Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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McGEE, Sam and Kirk

Veteran country music duo: Sam (b 1 May 1894, Franklin TN; d 21 August 1975 in a tractor accident), brother Kirk (b 4 November 1899, Franklin; d 24 October 1983). Their father was a fiddler, and bought Sam a banjo when he was twelve; Kirk listened for a few years and soon began playing too. They were influenced by local black musicians in their teens; Sam became one of the first whites to play instrumental breaks and runs in the black style, and became one of the best guitar players ever to pick up the instrument. They heard Uncle Dave Macon on tour in 1923, soon joined his Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam on banjo and Kirk on guitar, on the WSM radio show that soon became the Grand Ole Opry.

They began recording in 1928, including Sam's solo 'Railroad Blues' on guitar (early tracks later issued on the County label: Mountain Blues and Old-Time Mountain Guitar; also tracks on Uncle Dave Macon: Early Recordings). They formed trio the Dixieliners '30 with Fiddlin' Arthur Smith, popular on radio; they split before WWII, reunited on records late '50s on Folkways (The McGee Brothers And Arthur Smith; Milk 'Em In The Evening Blues). Meanwhile they recorded with Macon (Smith with the Delmore Brothers); McGees joined a comedy act with Sara and Sally which toured with Bill Monroe; they played with Monroe '44-6.

They also had outside interests, Kirk in property and Sam in farming. All this time they were still regulars on the Opry; they won disagreements with newer Opry stars in mid-'50s, continued playing in their traditional style and were soon rediscovered by a new younger audience. Sam made Grandad Of Country Guitar on Arhoolie; they both appeared on a Starday LP with the Crook Brothers, also on Opry Old Timers on that label and Whoop 'Em Up Cindy on Guest Star; Pillars Of The Grand Ole Opry and Flat-Top Pickin' Sam McGee were issued on their own MBA label.