Notes on the Tunes
10. Tippy Get Your Hair Cut
When Melvin Wine was a boy, one of the many African American fiddlers who lived in or traveled through Braxton Co. was Jilly Grace. Jilly guarded his tunes carefully, perhaps fearing to loose his “edge” if other fiddlers knew them. He played this tune for Melvin’s father, Bob, who could not even bribe Jilly to play it a second time. Apparently Bob observed Grace playing the tune often enough to learn it himself and taught it to Melvin. (Milnes) Kerry Blech has a photo copy of sheet music from 1887 called “Johnny Get Your Hair Cut” by F.T. Williams, published by Junius Hart in New Orleans. It has basically the same melody.
Chris’ fiddle GDAD : Whitt’s banjo dGDF#A : Laura - feet
