Irving Penso interview with Sam Harrison and Joe Miller

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. In this recording Irving Penso records Sam Harrison and Joe Miller, former members of the old-time band Gid Tanner and his Skillet Lickers, playing the banjo and the guitar at Millers home in Campton, Georgia. The men begin by performing a song that Harrison wrote titled Harrisons March, followed by the folk tunes, Wednesday Night Waltz, Down Yonder, Red River Valley, Old Joe Clark, Turkey in the Straw, Wildwood Flower, and Bile them Cabbage Down. At 12:58, the men explain that they had heard the old tune Bile them Cabbage Down their whole lives. After Harrison and Miller perform Sally Goodwin, they recall performing certain songs with Gid Tanner. They then play, Johnsons Old Grey Mule, John Henry, Wreck of the Old 97, The Little Mohee, Devilish Mary, Little Mary Fagan written by Fiddlin John Carson, Little Rosewood Casket, On Top of Old Smokey, and Kitty Wells. Miller also sings a couple verses. 31:30: Miller describes radio requests and how folk tunes often get confused because of their similar patterns. At minute 32:47, they perform songs by Hank Williams, Your Cheatin Heart and Cold, Cold Heart, followed by an untitled Harrison composition, Redwing, and the hymn The Great Speckled Bird. At minute 45:26, Miller and Harrison recollect when they first started playing music, the importance of folk music, and the history of the banjo. At minute 47:15, Penso asks if they know African American folk tunes. Miller and Harrison respond by playing St. Louis Blues, which Harrison recalls first hearing on a talking machine. The duo then performs a medley of Dixie, Way Down Upon the Swanee River, and Im Looking for a Four-Leaf Clover, followed by Ohio, and an untitled song. At minute 58:36 Harrison plays and sings Going Down the Road Feeling Bad. They finish with Under the Double Eagle, a song that Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys popularized. The last song cuts off half way through the recording. Sam Wilson Harrison (1912-2000) was born outside of Gwinnett County, Georgia. He lived in Loganville, Georgia, and worked at Universal-International Pictures in Atlanta. Joe Miller (1918-2009) was born in Walton County, Georgia. He owned a small music store, which he ran out of his home in Campton, Georgia. , ' AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information Catalogue number M~h 1003 . eft>', 11 Source Field' (ContentDM) - Release form Yes6~ Transcript Yes or No scanned: From Yes or No Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individual: individual through <your org, name> Georgia Folklore Collection through <your org, name> , I b' h Object Information Enter information about the physlca o )Ject ere: Title ~\l Wih:On jl!l' I ( (interviewee name and date 1vI,. ~X,\\,( of interview) J<>c, ~'I Lj t 1\ )1&'6 Description (bio on ,-,\{ So-H W,y;:,<y, ~"' '!\t;t"f'-""Q- ["~ ""'= \:Jo", OCl.:,\;Y'f ';}.;;;O } )qlo( interviewee) ..be, Iti\'.! ,," '01.)-,/\ , , '\1'6 1 . Creator (Enter either an individual's name or an organization) Collection Name (within the organization) Burrison Folklore Class Georgia Folklore Archives Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) f-:-:-----------+---:=-------------I Year (if only the year is known) \ A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.