Annotation:Houston Slide

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HOUSTON SLIDE. Old-Time, Country Rag. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'B. Fiddler Prince Albert Hunt was born around 1900 Archie Albert Hunt in an area just south of Dallas, Texas. He and his group, The Texas Ramblers, recorded twice for OKeh Records, in 1928 and 1929, for a total of nine sides. Unfortunately, his promising career was cut short when he was shot to death outside a bar in 1930 for stealing another man's wife.

The tune (which has been called a precursor to western swing) is introduced on the record with a little banter:

Band member: "How do you feel, Prince?"

Hunt: "Feel like a jug o' molasses."

Band member: "How's that?"

Hunt: "All around but not stuck up."

Band member: "Well, that's great, boy. Well, say, Prince, whattaya wanta do -- you wanna talk about women, get drunk or you wanna play some music?"

Hunt: "I wanna play 'The Houston Slide.'"

Source for notated version: Prince Albert Hunt [Phillips].

Printed sources: Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; p. 66.

Recorded sources:

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