John Baltzell

b. John Leroy Baltzell, 23 Sept 1860, Harrison Township, Knox Region, Ohio, USA, d. 1940. Baltzell discovered to try out fiddle as a kid and became probably one of the most documented from the old-time fiddlers. Small is well known of his early years except that he performed at dances as a kid – a practice he continuing whenever you can throughout his existence. In 1888, he wedded and relocated to Support Vernon, where he worked well like a boilermaker in the workshops from the Pa Railroad before early 20s. He became great close friends with Dan Emmett, the minstrel entertainer and songwriter, who resided in Support Vernon until he passed away on 28 June 1904. Emmett, whose music included ‘Aged Dan Tucker’, ‘Blue Tail Take a flight’ as well as the well-known ‘Dixie’ (sung by both edges in the Civil Battle), and Baltzell discovered very much from each various other’s music. Aside from his regional playing, Baltzell started a wider profession in the 20s. He gained the Ohio Fiddle Tournament in 1922, afterwards adding the Kentucky and Indiana game titles. He performed on various r / c in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. He produced his initial recordings, in 1923, for Edison in NY and afterwards (unreleased edges) for OKeh Information, Plaza and Victor Information. His last recordings, once again for Edison, had been manufactured in 1928. Out of 42 monitors, 32 had been released, which produced him one of the most released of the first fiddlers. He composed a few of his music about Knox State, including ‘John Baltzell’s Reel’, and frequently performed old favourites such as for example ‘Turkey In The Straw’ and ‘Arkansas Traveller’. By 1930, like this of various other early performers, his profession was suffering from the Unhappiness. Although he continuing to try out locally for quite some time, he made no more recordings and passed away at his house in 1940. During writing, none of the pioneer fiddler’s documented work is obtainable.