Sidney J. Harkreader

Sidney Johnson "Fiddlin' Sid" Harkreader (February 26, 1898 — March 19, 1988) was an American Old-time fiddle player and string band leader. He was an early member of the Grand Ole Opry, at first accompanying banjoist Uncle Dave Macon and later performing on the program with his own band. In the 1940s, Harkreader formed and briefly toured with the Western band "The Round-Up Gang" before returning again to the Opry.

Harkreader was born in Gladeville, Tennessee, a small town in the cedar glades region east of Nashville. His father encouraged him to develop musical abilities, and Harkreader learned to play fiddle at local square dances. Determined to become a professional entertainer, Harkreader first toured as a fiddler for the Loew vaudeville circuit. Around 1923, he paired with Uncle Dave Macon to play old-time music in Nashville, and the following year, the two recorded several sides for Vocalion Records. On November 6, 1925, Harkreader and Macon delivered a performance before a sold-out crowd at the Ryman Auditorium, and the two began performing for the Grand Ole Opry (at the time called WSM's Barn Dance) a few weeks later. Harkreader's typical repertoire included "Old Joe" (which he learned from fellow Opry pioneer Humphrey Bate), "Turkey in the Straw," "Sugar Walks Down the Street," "Ain't Goin' to Rain No More," and "Go Away Mule."

Harkreader recorded two dozen tracks for Paramount Records, the first set coming in 1927 accompanied by Hawaiian slide-guitarist Grady Moore, and the second coming the following year accompanied by guitarist Blythe Poteet. In 1935, Harkreader returned to the Opry at the head of a string band, "Sid Harkreader and Company." The band consisted of Harkreader on fiddle and vocals, Emory Martin on mandolin, and Mack McGar on banjo. Around 1940, Harkeader formed "The Round-Up Gang" to record Western music, which had grown steadily in popularity in the previous decade. Harkreader eventually returned to the Opry, however, making guest appearances throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Harkreader is buried at Caraway Cemetery in Gladeville.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 26, 1898 (Gladeville), Died March 19, 1988

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar, violin

= 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
Brunswick C3657 10-in. 6/20/1929 Darling Zelma Lee Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3658 10-in. 6/20/1929 Put me in my little bed Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3659 10-in. 6/20/1929 Life and death of Jesse James Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3660 10-in. 6/20/1929 Man that rode the mule around the world Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3661 10-in. 6/20/1929 Tennessee jubilee Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3662 10-in. 6/20/1929 New coon in town Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3664 10-in. 6/20/1929 For goodness sakes don’t say I told you Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3665 10-in. 6/20/1929 We need a change in business all around Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3667 10-in. 6/20/1929 Mister Johnson Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3670 10-in. 6/20/1929 Uncle Dave and Sid on a cut up Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Banjo and guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3671 10-in. 6/20/1929 Select banjo waltz Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Banjo and guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3678 10-in. 6/21/1929 Nobody’s darling on earth Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3679 10-in. 6/21/1929 Over the mountain Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3688 10-in. 6/21/1929 Flitting away Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3689 10-in. 6/21/1929 Traveling down the road Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3691 10-in. 6/21/1929 Children, I must go Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3692 10-in. 6/21/1929 When first I fell in love Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3693 10-in. 6/21/1929 Railroadin’ and gamblin’ Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick C3694 10-in. 6/21/1929 That’s where my money goes Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 677W-678W 10-in. 4/13/1925 The dying girl’s message Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 681W-682W 10-in. 4/13/1925 Dark eyes Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 687W-688W 10-in. 4/14/1925 New River train Sidney J. Harkreader ; Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 689W-690W 10-in. 4/14/1925 Where is my boy tonight Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 691W-692W 10-in. 4/14/1925 I wish I was a single girl again Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 693W-694W 10-in. 4/14/1925 Many times with you I wandered Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 697W-698W 10-in. 4/14/1925 Southern whistling coon Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 703W-704W 10-in. 4/15/1925 Arkansas travelers Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Banjo and guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 705W-706W 10-in. 4/15/1925 The girl I left behind me Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, violin, vocalist  
Brunswick 709W-710W 10-in. 4/15/1925 Old ship of Zion Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo vocalist  
Brunswick 711W-712W 10-in. 4/15/1925 Down in Arkansaw Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet, with banjo vocalist  
Brunswick 715W-716W 10-in. 4/15/1925 Blue Ridge Mountain blues Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick 717W-718W 10-in. 4/15/1925 Little sweetheart Sidney J. Harkreader Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 13353-13354 10-in. June 1924 Little old log cabin in the lane Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet vocalist  
Vocalion 13358-13359 10-in. June 1924 Jonah and the whale Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet vocalist  
Vocalion 13362-13363 10-in. June 1924 Love somebody Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet vocalist  
Vocalion 13364-13365 10-in. June 1924 Soldier’s joy Sidney J. Harkreader ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal duet vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Harkreader, Sidney J.," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111394.

Harkreader, Sidney J.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111394.

"Harkreader, Sidney J.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111394

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