Various Artists: Flattops and Fiddles
ALGIE SURRATT - Algie was born October 20, 1927 in Prentiss County, Mississippi. His interest in music, especially country music, developed at an early age. He recalls listening to the Grand Ole Opry every Saturday night. His favorite performer on these Opry broadcasts was DeFord Bailey. Gradually an interest in fiddle music was developed through listening to fiddlers like Murle "Red" Taylor and Big Howdy (Forrester), and more recently J.T. Perkins. Algie's own musical talents developed at an early age. He won his first talent contest at age five with his harmonica playing. By age fifteen he and one of Mississippi's-finest old time fiddlers, Ernest Claunch, were featured on a weekly radio program on Saturday mornings over station WELD in Tupelo, Mississippi. As will be readily apparent from listening to this album, Algie's concentration on the guitar has resulted in an extremely accomplished musician. These abilities have not gone unnoticed! Among his trophies, Algie can proudly point to ones proclaiming him 1972, 1973, 1974 Tennessee Valley guitar champion; 1974 Mid-Tennessee guitar champion; and 1974 Renfro Valley guitar champion.
CLAUDIE HOLT - The North Alabama hills around Athens, Alabama have produced numerous fine old-time musicians such as fiddler Sam McCracken and guitarist Claudie Holt. Claudie was born in this area of Alabama on January 21, 1920. His interest in the guitar began when he was fifteen years old and hasn't slacked since then. He is frequently a contestant in guitar competition at fiddlers conventions in the Southeast, and always finishes "in the money." His proudest accomplishment was winning the honored title of Tennessee Valley guitar champion in 1970. Both he and Algie have expressed their sincere appreciation to the other musicians that helped in the preparation of this album, and both have echoed their desires to produce "an album that the listeners will enjoy." This record has truly been a dream of these fine guitatists for quite some time.
J.T. PERKINS - J.T. Perkins is a "natural born" fiddler having been born and raised with numerous old time musicians on both sides of the family. He was born in the little rural community of Grassy on the outskirts of Arab, Alabama, a small north Alabama mountain town, J.T. practically quit playing the fiddle during the 50's and early 60's. He started back in earnest when the formation of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Association reawakened interest in old time fiddling. Since then he has emerged as a top fiddler with national recognition. He had several impressive wins in 1973 including Renfro Valley Champion, Champion of the Mid-South, and Champion of the Cumberlands. His most impressive victory, however, was his 2nd place win at the Grand Masters Fiddlers Contest. 1974 has seen championships at Clarksville, Tennessee (Middle Tennessee Championship), Renfro Valley, and the World Championship Bluegrass Fiddling Contest held in Memphis, Tennessee in addition to numerous other smaller contests.
ROY CRAWFORD - Roy was born on a farm near Lineville, Alabama. He says, "It was natural for me to become a musician since my four brothers and three sisters all played a musical instrument of some kind, and sang. I learned to love oid-time fiddling by attending square dances where my brothers performed." Roy's musical career began at age 6 when he learned to play the guitar. Subsequently, he learned to play the mandolin, and at age 16 took up the fiddle which has been his chief instrument ever since. After completing high school he traveled with various groups such as The Southern Flames, The Covered Wagon Boys,
and The Sunny Valley Boys (this group was also known as Rebe and Rabe). The fiddle was put aside in 1956 to follow a career in data processing. Thankfully, Roy has recently taken the fiddle out of the case and is now competing in numerous fiddle contests. At present he is considered to be a 'dark horse' in the competition. However, his impressive victory at the Stone Mountain Fiddlers Convention in 1974 has indicated to all southeastern fiddlers that the fiddling of Roy Crawford is certainly here to stay.
GERALD SURRATT - Gerald was born in Lee County, Mississippi in 1932. The development of Earl Scruggs' three-fingered banjo technique stirred an interest in Gerald to play bluegrass banjo. The results can be heard on this album. Currently, Gerald operates his own photographic studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
JIM FOX - Jim was born December 16, 1939 in Littleton, West Virginia. in 1967 he moved to Saltillo, Mississippi and struck up an acquaintance with Algie Surratt. Jim's fine rhythm guitar soon became a standard backup for Algie's competition in guitar contests. As Algie puts it, "Jim has helped me win every contest I have won since 1972."
LOYD HONEYCUTT - Loyd, who is featured on bass on the album, has played guitar for many years and is acknowledged as an outstanding performer on the instrument. His work on the bass will attest to his pro- ficiency on this instrument as well. Loyd is employed at WAPI-TV in Birmingham, as is Algie Surratt.
TWO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ALBUM
"Just five words describe this album, 'Good Picking and Good Fiddling.' The flattop picking by Algie Surratt stands up with the best. I have known him for only a few years, but know him as a man who is constantly self-improving. His work on this album and his high finishes in contests throughout the central south attest to this. When you mention amateur fiddlers in this part of the country, the first one to come to mind is J.T. Perkins. He has won, at least once, nearly all of the prestigeous contests held in the central south. The tunes he does on this album bears out the reason. These two friends of mine from the 'heart of Dixie - Alabama - have put together a good-listening album."
---Howard "Big Howdy" Forrester
"One October day a few years ago while walking across the parking lot at the Tennessee Valley fiddlers contest in Athens, Alabama, I heard a fiddler playing DOC HARRIS HORNPIPE. There, in the middle of the parking lot in the shade of a pickup-truck camper, was J.T. Perkins. The tone and clarity he was getting from his fiddle has made me a fan of his to this day. It was on this same trip that I met Algie Surratt. He was picking in one of the many jam sessions that occur at gatherings like this. After listening a while, I remarked to a friend, 'Sam McGee never picked better.' These are two fine musicians, enjoy them as I do.
---Perry Harris
The Tunes
1. McMichen's Reel
2. Fiddlin' Medley
3. Sweet Buch of Daisies
4. McMichen's Breakdown
5. My Carolina Home
6. Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
7. Cumberland Valley Waltz
8. Devil's Dream/Rickett's Hornpipe/Fisher's Hornpipe
9. Hog Trough Reel
10. Honolulu Moon
11. Wild Cat Rag
12. Georgia Wildcat Rag
13. Yum Yum Blues
14. Soldier's Joy/Arkansas Traveler/Mississippi Sawyer
15. Fire On the Mountain/Ida Red/Sally/Sally Gooden
