Roy Wiggins
Roy Wiggins (June 27, 1926 – August 3, 1999), known professionally as Little Roy Wiggins, was an American steel guitarist who is best known for his work with Eddy Arnold. Wiggins began playing professionally at a young age. As Eddy Arnold's first hire, he developed a signature "ting-a-ling" sound that helped make Arnold the most popular country entertainer for a period. As Arnold moved towards pop music, Wiggins' instrumental work was faded to the background, and then dropped entirely. Wiggins then made several solo instrumental recordings, and toured with other country musicians. Late in life he played for tourists in Tennessee. |
Birth and Death Data: Born June 27, 1926 (Nashville), Died August 3, 1999 (Sevierville)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1944 - 1951
Roles Represented in DAHR: steel guitar, electric guitar, leader, guitar, songwriter
= 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 | E0VB-4198 | 10-in. | 4/16/1950 | What, where and when | Golden West Cowboys ; Pee Wee King | Vocal trio, with string band | songwriter | |
| Victor | E0VB-4267 | 10-in. | 4/26/1950 | A prison without walls | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-4268 | 10-in. | 4/26/1950 | Cuddle buggin' baby | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-4269 | 10-in. | 4/26/1950 | Enclosed, one broken heart | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-4270 | 10-in. | 4/27/1950 | Tie me to your apron strings again | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-4285 | 10-in. | 4/27/1950 | A million miles from your heart | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-5501 | 10-in. | 8/20/1950 | The lovebug itch | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-5502 | 10-in. | 8/21/1950 | White Christmas | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-5503 | 10-in. | 8/21/1950 | Santa Claus is coming to town | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-5839 | 10-in. | 11/9/1950 | There's been a change in me | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-5845 | 10-in. | 11/10/1950 | Jesus and the atheist | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-6279 | 10-in. | 12/13/1950 | Kentucky waltz | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-6280 | 10-in. | 12/13/1950 | Something old, something new | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-6281 | 10-in. | 12/13/1950 | May the good Lord bless and keep you | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E0VB-6282 | 10-in. | 12/13/1950 | I'm writing a letter to the Lord | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E1VB-1188 | 10-in. | 2/20/1951 | Look what thoughts will do | Oklahoma Wranglers ; Guy Willis | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar, leader | |
| Victor | E1VB-1189 | 10-in. | 2/20/1951 | Shine, shave, shower | Oklahoma Wranglers ; Guy Willis | Male vocal solo, with vocal harmonies and string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar, leader | |
| Victor | E1VB-1198 | 10-in. | 2/20/1951 | If I should need you (would you say "yes") | Oklahoma Wranglers ; The Willis Brothers | Male vocal solo, with vocal harmonies and string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar, leader | |
| Victor | E1VB-1199 | 10-in. | 2/20/1951 | I know you'll never change | Oklahoma Wranglers | Male vocal solo, with vocal harmonies and string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar, leader | |
| Victor | E1VB-1784 | 10-in. | 4/18/1951 | I wanna play house with you | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E1VB-1790 | 10-in. | 4/16/1951 | He knows | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | E1VB-2003 | 10-in. | 4/17/1951 | Country kisses | Oklahoma Wranglers ; Guy Willis | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Victor | E1VB-2004 | 10-in. | 4/17/1951 | Warm beer and a cold, cold woman | Oklahoma Wranglers ; Guy Willis | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Victor | D4AB-0519 | 10-in. | 12/4/1944 | The cattle call | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D5AB-0494 | 10-in. | 7/9/1945 | Many tears ago | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D5AB-0495 | 10-in. | 7/9/1945 | I walk alone | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D5AB-1218 | 10-in. | 11/21/1945 | (I'll have to) live and learn | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D5AB-1219 | 10-in. | 11/21/1945 | Be sure there's no mistake | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D5AB-1220 | 10-in. | 11/21/1945 | I couldn't believe it was true | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D5AB-1221 | 10-in. | 11/21/1945 | I talk to myself about you | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D6VB-1870 | 10-in. | 3/20/1946 | All alone in the world without you | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D6VB-1871 | 10-in. | 3/20/1946 | Can't win, can't place, can't show | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with vocal trio and string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D6VB-1872 | 10-in. | 3/20/1946 | What's life without love | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D6VB-1873 | 10-in. | 3/20/1946 | That's how much I love you | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D6VB-1875 | 10-in. | 3/20/1946 | Chained to a memory | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0730 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | Don't bother to cry | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0732 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | I'll hold you in my heart (till I can hold you in my arms) | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0733 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | Bouquet of roses | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0734 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | What a fool I was | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0735 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | Little angel with a dirty face | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0737 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | Take them cold feet outa my back (before I kick you out) | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0738 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | Old buttermilk sky | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0739 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | Cornbread, 'lasses and sassafrass tea | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-0740 | 10-in. | 5/18/1947 | My adobe hacienda | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1517 | 10-in. | 8/18/1947 | When you were sweet sixteen | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1518 | 10-in. | 8/18/1947 | Poppin' bubble gum | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1519 | 10-in. | 8/18/1947 | You blacked my blue eyes once too often | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1521 | 10-in. | 8/18/1947 | There's a hole in the bottom of the sea | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1522 | 10-in. | 8/18/1947 | Near you | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with comic dialogue and string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1523 | 10-in. | 8/18/1947 | You won't do it no more | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1524 | 10-in. | 8/18/1947 | Last ole dollar | Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers | Male vocal duet, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1525 | 10-in. | 8/19/1947 | The prisoner's song | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1526 | 10-in. | 8/19/1947 | Rockin' alone (in an old rocking chair) | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1527 | 10-in. | 8/19/1947 | It makes no difference now | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1528 | 10-in. | 8/19/1947 | Will the circle be unbroken (my family circle) | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1529 | 10-in. | 8/19/1947 | Seven years with the wrong woman | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1530 | 10-in. | 8/19/1947 | Mollie darling | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1531 | 10-in. | 8/19/1947 | I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1532 | 10-in. | 8/19/1947 | Who at my door is standing | Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1533 | 10-in. | 8/14/1947 | Answer to rainbow at midnight | Panhandle Punchers ; Texas Jim Robertson | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1534 | 10-in. | 8/20/1947 | Then I turned and walked slowly away | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1535 | 10-in. | 8/20/1947 | Texarkana baby | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1536 | 10-in. | 8/20/1947 | (In the) hills of tomorrow | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1537 | 10-in. | 8/20/1947 | My daddy is only a picture | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1539 | 10-in. | 8/20/1947 | There's not a thing (I wouldn't do for you) | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-1541 | 10-in. | 8/20/1947 | Anytime | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, electric guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-2821 | 10-in. | 12/17/1947 | A heart full of love (for a handful of kisses) | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-2825 | 10-in. | 12/17/1947 | You know how talk gets around | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D7VB-2826 | 10-in. | 12/17/1947 | Just a little love (will go a long, long way) | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D8VB-4086 | 10-in. | 12/20/1948 | I wish I had a girl like you, mother | Eddy Arnold | String band, with male vocal solo and piano | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D8VB-4087 | 10-in. | 12/20/1948 | My mother's sweet voice | Eddy Arnold | String band, with male vocal solo and piano | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D8VB-4088 | 10-in. | 12/20/1948 | There's no wings on my angel | Eddy Arnold | String band, with male vocal solo and piano | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D8VB-4089 | 10-in. | 12/20/1948 | The echo of your footsteps | Eddy Arnold | String band, with male vocal solo and piano | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D8VB-4096 | 10-in. | 12/21/1948 | Don't rob another man's castle | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D8VB-4104 | 10-in. | 12/22/1948 | Show me the way back to your heart | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D8VB-4106 | 10-in. | 12/22/1948 | One kiss too many | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-1237 | 10-in. | 4/5/1949 | I'm throwing rice (at the girl I love) | Eddy Arnold ; Ben Lambert | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-1239 | 10-in. | 4/5/1949 | Why should I cry? | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-1240 | 10-in. | 4/5/1949 | C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2233 | 10-in. | 9/13/1949 | Take me in your arms and hold me | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2235 | 10-in. | 9/13/1949 | Evil tempt me not | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2236 | 10-in. | 9/13/1949 | When Jesus beckons me home | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2237 | 10-in. | 9/13/1949 | Will Santy come to shanty town | Eddy Arnold ; Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2238 | 10-in. | 9/13/1949 | Beautiful isle of somewhere | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2239 | 10-in. | 9/13/1949 | The lily of the valley | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2240 | 10-in. | 9/13/1949 | Softly and tenderly | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2241 | 10-in. | 9/14/1949 | Mama and daddy broke my heart | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2242 | 10-in. | 9/14/1949 | Nearest thing to heaven | Eddy Arnold | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2244 | 10-in. | 9/14/1949 | I'll never slip around again | Panhandle Punchers ; Texas Jim Robertson | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Victor | D9VB-2245 | 10-in. | 9/14/1949 | Revenge | Panhandle Punchers ; Texas Jim Robertson | Male vocal solo, with string band | instrumentalist, steel guitar | |
| Columbia | CO43173 | 10-in. | 4/26/1950 | What, where and when | Leon McAuliffe and his Western Swing Band | String band, with male vocal trio | songwriter |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wiggins, Roy," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/355917.
Wiggins, Roy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/355917.
"Wiggins, Roy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Roy Wiggins
Discogs: Roy Wiggins
Allmusic: Roy Wiggins
IMDb: Roy Wiggins
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Wiggins, Roy - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n94106685
Wikidata: Roy Wiggins - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q30125104
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/6631423
MusicBrainz: Roy Wiggins - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d38acbc9-90e3-4fab-883a-73005faed8ac
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