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Uncle Dave Macon

David Harrison Macon (October 7, 1870 – March 22, 1952), known professionally as Uncle Dave Macon, was an American old-time banjo player, singer, songwriter, and comedian. Known as "The Dixie Dewdrop", Macon was known for his chin whiskers, plug hat, gold teeth, and gates-ajar collar, he gained regional fame as a vaudeville performer in the early 1920s before becoming the first star of the Grand Ole Opry in the latter half of the decade.

Macon's music is considered the ultimate bridge between 19th-century American folk and vaudeville music and the phonograph and radio-based music of the early 20th-century. Music historian Charles Wolfe wrote, "If people call yodelling Jimmie Rodgers 'the father of country music,' then Uncle Dave must certainly be 'the grandfather of country music'." Macon's polished stage presence and lively personality have made him one of the most enduring figures of early country music.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1870 (Tennessee), Died March 22, 1952 (Murfreesboro)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, banjo, composer, leader, lyricist, guitar, speaker

Notes: Frequent subcredit: "The Dixie Dewdrop."

See Also: Dixie Sacred Singers

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 206 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-018758 10-in. 1/26/1938 Give me back my five dollars Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal solo, with banjo vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018759 10-in. 1/26/1938 Railroadin' and gamblin' Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal solo, with banjo vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018760 10-in. 1/26/1938 Cumberland Mountain deer race Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal solo, with banjo vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018761 10-in. 1/26/1938 Johnny Grey Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal solo, with violin and banjo vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018762 10-in. 1/26/1938 The gayest old dude that's out Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal solo, with banjo vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia W142507 10-in. 8/6/1926 On that Dixie Bee Line Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin), guitar, and harmonica composer, lyricist  
OKeh W404754 10-in. 12/17/1930 Tennessee red fox chase Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Banjo and banjo-guitar duet, with talk instrumentalist, banjo, composer, speaker  
OKeh W404755 10-in. 12/17/1930 The wreck of the Tennessee gravy train Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W404756 10-in. 12/17/1930 Oh baby, you done me wrong Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W404757 10-in. 12/17/1930 She's got the money too Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W404758 10-in. 12/17/1930 Oh lovin' babe Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W404759 10-in. 12/17/1930 Mysteries of the world Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W404760 10-in. 12/17/1930 Round dice reel Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W404761 10-in. 12/17/1930 Come along, buddie, don’t you want to go? Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W404762 10-in. 12/17/1930 Go on, Nora Lee Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W404763 10-in. 12/17/1930 Was you there when they took my Lord away? Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and banjo-guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Brunswick E2751-E2752 10-in. 4/14/1926 Rise when the rooster crows Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E2753-E2754 10-in. 4/14/1926 Way down the Old Plank Road Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Brunswick E2755-E2756 10-in. 4/14/1926 The Bible’s true Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E2757-E2758 10-in. 4/14/1926 He won the heart of my Sarah Jane Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo, lyricist, composer  
Brunswick E2759-E2760 10-in. 4/14/1926 Last night when my Willie came home Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Brunswick E2761-E2762 10-in. 4/14/1926 I’ve got the mourning blues Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Brunswick E2763-E2764 10-in. 4/14/1926 The death of John Henry Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Brunswick E2765-E2766 10-in. 4/14/1926 On the Dixie Bee Line Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E2774-E2775 10-in. 4/16/1926 Whoop ‘em up, Cindy Uncle Dave Macon ; Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
(Results 26-50 of 206 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Macon, Uncle Dave," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106725.

Macon, Uncle Dave. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106725.

"Macon, Uncle Dave." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106725

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