Fiddlin' Doc Roberts

Fiddlin' Doc Roberts (April 26, 1897 - August 4, 1978) was an American Kentucky-style old-time fiddler.

Fiddlin' Doc Roberts
Birth nameDock Philipine Roberts
BornApril 26, 1897
OriginMadison County, Kentucky, United States
DiedAugust 4, 1978(1978-08-04) (aged 81)
GenresOld-time
Occupation(s)Fiddler
InstrumentsFiddle
Years active1920s–1930s

Biography

Dock Philipine Roberts was born and raised on a farm in Madison County, Kentucky[1] and learned to play the fiddle at an early age with some help from his older brother Liebert. Doc's and Liebert's musical mentor was the African-American fiddler Owen Walker.[2][3] After finishing his studies in Berea Roberts married in 1913.[4] In 1925, a talent scout, Dennis Taylor, recruited Roberts along with Welby Toomey and Edgar Boaz as old time recording artists for Gennett Records.[5][6] In early 1927, Roberts recorded with the string band, the "Booker Family".[4] Together with Dick Parman and Ted Chestnut, he formed the Kentucky Thorobreds. They recorded in April 1927 for the Paramount label.

In the fall of 1927, he formed a duo with Asa Martin called Martin & Roberts.[7] They made their recording debut in May 1928 for the Gennett label.[8] Between 1927 and 1934, the duo performed at fiddler's conventions, in schoolhouses, on vaudeville stages, and on radio (WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky).[7] Martin & Roberts recorded altogether more than 200 sides on 11 different labels. Later on, with the addition of Doc Roberts' son James, the Fiddlin' Doc Roberts Trio was formed.[1] In 1928, Roberts was hired, through the agency of Bradley Kincaid, by the National Barn Dance radio show in Chicago. He was paid $50 a week. After only two weeks he quit the show and moved back to Kentucky. The reason was that he was unable to sleep due to the noise of the big city. The Doc Roberts Trio lasted until 1934 when Roberts retired as a recording artist. During the next 4 decades, he continued to make personal appearances and occasional radio works.[4]

He died at the age of 81 in his hometown of Richmond.

Discography

78s: In various prewar lineups Roberts recorded singles on Gennett and affiliated labels, ARC labels, and Paramount and affiliated labels.

Reissued material also appears on:

  • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts: Classic Fiddle Tunes, Recorded During The Golden Age - Davis Unlimited DU-33015 (ca. 1974)
  • Fiddling Doc Roberts: Old Time Tunes - County 412 (1983)
  • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts: Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Volume 1: 1925–1928 - Document DOCD-8042 (1998)
  • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts: Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Volume 2: 1928–1930 - Document DOCD-8043 (1998)
  • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts: Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Volume 3: 1930–1934 - Document DOCD-8044 (1998)

Footnotes
  1. Kleber 1992, p. 775.
  2. Carlin 2003, p. 346.
  3. Kennedy 1994, p. 158.
  4. Carlin 2003, p. 347.
  5. Kennedy 1994, pp. 157.
  6. Wolfe 1996, p. 29.
  7. Wolfe 1996, p. 30.
  8. Russell, Pinson 2004, p. 588.
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References
  • Carlin, Richard (2003) Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary, Taylor & Francis
  • Kennedy, Rick (1994) Jerry Roll, Bix and Hoagy: Gennett Studios and the Birth of Recorded Jazz, Indiana University Press
  • Kleber, John E. (1992) The Kentucky Encyclopedia, University Press of Kentucky
  • Russell, Tony - Pinson, Bob (2004) Country Music Records: A Discography 1921–1942, Oxford University Press
  • Wolfe, Charles K. (1996) Kentucky Country: Folk and Country Music of Kentucky, University Press of Kentucky
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