The Gully Jumpers
Encyclopedia
The Gully Jumpers were an American Old-time
string band originally consisting of bandleader Paul Warmack (1889–1954) on mandolin
, Charles Arrington (1893-?) on fiddle, Burt Hutcherson (1893–1980) on guitar, and William Roy Hardison (1896–1966) on banjo. They were regular performers on the Grand Ole Opry
in the late 1920s and are believed to have been the first group to release a record recorded in Nashville, Tennessee
. Although their line-up changed over the years, the Gully Jumpers continued performing until the mid-1960s.
Warmack, the bandleader (the band was initially known as "Paul Warmack and His Gully Jumpers"), was born in Whites Creek
in 1889 and was working as an automobile mechanic in Goodlettesville
when he formed the Gully Jumpers around 1927. The band's name was suggested by Opry founder George D. Hay
, who often gave the Opry's early string bands more colorful, rural-sounding names. In 1928, the Gully Jumpers were one of the Opry's most consistent acts, appearing on the show more times than any other group. That same year, they released the first record recorded in Nashville, which contained two tracks entitled "The Tennessee Waltz" (not to be confused with the more famous Pee Wee King song) and "Little Red Caboose Behind the Train." In October 1928, they recorded "Stone Rag", which was written by Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters
fiddler Oscar Stone, and a tune entitled "Robertson County."
In spite of the losses of Warmack and Arrington, the Gully Jumpers continued performing on the Opry into the 1960s. Fellow Opry pioneers such as Sid Harkreader
and Kirk McGee
often stepped in to play fiddle for the band in place of Arrington. Hutcherson, who was the last surviving original member of the band when he died in 1980, was a pioneer of the finger-picked guitar style, and was cited as a key influence by long-time Opry guitarist Sam McGee and early Country music
star "Mother Maybelle" Carter
.
Old-time music
Old-time music is a genre of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland and countries in Africa. It developed along with various North American folk dances, such as square dance, buck dance, and clogging. The genre also...
string band originally consisting of bandleader Paul Warmack (1889–1954) on mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, Charles Arrington (1893-?) on fiddle, Burt Hutcherson (1893–1980) on guitar, and William Roy Hardison (1896–1966) on banjo. They were regular performers on the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
in the late 1920s and are believed to have been the first group to release a record recorded in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Although their line-up changed over the years, the Gully Jumpers continued performing until the mid-1960s.
Warmack, the bandleader (the band was initially known as "Paul Warmack and His Gully Jumpers"), was born in Whites Creek
Whites Creek, Tennessee
Whites Creek, Tennessee is a community located in the northern part of Davidson County, Tennessee. The community is named for the creek of the same name running north-south along U.S. Route 431...
in 1889 and was working as an automobile mechanic in Goodlettesville
Goodlettsville, Tennessee
Goodlettsville is a city in Davidson and Sumner counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Goodlettsville was incorporated as a city in 1958 with a population of just over 3,000 residents; at the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 13,780. Goodlettsville chose to remain autonomous in 1963...
when he formed the Gully Jumpers around 1927. The band's name was suggested by Opry founder George D. Hay
George D. Hay
George Dewey Hay was an American radio personality. He was the founder of the original Grand Ole Opry radio program on WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee, from which the country music stage show of the same name evolved....
, who often gave the Opry's early string bands more colorful, rural-sounding names. In 1928, the Gully Jumpers were one of the Opry's most consistent acts, appearing on the show more times than any other group. That same year, they released the first record recorded in Nashville, which contained two tracks entitled "The Tennessee Waltz" (not to be confused with the more famous Pee Wee King song) and "Little Red Caboose Behind the Train." In October 1928, they recorded "Stone Rag", which was written by Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters
Humphrey Bate
Humphrey Bate was an American harmonica player and string band leader. He was the first musician to play old-time music on Nashville-area radio, and is generally regarded as the first performer on what would eventually become the Grand Ole Opry. Bate and his band, which had been given the name "Dr...
fiddler Oscar Stone, and a tune entitled "Robertson County."
In spite of the losses of Warmack and Arrington, the Gully Jumpers continued performing on the Opry into the 1960s. Fellow Opry pioneers such as Sid Harkreader
Sid Harkreader
Sidney Harkreader was an American Old-time fiddle player and string band leader. He was an early member of the Grand Ole Opry, at first accompanying banjoist Uncle Dave Macon and later performing on the program with his own band...
and Kirk McGee
McGee Brothers
The McGee Brothers were an American old-time performing duo consisting of brothers Sam McGee and Kirk McGee . Sam typically played guitar and Kirk usually played banjo or fiddle, although they were both proficient in multiple string instruments...
often stepped in to play fiddle for the band in place of Arrington. Hutcherson, who was the last surviving original member of the band when he died in 1980, was a pioneer of the finger-picked guitar style, and was cited as a key influence by long-time Opry guitarist Sam McGee and early Country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
star "Mother Maybelle" Carter
Maybelle Carter
"Mother" Maybelle Carter was an American country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters.-Biography:...
.
Discography
- Nashville - The Early String Bands, Vol. 1 (CountyCounty RecordsCounty Records also expanded into the bluegrass music genre, although Freeman preferred those artists who stayed the closest to their old-time roots. The label's first bluegrass release was 1965's Blue Ridge Bluegrass featuring Larry Richardson and the Blue Ridge Boys.-Related businesses:Freeman...
, 2000) — contains the tracks "Robertson County" and "Stone Rag"
External links
- Grand Ole Opry — Timeline
- Juneberry78s.com Sampler — mp3 of the Gully Jumpers' "Robertson County"