The Williamson Brothers
Encyclopedia
Arnold and Ervin Williamson (better known as The Williamson Brothers) were folk musicians based in Logan County
, West Virginia
, USA active in the 1920s and 30s. Arnold played the fiddle
while Ervin played the guitar
and did vocals. The duo recorded several songs for Okeh Records
in the late 1920s, and remained musically active in subsequent decades, although they rarely recorded. Their version of "Gonna Die With a Hammer in My Hand" (a song about John Henry the steel driver) has been reported as being the most popular version ever recorded. Musically, they were closely related to other folk musicians based in Logan County in the 1920s such as Frank Hutchison
and Dick Justice
.
Logan County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,710 people, 14,880 households, and 10,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile . There were 16,807 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA active in the 1920s and 30s. Arnold played the fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
while Ervin played the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and did vocals. The duo recorded several songs for Okeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
in the late 1920s, and remained musically active in subsequent decades, although they rarely recorded. Their version of "Gonna Die With a Hammer in My Hand" (a song about John Henry the steel driver) has been reported as being the most popular version ever recorded. Musically, they were closely related to other folk musicians based in Logan County in the 1920s such as Frank Hutchison
Frank Hutchison
Frank Hutchison was an early country blues and piedmont blues musician.-Biography:...
and Dick Justice
Dick Justice (singer)
Dick Justice was an American blues and folk musician, who hailed from West Virginia, United States.Born Richard Justice, he recorded ten songs for Brunswick Records in Chicago in 1929. Unlike many contemporary white musicians, he was heavily influenced by black musicians, particularly Luke Jordan...
.