Chubby Wise

Robert Russell "Chubby" Wise (October 2, 1915 – January 6, 1996) was an American bluegrass fiddler.

Originally starting out playing the banjo and guitar, Wise began playing fiddle at age 12, working locally in the Jacksonville area. He joined the Jubilee Hillbillies in 1938, then began playing with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1942, including dates at the Grand Ole Opry. He worked with Monroe through 1948, then played with Clyde Moody. He also played with the York Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs, and Connie B. Gay.

In 1954, Wise became a member of Hank Snow's Rainbow Ranch Boys, again appearing at the Grand Ole Opry; he remained with the group until March 1970. Alongside this he worked as a session musician with Mac Wiseman and Red Allen, among others. Wise returned to Florida in 1984 and went into semi-retirement, though he continued to tour and record occasionally, such as with the Bass Mountain Boys in 1992.

He joined producers Randall Franks and Alan Autry for the In the Heat of the Night cast's CD Christmas Time's a Comin' performing "Christmas Time's a Comin'" with the cast on the CD released on Sonlite and MGM/UA. Franks occasionally joined Wise performing twin fiddle with him on his shows.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 2, 1915 (Lake City), Died January 6, 1996 (Bowie)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1945 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: violin, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 26-43 of 43 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia CCO4887 10-in. 10/28/1947 Molly and Tenbrooks (the race horse song) Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO41836 10-in. 10/22/1949 Travellin' this lonesome road Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO41837 10-in. 10/22/1949 Blue grass stomp Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys ; Bill Monroe String band instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO41838 10-in. 10/22/1949 The girl in the blue velvet band Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys ; Bill Monroe String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO45912 10-in. 5/9/1951 Jimmie Brown, the newsboy Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO45913 10-in. 5/9/1951 Somehow tonight Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO45914 10-in. 5/9/1951 Don't get above your raisin' Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO45917 10-in. 5/9/1951 I've lost you Lester Flatt ; Foggy Mountain Boys ; Earl Scruggs String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO46817 10-in. 8/5/1951 Peppermint sticks and lemon drops Melissa Monroe Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO46818 10-in. 8/5/1951 I'm waiting just for you Melissa Monroe Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO46819 10-in. 8/5/1951 Oceans of tears Melissa Monroe Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia CO46820 10-in. 8/5/1951 There's no room in my heart (for the blues) Melissa Monroe Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, violin  
Decca NA 10494 11/20/1958 Night Jimmy "Timmy" Martin, Jr. instrumentalist, violin  
Decca NA 10495 11/20/1958 It's not like home Jimmy "Timmy" Martin, Jr. instrumentalist, violin  
Decca NA 10496 11/20/1958 She's left me again Jimmy "Timmy" Martin, Jr. instrumentalist, violin  
Decca NA 10497 11/20/1958 Hold whatcha got Jimmy "Timmy" Martin, Jr. instrumentalist, violin  
Decca NA 10498 11/20/1958 Bear tracks Jimmy "Timmy" Martin, Jr. instrumentalist, violin  
Decca NA 10499 11/20/1958 Cripple Creek Jimmy "Timmy" Martin, Jr. instrumentalist, violin  
(Results 26-43 of 43 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wise, Chubby," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107255.

Wise, Chubby. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107255.

"Wise, Chubby." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107255

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