Skillet Lickers
The Skillet Lickers were an old-time band from Georgia, United States. When Gid Tanner teamed up with blind guitarist Riley Puckett and signed to Columbia in 1924, they created the label's earliest so-called "hillbilly" recording. Gid Tanner formed The Skillet Lickers in 1926. The first line-up was Gid Tanner, Riley Puckett, Clayton McMichen and Fate Norris. Between 1926 and 1931 they recorded 88 sides for Columbia, with 82 of them commercially issued. Later members were Lowe Stokes, Bert Layne, Hoke Rice, Arthur Tanner and Hoyt "Slim" Bryant. Their best-selling single was "Down Yonder", a hillbilly breakdown, in 1934 on RCA Victor. They disbanded in 1931, but reformed for occasional recordings after a couple of years with a changing line-up. "Back Up and Push" was another well-known recording. The Skillet Lickers, together with fellow North Georgians Fiddlin' John Carson and the Georgia Yellow Hammers, made Atlanta and North Georgia an early center of old-time string band music, especially the hard-driving fiddle-based style employed by each of these performers. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1926
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1934
Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group
Notes: Leader, Gid Tanner.
= 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-82672 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Georgia Waggoner | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82673 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Mississippi sawyer | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82674 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Back up and push | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82675 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Rufus | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82676 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Cumberland Gap on a buckin' mule | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82677 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Hawkins' rag | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82678 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Skillet Licker breakdown | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82679 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Cotton patch | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with vocal phrases | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82680 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Ida Red | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with vocal phrases and talk | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82681 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Down yonder | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82682 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Git along | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82683 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Whoa, mule, whoa | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82692 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Tra-le-la-la | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82693 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Keep your gal at home | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82694 | 10-in. | 3/29/1934 | Hinkey-dinkey-dee | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82719 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | I ain't no better now | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82720 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | Tanner's rag | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82721 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | Tanner's hornpipe | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82722 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | Soldiers' joy | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Male vocal solo, with string band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82723 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | Flop-eared mule | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82724 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | Prosperity and politics | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Descriptive scene, with string band | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82725 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | Prosperity and politics | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Descriptive scene, with vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82728 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | Practice night with the Skillet Lickers | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Descriptive scene, with vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
| Victor | BVE-82729 | 10-in. | 3/30/1934 | Practice night with the Skillet Lickers | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | Descriptive scene, with vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W142034 | 10-in. | 4/17/1926 | Hand me down my walking cane | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W142035 | 10-in. | 4/17/1926 | Bully of the town | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W142036 | 10-in. | 4/17/1926 | Pass around the bottle and we'll all take a drink | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal trio | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W142037 | 10-in. | 4/17/1926 | Alabama jubilee | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and guitar | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W142038 | 10-in. | 4/17/1926 | Watermelon on the vine | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W142039 | 10-in. | 4/17/1926 | Don't you hear Jerusalem moan | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W142040 | 10-in. | 4/17/1926 | Ya gotta quit kickin' my dog aroun' | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo, male vocal duet, and dog sound effect | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W142041 | 10-in. | 4/17/1926 | Turkey in the straw | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143019 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | Polly woddle doo | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143020 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | Rock road to Milledgeville | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143021 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | Uncle Bud | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143026 | 10-in. | 11/3/1926 | Dance all night with a bottle in your hand | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and ensemble | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143027 | 10-in. | 11/3/1926 | She'll be coming 'round the mountain | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143028 | 10-in. | 11/3/1926 | I don't love nobody | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143029 | 10-in. | 11/3/1926 | Hop light ladies | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143030 | 10-in. | 11/3/1926 | I got mine | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo, male vocal trio, and talk | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143031 | 10-in. | 11/3/1926 | Shortening bread | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143032 | 10-in. | 11/3/1926 | Old Joe Clark | Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143785 | 10-in. | 3/28/1927 | Casey Jones | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143786 | 10-in. | 3/28/1927 | The wreck of the Southern Old '97 | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143795 | 10-in. | 3/29/1927 | Dixie | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143796 | 10-in. | 3/29/1927 | Run, nigger, run | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143797 | 10-in. | 3/29/1927 | The girl I left behind me | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143798 | 10-in. | 3/29/1927 | The old gray mare | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143799 | 10-in. | 3/29/1927 | John Henry | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143800 | 10-in. | 3/29/1927 | Drink 'er down | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W143801 | 10-in. | 3/29/1927 | The Darktown Strutters' Ball | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W145047 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | Old McDonald had a farm | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W145048 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | Bile them cabbage down | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W145049 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | Big ball in town | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W145050 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | It's a long way to Tipperary | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W145053 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | Buckin' mule | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W145054 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | Uncle Bud | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W145055 | 10-in. | 10/31/1927 | Polly wolly doodle | Skillet Lickers | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W145058 | 10-in. | 11/1/1927 | Johnson's old gray mule | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W146000 | 10-in. | 4/10/1928 | Hen cackle | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking and chicken sound effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W146001 | 10-in. | 4/10/1928 | Cumberland Gap | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W146002 | 10-in. | 4/10/1928 | Cotton-eyed Joe | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W146003 | 10-in. | 4/10/1928 | Black-eyed Susie | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W146004 | 10-in. | 4/10/1928 | Prettiest little girl in the county | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal ensemble | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W146005 | 10-in. | 4/10/1928 | Slow buck | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talk and vocal effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W146006 | 10-in. | 4/10/1928 | Settin' in the chimney jamb | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal ensemble | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W146007 | 10-in. | 4/10/1928 | Sal let me chaw your rosin | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talk and male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W147253 | 10-in. | 10/22/1928 | Liberty | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W147254 | 10-in. | 10/22/1928 | Nancy Rollin | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talk | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W147255 | 10-in. | 10/22/1928 | Old Dan Tucker | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W147256 | 10-in. | 10/22/1928 | Devilish Mary | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W147263 | 10-in. | 10/23/1928 | Pretty little widow | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W147264 | 10-in. | 10/23/1928 | Fly around my pretty little miss | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W148200 | 10-in. | 4/8/1929 | Mississippi sawyer | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W148201 | 10-in. | 4/8/1929 | It ain't gonna rain no mo' | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W148202 | 10-in. | 4/8/1929 | Going on down town | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band,with male vocal solo and male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W148203 | 10-in. | 4/8/1929 | Flatwoods | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo, male vocal duet, and talk | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W148208 | 10-in. | 4/8/1929 | Never seen the like since gettin' upstairs | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W148209 | 10-in. | 4/8/1929 | Show me the way to go home | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo, male vocal ensemble, and whistling | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W148210 | 10-in. | 4/8/1929 | Cotton baggin' | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking and vocal effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W148211 | 10-in. | 4/8/1929 | The rovin' gambler | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W149276 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | Rocky pallet | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W149277 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | Soldier's joy | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W149278 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | Rock that cradle, Lucy | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W149279 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W149280 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | Bonaparte's retreat | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W149281 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | Hell's broke loose in Georgia | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with dialogue | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W149282 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | Giddap Napoleon | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W149283 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | Cripple Creek | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W150200 | 10-in. | 4/14/1930 | Leather breeches | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W150201 | 10-in. | 4/14/1930 | New Arkansas traveller | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W150202 | 10-in. | 4/14/1930 | Sugar in the gourd | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W150203 | 10-in. | 4/14/1930 | Georgia Wagner | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W150204 | 10-in. | 4/14/1930 | Sal's gone to the cider mill | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W150205 | 10-in. | 4/14/1930 | Nigger in the woodpile | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W150222 | 10-in. | 4/15/1930 | Devilish Mary | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W150223 | 10-in. | 4/15/1930 | Soldier, will you marry me | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151024 | 10-in. | 12/4/1930 | Ride Old Buck to water | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and vocal effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151025 | 10-in. | 12/4/1930 | Don't you cry, my honey | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and vocal effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151026 | 10-in. | 12/4/1930 | Cacklin' hen and rooster too | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with vocal effects and talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151027 | 10-in. | 12/4/1930 | Ricketts hornpipe | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with vocal effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151041 | 10-in. | 12/5/1930 | Hand me down my walking cane | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151042 | 10-in. | 12/5/1930 | Bully of the town no. 2 | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151043 | 10-in. | 12/5/1930 | Broken down gambler | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking and vocal effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151044 | 10-in. | 12/5/1930 | Possum up the gum stump | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151916 | 10-in. | 10/24/1931 | Miss McLeod's reel | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking and vocal effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151917 | 10-in. | 10/24/1931 | Four cent cotton | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151918 | 10-in. | 10/24/1931 | Molly put the kettle on | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with male vocal solo and talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151919 | 10-in. | 10/24/1931 | Sleeping Lulu | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151920 | 10-in. | 10/24/1931 | McMichen's breakdown | Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with talking and vocal effects | Musical group | |
| Columbia | W151921 | 10-in. | 10/24/1931 | Whistlin' Rufus | Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner | String band, with whistling duet | Musical group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Skillet Lickers," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106155.
Skillet Lickers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106155.
"Skillet Lickers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Skillet Lickers - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n89653414
Wikidata: Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1523075
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/157246367
MusicBrainz: Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3618d303-3c1b-4370-a1a2-8e4c2693edfb
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