Old-Time TOTW
Old-Time TOTW #322 is Cuttin' at the Point from the playing of Charlie Wilson and His Hayloft Boys.
Charles William Wilson (5 January 1906--10 October 1963) was born in Bath County, KY, and was the son of Richard Marion Wilson (1881-1962) and Louellen Conley (1888-1961). He married Mary Wesley Carrington (1906-2001) on 13 October 1927.
Wilson worked as a farmer and carpenter. He died suddenly from a cornonary occlusion. He had been experiencing problems, but thought it was indigestion. According to Milliner-Koken, Charlie WIlson and His Hayloft Boys consisted of Charlie on fiddle, Roy Hobbs (guitar). and Asa Martin (vocals), and the band also went by the names Charlie Wilson and HIs Gang and Charlie Wilson and His Hillbillies.
There are many theories about what the title might mean, but nothing conclusive. Some think it a dancing term ("cutting up the dance floor") or specific dance move, whereas others think the title is actually "Cuttin' at the Pint" (drinking some libation). The tune was recorded by Charlie Wilson and His Hayloft Boys on 19 October 1932. The reverse side of the 78rpm record is Shelvin' Rock.
Joining me are friends Stephen Rapp on banjo (Kent, OH), and Michael Seiser on guitar.
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Paul Kirk has been playing bowed string instruments since 1980 and has been teaching them privately, in classroom settings, and in workshop formats since 1988. He studied music theory, composition, music education, music history, and musicology at Cleveland State University. While at CSU, Paul played violas da gamba, krummhorns, and recorders in early music ensembles. He was a founding member of Good Company: A Vocal Ensemble and has founded many of his own bands over the years including A Hundred Thousand Welcomes Celtic Ensemble, Knives and Forks English Country Dance Ensemble, and Down the Road Old-Time String Band. He has composed over 500 folk tunes in a variety of styles.
Paul has closely studied the music from Appalachia, the history of American old-time fiddling, source fiddlers, as well as the social aspects of the music. Since July 1, 2018, he has been creating and sharing videos each Sunday through his Old-Time Tune of the Week series on YouTube. Paul puts a great focus on fiddle bowing patterns and techniques and has devised practical methods for teaching with excellent results. One of his specialties is teaching old-time fiddle to crossover students, especially those coming from a background in classical violin and other musical traditions.
In 2022, Paul was designated as a master old-time fiddler and received a Traditional Arts grant from the Ohio Arts Council to work with an apprentice of his choice.
Paul taught viola, choir, music history, and assisted with drama and art for ten consecutive summers at orchestra and fine arts camps for The Music Settlement when it was known as Cleveland Music School Settlement