Senator Robert Byrd: Rye Whiskey (1978 Recording)

Senator Robert Byrd (1917-2010) of West Virginia (fiddle and vocals) is accompanied in this 1978 recording by Doyle Lawson (guitar), James Bailey (banjo) and Spider Gilliam (bass). I recorded this track from the LP, "U.S. Senator Robert Byrd - Mountain Fiddler," produced in 1978 by Barry Poss and distributed by County Records (serial number County 769). All the program notes on the rear LP jacket cover are included in this video.

A 1978 Time magazine writeup of Byrd as fiddler can be viewed here:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919337,00.html

More information about the genesis of this recording here:

http://motherjones.com/riff/2010/06/music-monday-senator-robert-byrd-fiddle-o...


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More historical bluegrass recordings:

David Johnson: Cumberland Gap (1983): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wygExeZodtA

Earl Taylor & The Stony Mountain Boys: Foggy Mountain Top - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl7aR2FHf2k

David and Billie Ray Johnson - Bluegrass Breakdown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpxZHT9h1CY

Hazel Dickens / Alice Gerrard - My Better Years (1967) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl8XDU8baWQ

Friendly City Playboys: Back Up And Push (1961) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPvMlZhAs6k

Jerry Stuart, Pete Kuykendall, Smiley Hobbs, Tom Gray: Rocky Run (1969) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9vPPgeQzYs

The Nashville Grass - China Grove, My Home Town: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qwj6cYN8jA

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Senator Robert Byrd
• West Virginia
• Doyle Lawson
• Rye Whiskey
• James Bailey
• Spider Gilliam
• Mountain Fiddler
• County Records
• Barry Poss
• County 769
• Country Gentlemen
• Fiddle
• Banjo
• Guitar
• Bass
• President pro tempore
• Raleigh County
• Clark Kessinger

[feldyy]

best goddamn country fiddler congress has ever seen.

[boothl232]

If the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck - I was worried about the rhyme to that last word - lol

[BlackRoseDrumGirl]

The movie "Bus Stop" brought me here. When I heard Arthur O'Connell singing it half asleep, all I could think was "Hey, that's song is cool". I've been looking for it like crazy since then :D

(BTW: I'm spanish, that's why I didn't know the song)

[willspires]

Quite probably. . . Sen. Byrd used to mention that Thomas Jefferson was a fiddler, too.

[jerryrful]

my gradfather used to have this album i can still here this song in my memory he also used to play his own home made fiddles i sure miss you grandpa.

[MistyMountaineers]

That a picture of Stonewall in the background?

[SFSEAT]

No political affiliation can ruin this beautiful music

[bodacious1942]

Though a controvesial public figure......he WAS a fiddler.