Annotation:Happy Jack (1)

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 HAPPY JACK. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Arkansas, Missouri. C Major. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. It is on Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden's list of '100 essential Missouri fiddle tunes'. Howard Marshall informs that the tune is associated with and was popularised in Central Missouri by The Fiddlin' Sheriff, George Morris, of Columbia, Missouri. He used this as the theme song for his live radio show over KFRU-AM (Columbia) in the 40s and early 50s." Apparently Morris was never a sheriff, despite his moniker, however he was a very influential fiddler in his region of the state in the mid-20th century and influenced many key players such as Pete McMahan, Taylor McBaine and Jake Hockemeyer.  Source for notated version:   Printed sources:   Recorded sources: Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers Association 001, Pete McMahan - "Ozark Mountain Waltz." Voyager VRCD 344, Howard "Rusty" Marshall & John Williams - "Fiddling Missosuri" (1999. Learned from Pete McMahon & Charlie Walden).

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