The Delmore Brothers: Freight Train Boogie
Posted by clarkspicks in bluegrass, blues, booge woogie, country, folk, gospel, guitar, music, tags: boogie woogie, country music, Delmore brothers, freight train boogie, western swingAlton and Rabon Delmore were the sons of an Alabma tenant farmer. During the 1920s they began writing and singing songs, under the influence of their mother who wrote gospel songs and sang them in church. The Delmores melded the sounds of the gospel harmonies, Appalachian fiddle tunes and country blues they heard growing up in Alabama to create a new kind of country music. They became stars of the new medium of their time - radio, appearing on the Grand Old Oprey throughout the 1930s.
The Delmore Brothers began as a duo, with just a guitar and tenor guitar, a four stringed instrument invented for the convenience of banjo players. Over time they added instruments and musicians to their band, including drums, bass, steel guitar, harmonica and eventually electric guitar. The most notable addition was guitarist Merle Travis, who’s extended instrumental breaks in later Delmore Brothers records brought him to the attention of listeners like the young Arthel (Doc) Watson, who can be ssen, on the link playing a Delmore Brothers tune, Deep River Blues. The Delmore Brothers’ influence can be heard in the music of many performers from Bob Dylan and the Beatles to contemporary bluegrass bands.
This video features some footage of a train pulled by a steam engine, through a winter landscape, set to the music of the Delmore Brothers “Freight Train Boogie.”
Update: It’s Music Monday! even though I only found this on Tuesday morning. You can join Music Monday if you post some music (on Monday) and add your link to the list. If you don’t have a Music Monday post you will be horsewhipped and your link will be deleted.
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.
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Great blog! I watched the video and immediately thought maybe there was some Delmore Brothers influence in the Beatles’ songs “Cry Baby Cry” and “Glass Onion”. Again, great post! Enjoyed it.
Megan,
According to Alton Delmore’s daughter’s tribute website the Delmore’s influence on the Beatles was by way of the Everly Brothers. I think it’s the vocal harmonies on their early songs that she is referring to. It may show a bit in Glass Onion, to.
Is there any information about this subject in other languages?
Greencard, I think you will have to resort to a translator like Google Language Tools to get what you want.
GreenCard are you referring to the translations of the songs of the Delmore brothers?The delmore brothers are good singers,i hope if someone will interpret their songs into another language it will be also good
Very nice blog. I just listened to the ‘Freight Train Boogie’ and even though I prefer Doc Watson’s version, I love the image of the train ploughing its way through the winter landscape.