McGee Brothers

The McGee Brothers were an American old-time performing duo of brothers Sam McGee (Samuel Fleming McGee, May 1, 1894 – August 28, 1975) and Kirk McGee (David Kirkland McGee, November 4, 1899 – October 24, 1983). Sam typically played guitar and Kirk usually played banjo or fiddle, although they were both proficient in multiple string instruments. The McGee Brothers were one of the most enduring acts on the Grand Ole Opry during the show's first fifty years. They made their initial appearance on the Opry in 1926 and the following year joined Uncle Dave Macon's band, the Fruit Jar Drinkers. In the 1930s, the McGees teamed up with early Opry fiddler Arthur Smith to form a string band known as the "Dixieliners," and in the 1940s they played and toured with Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys and several other notable acts.

The McGee Brothers saw a brief resurgence during the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, when folk artist Mike Seeger managed to reunite them with Arthur Smith. The brothers made their last major appearance as a duo on the Opry in 1974, although Kirk continued to appear regularly on the program until his death in 1983.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1925, Died Ceased 1975

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

See Also: Dixie Sacred Singers

= 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 E4973-E4974 10-in. 5/10/1927 Poor old Dad Uncle Dave Macon ; McGee Brothers Male vocal trio, with instrumental quartet Musical group  
Brunswick E5018-E5019 10-in. 5/11/1927 A flower from my angel mother’s grave McGee Brothers Male vocal solo, with guitar and mandolin Musical group  
Brunswick E5020-E5021 10-in. 5/11/1927 C-H-I-C-K-E-N spells chicken McGee Brothers Male vocal duet, with fiddle (violin) and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick E5022-E5023 10-in. 5/11/1927 Salty dog blues McGee Brothers Male vocal duet, with fiddle (violin) and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick E5024-E5025 10-in. 5/11/1927 Salt Lake City blues McGee Brothers Male vocal duet, with fiddle (violin) and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick E5028-E5029 10-in. 5/11/1927 Ragged Jim McGee Brothers Male vocal solo, with guitar and mandolin Musical group  
Brunswick E5030-E5031 10-in. 5/11/1927 Someone else may be there while I’m gone McGee Brothers Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick E5032-E5033 10-in. 5/11/1927 Hannah won’t you open the door McGee Brothers Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick E5034-E5035 10-in. 5/11/1927 My family has been a crooked set McGee Brothers Male vocal solo, with banjo and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick E5036-E5037 10-in. 5/11/1927 The tramp McGee Brothers Male vocal solo, with guitar and mandolin Musical group  
Brunswick E5038-E5039 10-in. 5/11/1927 You’ve been a friend to me Uncle Dave Macon ; McGee Brothers Male vocal solo, with male vocal duet and banjo Musical group  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McGee Brothers," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111249.

McGee Brothers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111249.

"McGee Brothers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111249

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