, Little Maggie, Little Rosewood Casket, Little White Washed Chimney, Lonesome Road Blues, Long Journey Home, Lord, I’m Coming Home, Man of Constant Sorrow, Maple on the Hill, Mary of the Wild Moor, Midnight on the Storm Deep , My Homes Across the Blue Ridge Mountains, My Old Cottage Home, New River Train, Nine Pound Hammer, Oh Those Tombs, Old Joe Clark, Poor Ellen Smith, Precious Memories, Pretty Polly, Put My Little Shoes Away, Rabbit in the Log, Red Rocking Chair, Red Wing, Reuben’s Train, Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms, Roll On Buddy, Roving Gambler, Sally Goodin, Seeing Nelly Home, Shady Grove, Shake Hands With Mother Again, Short Life of Trouble, Sweet Sunny South, They’re at Rest Together, Unclouded Day, The, Wabash Cannonball, Wait Till The Clouds Roll By, Walk in Jerusalem Just Like John, What Would You Give In Exchange?, When the Bees Are in the Hive, When You And I Were Young, Maggie, Where the Soul Never Dies, White House Blues, Whoa Mule, Wild Bill Jones, Wildwood Flower.
Rural Roots of Bluegrass Wayne Erbsen & Laura Boosinger		CD $14.95
This great recording features the crystal clear voice of Laura Boosinger alongside the banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin wizardry of Wayne Erbsen. Like its companion book, above, this recording draws from the very roots of bluegrass. 54 minutes, 13 vocals, 3 instrumentals. Instruments include fiddle, clawhammer & bluegrass banjo, banjo-mandolin, mandolin, guitar, bass. Order Rural Roots of Bluegrass CD with the Rural Roots of Bluegrass book and get the CD for ONLY $10. NOTE: The CD itself will be inserted in a sleeve on the inside cover of the book without the plastic jewel case, cover, or traycard. Includes Dream of the Miner's Child, Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky, I'll be All Smiles Tonight, Katie Dear, When You and I Were Young, Maggie, Little Rosewood Casket, Handsome Molly, Blue Ridge Mountain Blues, Banjo Pickin' Girl, Rabbit in the Log, Short Life of Trouble, Darling Cory, Sandy Bottom, Man of Constant Sorrow, Old Mother Flanagan, Bury Me Beneath the Willow.* "Laura Boosinger's voice is lilting and lovely...her songs are honest and true." Banjo Newsletter "I have thoroughly enjoyed 'Rural Roots of Bluegrass.' It's fantastic!" Tom Parker
The Outhouse Papers ~ Country Humor and Trivia ~ by Wayne Erbsen		Book $9.95
The Outhouse Papers is a hoot! Absolutely funny and absorbing, this hilarious book includes weird and wacky stories, strange historical facts, jokes, and folklore on a wide range of topics. Lose yourself in moonshine tales, old-fashion marriage advice, and even the Duct Tape Diet. Learn the lost art of hurling insults and making jerk coffee. Master the secret slang of Civil War soldiers, railroaders, hobos, and cowboys. Marvel at weird laws, strange inventions, and bizarre festivals, like the Cow Chip Throwing Championship, and the Rattlesnake Derby. Revel in quirky factoids about rich and famous Americans all the way from Thomas Jefferson to Al Capone. This book belongs in every outhouse in America. 4" x 9", 192 pages Click HERE for a sample page of The Outhouse Papers as a pdf file. "Wayne! Your Outhouse Papers has been well read by all the family." Pete Seeger "I gotta have this book!!" Betsy Hyer, Vintage Cowboy, Hill City, S.D. "Sheer light-hearted fun. Every throne room should have a copy - even those in our libraries!" Rebecca Brown "The Outhouse Papers is the funniest thing! It's so cool." Pam Buckland "Your book made me belly laugh and remember days gone by." Mac McDonald "After I read a few pages of The Outhouse Papers, I was rolling on the floor." N. Nantangoli
An Old-Fashioned WingDing 14 Turn-of-the Century Melodies Wayne Erbsen		CD $14.95 Tape $9.95 TAPES NOW ON SALE for $5.99
Come on in! We're having a Wingding! Sample the music you might have heard at a turn-of-the century party. We'll take you into the parlors of city dwellers and to a rural barn dance. 14 timeless instrumentals, 40 minutes. Features 5 & 6 stringed banjos, fiddle, minstrel banjo, guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo-mandolin, banjo-guitar, spoons. "You play these grand old melodies with obvious love, sensitivity and authenticity. This may be my favorite Native Ground recording to date."--Dave Higg, Bluegrass Breakdown, WPLN-FM Nashville *"We have been really enjoying 'Wing Ding.' Just plain ole great listening."* --Doug Elliott**
Silver Bell, Sweet Bunch of Daisies, Richmond Cotillion, Chinquapin Pie, At a Georgia Camp Meeting, Goodbye Liza Jane, John Barleycorn, Red Wing, Sourwood Mountain, Dill Pickles, Wednesday Night Waltz, Dry & Dusty, Spooning in the Parlor, Give the Fiddler a Dram.
Backpocket Bluegrass Songbook Wayne Erbsen		Book $6.95
Since it came out in 1981, thousands of people have enjoyed and learned from the pages of the Backpocket Bluegrass Songbook. In addition to the lyrics and melody line, the book also includes guitar chords, tips on choosing the right key, using the capo, bluegrass music history, information on each song, and vintage photos. 57 pages. "You done a good job on that!" Legendary banjo player Wade Mainer, at age 96. "I have seen many versions of 'Wildwood Flower' but yours is the only one that makes a lick of sense." Jesse Stark. "I learned guitar on the porch of my restored log cabin from your Backpocket books. I can't tell you how much enjoyment they've brought me." Mike Antoniak Includes words, music and history of: A Beautiful Life, All the Good Times Are Past and Gone, Banks of the Ohio, Bury Me Beneath the Willow, Cumberland Gap, Darling Cory, Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky, Down in the Willow Garden, East Virginia, Give Me the Roses Now, Handsome Molly, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight, John Hardy, Just Over in the Gloryland, Knoxville Girl, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Life's Railway to Heaven, Little Maggie, Little Log Cabin in the Lane, Lonesome Road Blues, Long Journey Home, Lord, I'm Coming Home, Maple on the Hill, Midnight on the Stormy Deep, My Home's Across the Smokey Mountains, Old Joe Clark, Poor Ellen Smith, Pretty Polly, Put My Little Shoes Away, Rabbit in the Log, Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms, Roving Gambler, Sally Goodin, Seeing Nelly Home, Short Life of Trouble, Sweet Sunny South, The Girl I left in Sunny Tennessee, When the Bees Are in the Hive, Where the Soul of Man Never Dies, Wildwood Flower.

Backpocket Old-Time Songbook Wayne Erbsen		Book $6.95
Along with its twin brother, above, The Backpocket Old-Time Songbook is considered a classic. In addition to song lyrics, musical notation and guitar chords, it is packed hints on singing in the right key, singing with an instrument, transposing your chords, using a capo, plus a short history of old-time songs, minstrel songs, dance tunes, knockdown tunes, ballads, parlor songs and gospel songs. Includes numerous vintage photos. 57 pages. "The Backpocket Old-Time Songbook is the BEST! I've looked for some of these songs for 20 years!"--David Mattson, Egegik, Alaska Includes words, music and history of: Angelina Baker, Bald-Headed End of the Broom, Bravest Cowboy, Bully of the Town, Cindy, Cluck Old Hen, Come Take a Trip in My Airship, Cotton-Eyed Joe, Cumberland Gap, Darling Nelly Gray, Diamond Joe, Dixie, Don’t You Hear Jerusalem Moan? Ground Hog, Hard Times Come Again No More, I’m Gwine Back to Dixie, I’m the Man Who Rose the Mule Around the World, Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel, Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy, Kingdom Coming, Little Rosewood Casket, Little Log Cabin in the Lane, Little Stream of Whiskey, Milwaukee Blues, Mole in the Ground, Oh, Them Golden Slippers, Oh My Little Darling, Old Maid’s Last Hope, Pap’s Billy Goat, Pretty Saro, Rambling Boy, Shady Grove, Shall We Gather at the River? Sourwood Mountain, Sugar Babe, Watermelon on the Vine, Wild Bill Jones, Wildwood Flower, Wind and Rain, Yellow Rose of Texas.
Front Porch Favorites 19th Century American Classics Wayne Erbsen		CD $14.95 Tape $9.95 TAPES NOW ON SALE for $5.99!
A best-selling recording of 17 foot-stomping melodies found in the Front Porch book. Features Wayne on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, and guitar, David Holt on spoons, washboard, harmonica, tambourine, and bones and Phil Jamison on feet! 55 minutes. All instrumentals. The perfect companion to the book "Front Porch Songs, Jokes & Stories." "I just love Front Porch Favorites to Death!" Fenix D. Scully "The musicianship is very skillful."--Sing Out! "A great way to get introduced to the classic stuff." Kathleen C. Vandermortel "I am most truly enjoying Front Porch Favorites." Rev. Greg K. Gunn
Arkansas Traveler, Blue-Tail Fly, Oh! Susanna, Turkey in the Straw, Golden Slippers, Old Joe Clark, Buffalo Gals, Grandfathers's Clock, Cindy, Cripple Creek, Blue-Tailed Fly, Polly Wolly Doodle, Sunny South, Ground Hog, Jack of Diamonds, The Riddle Song, When Johnny Comes Marching Home.
Front Porch Songs, Jokes & Stories 48 Great Sing-Along Favorites Wayne Erbsen		Book $5.95
A treasure trove of 19th century songs, hilarious jokes, wild stories, vintage photos, and even a recipe for cooking groundhog! 48 favorite melodies of the past that have traveled along with the pioneers in covered wagons through the Civil War period and up to today! 8½ x 5½ , 64 pages. The perfect companion to the recording "Front Porch Favorites." Over 125, 000 sold! Includes words, music and history of: Amazing Grace, Arkansas Traveler, Bile Em Cabbage Down, Blue-Tailed Fly, Buffalo Gals, Cindy, Cluck Old Hen, The Crawdad Song, Cripple Creek, Down in the Valley, Goober Peas, Grandfather's Clock, Ground Hog, Hambone, Home Sweet Home, I Was Born 4,000 Years Ago, Jack of Diamonds, Jesse James, John Henry, Listen to the Mockingbird, Moonshiner, My Homes Across the Smoky Mountains, My Old Kentucky Home, New River Train, Oh! Susanna, Oh Them Golden Slippers, Old Dan Tucker, Old Joe Clark, On Top of Old Smoky, Polly Wolly Doodle, Poor Ellen Smith, Poor Wayfaring Stranger, Pretty Polly, Railroad Bill, The Riddle Song, Roving Gambler, Soldier's Joy, The Sunny South, Turkey in the Straw, Uncle Joe, Unclouded Day, Wabash Cannonball, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, When You And I Were Young Maggie, whoa Mule, Wild Bill Jones, Wildwood Flower, Yellow Rose of Texas. "This book is FAB-U-LOUS!"--Philip A. Mackey, Newark, DE "I'm having a ball with this book!" Carl Turlington, Gainesville, FL
Log Cabin Pioneers Stories, Songs & Sayings Wayne Erbsen		Book $14.95
Step inside the door of Log Cabin Pioneers as Wayne Erbsen tales you on a personal journey of finding and restoring an historic log cabin. By the magic of a crackling fire, he'll introduce you to authentic pioneers who will sing you ancient songs, spin yarns about Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone and Thomas Jefferson, and tell spell-binding tales of bear hunting with moonshine or give you advice on how to buy a mule. Join other settlers in a house raising, hew logs for a cabin, shop in an old-time general store, eat ash cake and dance your socks off at an old-fashioned barn dance. Includes remedies, superstitions, romantic advice, 143 vintage photos, words & music to 19 songs. 6" x 9", 184 pages, perfect bound, glossy full color cover. The perfect companion to the recording "Log Cabin Songs." "We were absolutely thrilled with the Log Cabin Pioneers book."--Mary and Dick Elder "I just had to write you on the wonderful book and CD on log cabins...It's the best! the songs and informative book is a treasured keepsake forever. I will definitely buy more products from you in the future. Thanks for putting together such a quality product." C. Bradley For More reviews of this book, Click HERE!
Log Cabin Songs Wayne Erbsen & Laura Boosinger		CD $14.95 Tape $9.95 TAPES NOW ON SALE for $5.99!
Roll up the rug, clear the floor and grab your partner! Kick up your heels with spunky old-time dance tunes, historic songs and ancient ballads of America's log cabin pioneers. Little Log Cabin in the Lane, Darling Cory, Puncheon Floor, Sugar in the Gourd, Cricket on the Hearth, My Old Cottage Home, The Blackest Crow, Goodbye to My Stepstone, Mary of the Wild Moor, East Virginia, Red Rocking Chair, Fracas on York Ridge, and Lost Jug in the Cornpile. 10 Vocals, 6 instrumentals played on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and bass. 48 minutes. The perfect companion to the book "Log Cabin Pioneers." "Your music adds authenticity and richness to our educational programming on the Kentucky TV network." --Liz Hobson, Director of Education "Log Cabin Songs and Southern Mountain Classics are my favorite CDs I've got! Thanks! Nancy Alumbaug "I fell in love with this tape!" Allan Wood, age 79.
Little Log Cabin in the Lane, Darling Cory, Little Whitewashed Chimney, The Hound Dog Song, Cabin Creek, Puncheon Floor, Sugar in the Gourd, Cricket on the Hearth, My Old Cottage Home, The Blackest Crow, Goodbye To My Stepstone, Mary of the Wild Moor, East Virginia, Red Rocking Chair, Fracas on York Ridge, and Lost Jug in the Cornpile.
Southern Mountain Classics 16 Great Old-Timey Instrumentals Wayne Erbsen		CD $14.95 Tape $9.95 TAPES NOW ON SALE for $5.99!
A rollicking collection of classic 19th century American tunes. Spirited performances on clawhammer banjo, old-time fiddle, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, bass and feet! 16 tunes, all instrumental, 48 minutes. Features Dirk Powell on fiddle, who recently played fiddle on the soundtrack to the movie "Cold Mountain." Click Here for the banjo, mandolin, fiddle and dulcimer instruction books that match this recording! *"Southern Mountain Classics* blew my mind! That’s the sound I love. Count me among your fans and followers!" Andre St. Romain, age 17*. This is a killer recording!"--Banjo Newsletter" "Awesome fiddling. Best version of 'Arkansas Traveler' I ever did hear."* Robert Thomas "A superb recording of many classics. If you are a beginner looking to learn old-time music, START HERE!"--Fiona Dudley "I wanted to let you know how much my wife and I have enjoyed your 'Southern Mountain Classic' recording. We played the cassette until it wore out and now have the CD. Great music!!" Tom Stuckert
Arkansas Traveler, Soldier's Joy, Cluck Old Hen, Little Rosewood Casket, Mississippi Sawyer, Fisher's Hornpipe, Leather Britches, Chicken Reel, Shady Grove, John Henry, Uncle Joe, State of Arkansas, Red Rocking Chair, When You And I Were Young Maggie, The Old Spinning Wheel, Hogeye.