Charlie Acuff and David Holt

[BanjoR549]

My favorite old-time fiddler of all time. He could play high notes and low notes with ease. Smooth bowing, yet keeping up that old-timey drone.

AWESOME VIDEO. IF HE PLAYED ANOTHER TUNE ON THIS SHOW PLEASE POST IT! Check out the videos I posted of him with the Lantana Drifters.

The footage was around the same period maybe a little later but he was fiddling as strong as ever.

Sure wish somebody would have made a documentary about this man

Mr. Charlie is a true treasure.

[stevegoldfield]

What Charlie sang was "Brave boys die." At least, that is what I heard him sing the many times we played this tune together. And I also hear "The old yellow dog come trotting to the meetinghouse." Mistyped below. I meant to type "die."

[stevegoldfield]

What Charlie sang was "Brave boys all." At least, that is what I heard him sing the many times we played this tune together. And I also hear "The old yellow dog come trotting to the meetinghouse."

[CadillacL]

May FAVORITE show from back in the day of TNN. Do you have any full episodes?

[blacksmith1862]

Brave boys died, way down in Alabam'

[kayakcraig]

Charlie Acuff is a legendary fiddle player and knows more tunes than a Tennessee hound dog has fleas. Charlie knows his history and his music and won the 2005 Governors award in the Arts and the Heritage Award, and regardless of the awards, he's just a downright good guy.

[melosync]

I love this tune, but I can't quite make out what he is singing after the first line. Can you tell me the the lyrics. Thanks much.

[vintage18lover]

"The old yellow dog come trotting through the meeting house...etc...down in Alabam

Brave boys there, brave boys there, brave boys there way down in Alabam"

It was tough for me to figure that line out at first because of the dialect but he's pronouncing "there" as "thar".

[melosync]

Thanks so much. That really helped.

[bbrad1207]

I wonder if the word is "die", which makes more sense, probably coming from the Civil War.

"Brave boys die, brave boys die, brave boys die, way down in Alabam."

[jtri0817]

First heard Charley with the Lantana Drifters on the Prairie Home Companion and they "stopped me in my tracks". Met them all at the Tennesse Fall Homecoming as Charley was the reason I went. I was fortunate to video most of his fifteen minute performances there. Sorry to hear he lost his wife and musical companion of many years. Best wishes, Charley.

[damevid]

i love this - so uplifting (learned it right away, now im jamming it with my family and friends) Its officially my first singing tune on fiddle.

[GodFearingRebel]

very cool, man. Charlie is awesome.

[Sunburst64]

I was hoping he was still around. He invited me to come to the Museum of Appalacia back in 1992 but I just couldn't get there. I have a teriffic picture of he and I playing together. Thanks for posting Nailhead!, preciate it!

[Sunburst64]

Thanks for posting this. I played with Charlie at Christmas time, 1992 at John Hartfords house. What a nice man. His favorite tune at that time was "Whisky before Breakfast". Hope he is doing well. If anyone knows, please post . Thanks again.

[1960NailHead]

Just saw Charlie playing at the "music of the Mountains' weekend in Smoking Mountains Park in April. The playing is still there!

[WhitePrideZakk]

Well...I'm actually sitting right next to him right now. He's doing alright. I just finished playing a few tunes. He's a great man.

[cbbanjo]

Hey thats great! Nothing like a good old tune. Thanks for sharing.

[OldtimeFiddler]

Thanks for posting.