There's a couple of tunes I'm aware of that are associated strictly with Illinois. They both hail from down in southern Illinois one being, "Goin' Down to Cairo," and the other, "Goin' Upon the Mountain." These tunes fall into folk or, possibly, old timey. A friend of mine, Dale Whiteside, edited a book, Games of the Illinois Ozarks, by David McIntosh of which these tunes can be found. Chirps Smith recorded it with the Indian Creek Delta Boys back in the 70s, I believe, maybe it was the 60s.
Gary Harrison who was member of the Indian Creek Delta Boys with Chirps Smith has written a book with accompanying CD devoted to the traditional music of downstate Illinois called Dear Old Illinois -> http://www.dearoldillinois.com/ Dear Old Illinois has 750 items of traditional downstate Illinois Music.
Springfed Records has issued two CDs of Indian Creek Delta Boys music with Chirps Smith playing the mandolin and Gary Harrison on fiddle -> http://www.springfedrecords.com Good stuff for us Old Time Mandolin Music players!
Those books & cds are now at the top of my buy list!
Hi folks, I'm greatful to have just discovered this site and this group! My contribution to this discussion: "The Hanging of Charlie Birger" - account of the 1920s wars between bootleggers in Southern Illinois. "Down by the Embarras" - the song mentions most of the major rivers in Illinois. It was done to the tune of "Rivers of Texas". "Windy City Rag" - written by Kenny Baker, one of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. Has a good mandolin solo. "Elanoy" - recorded by Win Stracke of Old Town fame. "Shawneetown Flood" "Way Down in Shawneetown" These are a few of many that are included in a 3 CD set put out by the Illinois Humanities Council called "Folksongs of Illinois". Most of these are accurately called folk songs, but there's some genuine bluegrass in there too. Best, Jeff
Cool, Jeff! Thanks for the input. Hope to hear more, maybe see some videos of y'all playin' some or all of those tunes.
"Folksongs of Illinois" is a great set. Here's the link to the Illinois Humanities Council that help support the project -> http://www.prairie.org/Music
I believe I've seen this or one of 'em at the local Borders store.
I think John Goodin's song "Waiting on the Julia Belle" is about a Mississippi River/Illinois River steamboat. I believe it used to dock in Peoria. Anyway, it is a very cool little tune, and he has an mp3 of it on his website.
