G. B. Grayson

Gilliam Banmon Grayson (November 11, 1887 – August 16, 1930) was an American Old-time fiddle player and singer. Mostly blind from infancy, Grayson is chiefly remembered for a series of sides recorded with guitarist Henry Whitter between 1927 and 1930 that would later influence numerous country, bluegrass, and rock musicians. Grayson wrote much of his own material, but was also instrumental in adapting several traditional Appalachian ballads to fiddle and guitar formats. His music has been recorded or performed by musicians such as Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, Mick Jagger, the Kingston Trio, and dozens of bluegrass artists, including the Stanley Brothers and Mac Wiseman.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 11, 1887 (North Carolina), Died August 16, 1930 (Virginia)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: violin, vocalist, composer, speaker, arranger, lyricist

Notes: Full name is George Banman Grayson.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-40302 10-in. 10/18/1927 Handsome Molly Grayson and Whitter Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer  
Victor BVE-40303 10-in. 10/18/1927 He is coming to us dead Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor BVE-40304 10-in. 10/18/1927 Don't go out tonight, my darling Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer  
Victor BVE-40305 10-in. 10/18/1927 Rose Conley Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer  
Victor BVE-40306 10-in. 10/18/1927 Ommie wise G. B. Grayson Male vocal solo, with violin (self-accompaniment) composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor BVE-40307 10-in. 10/18/1927 Train forty-five Grayson and Whitter Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar speaker, instrumentalist, violin, composer  
Victor BVE-46630 10-in. 7/31/1928 The red and green signal lights Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-46631 10-in. 7/31/1928 Joking Henry Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist  
Victor BVE-46632 10-in. 7/31/1928 There's a man goin' round takin' names Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist  
Victor BVE-46633 10-in. 7/31/1928 The nine-pound hammer Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-46634 10-in. 7/31/1928 Short life of trouble Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-46635 10-in. 7/31/1928 I've always been a rambler Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist  
Victor BVE-46636 10-in. 7/31/1928 Where are you going, Alice? Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-46637 10-in. 7/31/1928 A dark road is a hard road to travel Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist  
Victor BVE-46638 10-in. 8/1/1928 Barnyard serenade Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with calling instrumentalist, violin, composer, speaker  
Victor BVE-46639 10-in. 8/1/1928 Little Maggie with a dram glass in her hand Grayson and Whitter Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56309 10-in. 9/30/1929 On the banks of the old Tennessee Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56310 10-in. 9/30/1929 Never be as fast as I have been Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56311 10-in. 9/30/1929 I have lost you darling, true love Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56312 10-in. 9/30/1929 Tom Dooley Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56313 10-in. 9/30/1929 Going down the Lee Highway Grayson and Whitter Violin and guitar duet, with dialogue instrumentalist, violin, speaker, composer  
Victor BVE-56322 10-in. 10/1/1929 I saw a man at the close of day Grayson and Whitter Vocal and instrumental ensemble speaker, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, arranger  
Victor BVE-56323 10-in. 10/1/1929 The Coal Creek mines Grayson and Whitter Vocal and instrumental ensemble speaker, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56324 10-in. 10/1/1929 What you gonna do with the baby Grayson and Whitter Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar speaker, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer  
OKeh W403925 10-in. 4/24/1930 On the banks of the old Tennessee Fiddlin' John Carson ; Moonshine Kate Female-male vocal duet, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E23128-E23129 10-in. 5/13/1927 The nine pound hammer Buckle Busters ; Al Hopkins Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Grayson, G. B.," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110679.

Grayson, G. B.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110679.

"Grayson, G. B.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110679

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