This is my blog where I write about music, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Comments and feedback always appreciated. Please do not link directly to mp3s. It's rude.

Little Rachel's Lonesome Blues

Pete "Oswald" Kirby and Rachel Veach:
Weary Lonesome Blues
On Roy Acuff "Columbia Historic Edition"

(1) I'll start at the very beginning... a very good place to start. If you don't feel like reading a pointless tangent, skip to (2).
The first 78 rpm record that I had was from my grandfather. He had given me a record player and a stack of old records. That man is a packrat. When I had asked him if he had an old 78 player, he replied "I have two but one of them is broken."
The record was "Freight Train Blues," with "Wabash Cannon Ball" on the other side (1936). I became very obsessed with "Freight Train Blues." I went ahead and tried to find the song on CD, but the Acuff "Freight Train Blues" I found was recorded much later. Eventually I found the song on Roy Acuff's "Columbia Historic Edition." Turns out he didn't even sing the song - he was playing the train whistle. So I guess I am not an Acuff fan after all.

(2) "Weary Lonesome Blues." Acuff is on fiddle. One Amazon.com reviewer says, "Weary Lonesome Blues has the distinction of being my least favorite song on this album - it's a great song in its own right, but this recording is afflicted with some fellow's constant belly-laughing, and let me tell you it's the most obnoxious, annoying laughter I've ever heard in my life."
I believe that annoying laugh belongs to Pete "Oswald" Kirby, aka "Bashful Brother Oswald" to "Little Rachel" aka Rachel Veach. I don't think they're really related.
The Oswald laugh, though annoying and forced, does kind of make me think of that excited triumphant feeling you get (if you've ever played music), when you are playing a song and you suddenly realize that you sound damn great. The feeling works vicariously too... but it's been awhile since I've seen a band and felt that way.
Listen to this track and enjoy a great female banjo player, and some sweet harmonizing.

Beecher Kirby "Pete", Jess Easterday, Roy Acuff, Rachel Veach, Lonnie Wilson "Pap"

Labels: country

Posted by: Kara Mae 2/08/2006

Comments:

"Little Rachel" was my Grandmother. She was quite a "gem" back in her day. She was one of the first women to travel with the
"boys" which is how Oswald received his name, "Brother Oswald". Back in the day it wasn't proper for a woman to travel with all of the guys. This was non-sense but nevertheless that was the reason. You are correct, they were not brother and sister. But along with it came somewhat of a comedy slapstick act. Hense the "annoying laugh". Anyway, she was a wonderful woman who I admire for her courage to get and there and do what she did. Along with being a a fine musician she was also a songwriter, Mother of four girls and the best Grandmother any young girl could ask for.

# posted by

Shannon Peach : 9:20 AM

"Little Rachel", Rachel Veach is my Grandmother. She started out in the late 30's with Roy Acuff after being introduced by Sam McGhee. She was quite a "gem". She was a wonderful Grandmother, had a great personality and sense of humor and probably was quite a force to be reckoned with in her day. She could play the strings off of a banjo and belt out those lyrics. She and Oswald were not related. That was made up because of her traveling with the "boys". That was not a proper thing to do back in those days. "Little Rachel" was about 5 feet tall with beautiful blue eyes and raging red hair. A little spit fire you might say. She had to be to get out and do what she did all those years ago. She was one of the first women to ever tour. She was a songwriter, musician and a Mother of four girls, Mildred, Jean, Bettye and Sharon. I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. I hope that some day, even though she has passed, that she will receive some sort of recognition for the trail she has blazed.

# posted by

Shannon Peach : 9:35 AM

I'm Dave Dunaway, I'm Little Rachel grandson, Mildred's son. Mom was named after Roy's wife, Mildred Acuff. Granny was an insperation on my life in more ways than one. I've got her sense of humor and have picked up her music talent. I haven't learnd to play the Banjo yet, but I do play the guitar. When she was sick with cancer she showed me a few guitar cords to pass the torch. I've missed her ever since she passed away. I miss her Sunday cooking, I miss going out to the country and having her sing to us. Those few chords she started me out with helped me get a job building guitars with Gibson USA. I sure hope I've made her proud.

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:03 PM