I am a Old Timey musician, and have haphazardly collected a bunch of old 78's over the years. I have always wanted to know who Don Richardson was, and thought it might have been a made up name for some other notable fiddler (as record companies often did). I'm from NC and am surprised to learn he is from there. He was a very accomplished fiddler, and you can hear "classical" training in his technique. Thanks for posting....I too have this 78 record, and now I know who he is.

Thanks for posting this recording--very interesting.

Question: How does one obtain such a recording? Do you own the original 78 RPM, or is this from an old CD or LP issue?

Thanks,

Eric

fiddling john carson's 1923 recording of 'little old log cabin in the lane' uis usually quoted as the first 'country' recording - this is 7 years earlier.

The sound is pretty good I'd say - good fiddle playing - and a nice piano accompaniment.

The Don Richardson on these Columbia recordings was born in Clinton N.C., (and did not die in WVA.,)in fact he was born in Clinton,NC in 1878 He was the son of the eminent Jurist M.C.Richardson,he moved to Charlotte at the age of 22.In 1910 moved to New York City where he stayed until 1919 playing with
different orchestras.He began Teaching atQueens College in Chsrlotte,was oldest living Teacher there in 1936.Died Charlotte,NC.,in 1953

Does anyone know much about his recording of "the devil's dream-reel"? I have a beat up 78 of this and I am going to put it online. The other side is "Miss McLeod-Reel". Any information would help, thanks.

He is a fiddler, not a violinist. And his version of this tune is hardly repetitive if you listen carefully to the variety of his runs, or have ever tried to play the song. Excellent item to have in the database. This kind of playing is very hard to find.

very excelent

Pretty good, but overly repetitive song. The violinist sure knows his stuff. As for the recording, you hardly hear the piano, but the violin comes out just fine.

This is perhaps the very first commercial recording of this now famous fiddle tune, by an actual fiddler! The man Don Richardson, was born in Kentucky in 1898. He died in Fox River, West Virgina, in 1954.
The piano accomp is somewhat strong in this record.
Perhaps the first Country Music Record??
Don't know for sure, but, maybe