Salem Highballers

The Salem Highballers was the recording name given to The McCray Family by their recording label, Okeh, in the 1920s and 1930s. They traveled somewhat but did not stray far from their hometown of Salem, Virginia.

Aside from local performances and their "Salem Highballers" sides, The McCray family's biggest claims to fame were their radio programs, performed live on Roanoke's WDBJ between 1925 and 1930.

The lineup consisted of Henry McCray on violin, Fred McCray on guitar, Carl McCray on guitar, and Robert McCray on banjo. Carl, the last surviving member, died in 1984.

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

Notes: Recording name used by the McCray Family (Henry, Fred, Carl, and Robert McCray).

= 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
OKeh W403173 10-in. 10/18/1929 Salem No. 1 Salem Highballers Instrumental quartet Musical group  
OKeh W403174 10-in. 10/18/1929 Snow bird on the ash bank Salem Highballers Instrumental quartet Musical group  
OKeh W403175 10-in. 10/18/1929 Dinah, old lady Salem Highballers Instrumental quartet Musical group  
OKeh W403176 10-in. 10/18/1929 Going on to town Salem Highballers Instrumental quartet Musical group  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Salem Highballers," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111873.

Salem Highballers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111873.

"Salem Highballers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111873

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