[78-L] The Fruit Jar Drinkers

[Bill Knowlton]

"I can probably guarantee that the musical accompaniment was not providedby The Fruit Jar Drinkers. (A "hillbilly" instrumental group fronted bytwo brothers, Kirk and Sam McGee.)"
 
Rathaw..."The Fruit Jar Drinkers" were fronted by Uncle Dave Macon--Sam & Kirk McGee were members--but ONLY at the Vocalion session in New York City in 1927.
 
AND:there was another "Fruit Jar Drinkers" already on the Grand Ole Opry, which apparantly Uncle Dave raided, at least to get the name for the NYC recording session. 
 
This was george Wilkerson's string band and it never featured Sam & Kirk MCGee except maybe as fill-ins during the band's later years.
 
George D. Hay was furious with Uncle Dave over stealing the FJD title; he even tried to get Brunswick/Vocalion to cease the distribution of the records.
 
Thank God that didn't happen, but to this day there's great confusion over "the two" Fruit Jar Drinkers. The original FJDs remained on the Opry with various members 'til the mid-70s.
 
BILL KNOWLTON



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