Description
The Leake County String Band has the distinction of being the longest lived of all of the Mississippi string bands. Except for concerts during its most visible period in the 1970s and a single recording in 1971, the band played close to home, mostly socially in their homes, nursing homes and churches. Throughout most of its long life, this band seems to have been more a collection of friends playing local, well-loved tunes than a professional or even semi-professional band. They usually had two fiddles, often playing in harmony, particularly on favorite waltzes. With changes in personnel, the band continued until June 27,1991. – Harry Bolick
Track List
The Leake County String Band 1969-1991 – FRC730
PERSONNEL: On the 1971 locally-distributed LP (Tracks 1-11) were George and Morgan Gilmer on fiddles, Sam Alford on lead guitar, Howard Smith on rhythm guitar. Other members or guests of the band over the years were Alvis and Cartis Massengale, Carlton Freeny, Smith Freeny, Hendrix Freeny, Cleveland Freeny, Hayward and Shelby Sanders, Roy Alford, Ollie Brown, Grover Babb, Roscoe Moore, Bud Jones, Joe Cox, Drane Adams.
- Maggie (1:57)
- Merry Widow Waltz (2:12)
- Nellie Moore (2:16)
- Dry Town Blues (2:20)
- My Waltz (Morgan Gilmer) (2:28)
- Mississippi Shuffle (George Gilmer) (2:27)
- Down Yonder (2:04)
- Silver Bells (1:53)
- Ragtime Annie (2:14)
- When I’m Gone (Don’tcha Grieve After Me) (2:13)
- Wednesday Night Waltz (3:18)
- Nobody’s Business 1978 (2:06)
- Pass Around the Bottle (1:27)
- Precious Memories (1:05)
- Carroll County Blues – 1980s (1:48)
- My Own Home Waltz – 1983 (2:50)
- Little Star – Alvis Massengale (3:18)
- Hop High Ladies – Alvis Massengale (3:08)
- Bully of the Town – Alvis Massengale (2:36)
- Whistling Rufus – Cartis Massengale (3:08)
- Katy Hill – Cartis Massengale (1:36)
- Arkansas Traveler – Alvis Massengale (1:14)
- El Rancho Grande (2:12)
- Sebastapol (2:43)
