G. B. Grayson

Gilliam Banmon Grayson (November 11, 1887 – August 16, 1930) was an American Old-time fiddle player and singer. Mostly blind from infancy, Grayson is chiefly remembered for a series of sides recorded with guitarist Henry Whitter between 1927 and 1930 that would later influence numerous country, bluegrass, and rock musicians. Grayson wrote much of his own material, but was also instrumental in adapting several traditional Appalachian ballads to fiddle and guitar formats. His music has been recorded or performed by musicians such as Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, Mick Jagger, the Kingston Trio, and dozens of bluegrass artists, including the Stanley Brothers and Mac Wiseman.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 11, 1887 (North Carolina), Died August 16, 1930 (Virginia)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: violin, vocalist, composer, speaker, arranger, lyricist

Notes: Full name is George Banman Grayson.

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 26 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-40302	10-in.	10/18/1927	Handsome Molly	Grayson and Whitter	Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar	composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist
Victor	BVE-40303	10-in.	10/18/1927	He is coming to us dead	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-40304	10-in.	10/18/1927	Don't go out tonight, my darling	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist
Victor	BVE-40305	10-in.	10/18/1927	Rose Conley	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, instrumentalist, violin, vocalist
Victor	BVE-40306	10-in.	10/18/1927	Ommie wise	G. B. Grayson	Male vocal solo, with violin (self-accompaniment)	instrumentalist, violin, vocalist, composer
Victor	BVE-40307	10-in.	10/18/1927	Train forty-five	Grayson and Whitter	Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar	composer, instrumentalist, violin, speaker
Victor	BVE-46630	10-in.	7/31/1928	The red and green signal lights	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-46631	10-in.	7/31/1928	Joking Henry	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Victor	BVE-46632	10-in.	7/31/1928	There's a man goin' round takin' names	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Victor	BVE-46633	10-in.	7/31/1928	The nine-pound hammer	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal duet	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-46634	10-in.	7/31/1928	Short life of trouble	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-46635	10-in.	7/31/1928	I've always been a rambler	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Victor	BVE-46636	10-in.	7/31/1928	Where are you going, Alice?	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-46637	10-in.	7/31/1928	A dark road is a hard road to travel	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, composer
Victor	BVE-46638	10-in.	8/1/1928	Barnyard serenade	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with calling	speaker, composer, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-46639	10-in.	8/1/1928	Little Maggie with a dram glass in her hand	Grayson and Whitter	Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-56309	10-in.	9/30/1929	On the banks of the old Tennessee	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-56310	10-in.	9/30/1929	Never be as fast as I have been	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-56311	10-in.	9/30/1929	I have lost you darling, true love	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-56312	10-in.	9/30/1929	Tom Dooley	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-56313	10-in.	9/30/1929	Going down the Lee Highway	Grayson and Whitter	Violin and guitar duet, with dialogue	composer, speaker, instrumentalist, violin
Victor	BVE-56322	10-in.	10/1/1929	I saw a man at the close of day	Grayson and Whitter	Vocal and instrumental ensemble	arranger, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, speaker
Victor	BVE-56323	10-in.	10/1/1929	The Coal Creek mines	Grayson and Whitter	Vocal and instrumental ensemble	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, speaker
Victor	BVE-56324	10-in.	10/1/1929	What you gonna do with the baby	Grayson and Whitter	Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar	composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, violin, speaker
OKeh	W403925	10-in.	4/24/1930	On the banks of the old Tennessee	Fiddlin' John Carson ; Moonshine Kate	Female-male vocal duet, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar	composer, lyricist

(Results 1-25 of 26 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Grayson, G. B.," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110679.

Grayson, G. B.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110679.

"Grayson, G. B.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.