Annotation:Choctaw Bill

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 CHOCTAW BILL. Old-Time, Breakdown. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB. The tune was recorded by both Bob Douglas and Blaine Smith. Choctaw Bill, There were a few 'Choctaw Bill's' in the Louisiana/Texas region, including William Robinson (1809–1898) an early Texas pioneer and an ordained Baptist minister who organized or served as pastor to some 20 churches, and William Williams (1776-c. 1830) of Louisiana. Robinson (who is the one probably honored by the title) was nicknamed 'Choctaw Bill' because a band of Choctaw Indians once complained about his long sermons, which could go on for hours. The melody is sourced to Tennessee fiddler Blaine Smith, and seems to be unique to his repertoire. Smith was recorded in the field in 1977 but proved to be a reticent and un-talkative man of whom it was said (not accurately) that he had served time in the Brushy Mountain Maximum Security State Penitentiary for murdering a man who stumbled across his moonshine operation. Source for notated version: Bob Douglas [Phillips]. Printed source: Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; p. 50.

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