Darby and Tarlton

Darby and Tarlton were an American old-time duo. The two musicians were early stars of country music, then called hillbilly or old-time, and had a great influence on later musicians of their genre.

Career

Jimmie Tarlton was born in 1892 as the son of a cotton picker family in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. His parents taught him banjo playing and brought him with traditional old folk songs, called traditionals in touch. At the age of 12 Tarlton learned of black workers in the fields, how to play guitar and adapted their slide methods. Usually blues musicians took advantage of a broken neck to play, so as to produce a long tone. As a young man Tarlton made his money trying to attract as street musicians around the country. While living in California, he met the famous musician Frank Ferera know who showed him the softer style of Hawaiian music.

Later Tarlton settled in Columbus, Georgia, where he guitarist Tom Darby (* 1884) met. Darby was related to the hillbilly Star Riley Puckett and had also learned his skills as a singer of blues musicians. A local talent scout encouraged the musicians to get together and arranged an audition with Columbia Records, which they took under contract. Their first single was released in 1927 with the comedy piece Down In Florida On a Hog.

Already their next single, Birmingham Jail on the A- side and the Columbus Stockade Blues on the B - side, the duo brought their greatest success. With nearly 200,000 copies sold of success was enough to almost to the Gid Tanner's Skillet Lickers Riley Puckett or. However, Darby and Tarlton were only $ 75 each for their services. In the following time you get connection success with Birmingham Jail # 2, Lonesome Railroad, Traveling Yodel Blues and Heavy Hearted Blues and toured with Gid Tanner and his Skillet Lickers, the Delmore Brothers, and the Dixon Brothers. After disputes with Columbia in 1929 Darby and Tarlton played their last session in 1930, and then went their separate ways. Only 1932 and 1933 they took on one plate each for RCA Victor Records and ARC. 1935 both gave the music completely.

For a long time were Darby and Tarlton forgotten; only during the folk revival in the 1960s, the duo was "rediscovered". For a short time they played together at various festivals and gave concerts as well as some interviews, but after the duo broke up again. Only Tarlton had longer something of his success. He released an album that was a long time in the press and toured.

Jimmie Tarlton died in 1979, Tom Darby already in 1971.

Work

Jimmie Tarlton is mainly seen as a pioneer of the steel guitar. As one of the first who used this instrument in country music ( Cliff Carlisle next to him ), he had a not to be underestimated influence on the later country music. It was mainly artists like the Delmore Brothers and the Allen Brothers, who later said to have been influenced by him. Tom Darby, however, is considered one of the most talented singer of early country music, especially by his unmistakable blues influence. Songs such as Birmingham Jail and Columbus Stockade Blues are now considered classics of the Country.

Discography

Singles

Albums

1920 Singing Chesterfield County (South Carolina) Folk music Traditional music Music of Hawaii Columbus (Georgia) Georgia (U.S. state) Dorsey Dixon Bear Family Records

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