Who was Daddy Claxton
AHo2800323
actually was? My apologies if this has already been asked and answered, but
I'm new to the newsgroup.
Alan Howard
John Lupton
aho28...@aol.com (AHo2800323) wrote:
My memory is a little hazy on this, but I seem to recall reading that the
reference to "Daddy Claxton" was added to the song by Roy Acuff, who used
"Wabash Cannonball" as his trademark throughout his career. I don't whether
Claxton was alleged to have been a relative (grandfather, uncle, etc.) or just
someone that Acuff knew.
[remove 'x' from 'sasx' to reply]
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John Lupton, Network Services Manager, School of Arts & Sciences, Univ. of Penn.
"Rural Free Delivery", WVUD-FM 91.3, Newark, Delaware
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~jlupton/rfd.html
Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~jlupton/bfotm.html
********************************************************************************
The University of Pennsylvania: a bar with a $31,000 cover charge...
Stephen Suffet
>
> Does anyone know who the Daddy Claxton mentioned in the Wabash Cannonball
> actually was? My apologies if this has already been asked and answered, but
> I'm new to the newsgroup.
>
> Alan Howard
Greetings:
He was Roy Acuff's maternal grandfather. Roy's mother's maiden
name was Claxton. However, I seriously doubt that particular Daddy
Claxton was a hobo. Acuff probably inserted his name as a tribute or
as an insider's reference.
The Carter Family, who recorded "The Wabash Cannonball" before
Acuff did, sang "Here's to Daddy Cleaton..." Alan Lomax's "Folk Songs
of North America" called him Boston Blackey. I've heard Daddy Cleve-
land, Daddy Evers, Daddy Evans, Danny Dempsey, Dan O'Leary, Memphis
Mickey, East Coast Louie, and -- if you prefer your 'bos to be of the
female persuasion -- Newark Nelly and Nelly Belly.
Regards,
Steve
Bill H.
>
> Does anyone know who the Daddy Claxton mentioned in the Wabash Cannonball
> actually was? My apologies if this has already been asked and answered, but
> I'm new to the newsgroup.
>
> Alan Howard
Although I am not 100% sure of this, I recall reading somewhere a long
time ago that it is the name of the inventor of either a railroad
coupling device---or some other safety feature. But, as in a lot of
folk music different names are added for different purposes.
There was also a famed Black educator by that name---and he was from
Tenn.
So, I suppose one can choose the best story on this one.
Bill Hahn
WFDU 89.1 FM
Teaneck, NJ
Traditions(Sun. 3-6PM EDT)
Overcoat C
>Date: Wed, Aug 12, 1998 00:00 EDT
>Message-id: <199808120400...@ladder01.news.aol.com>
>
>Does anyone know who the Daddy Claxton mentioned in the Wabash Cannonball
>actually was? My apologies if this has already been asked and answered, but
>I'm new to the newsgroup.
>
>Alan Howard
Interestingly enough, Daddy Claxton was Roy Acuff's grandfather, and also quite
well known as an inventor in his own right. In addition to a railroad car
coupling device that gained him his first patent, he went on to devise a
fruitcake receipe that he passed on to his heirs and became the basis for a
substantial family business. As you ride through Georgia on the main highways
you'll still see billboards advertising some roadside stand or another,
offering Claxton fruitcakes for sale.
Less likely, however, is the rumor that Roy Acuff was particularly fond of
those fruitcakes and that their, ahem, binding quality that gave Acuff's voice
its particular quality.
Aloha,
Charlie
Richard Dalin
Overcoat C wrote in message
<199808130145...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
I have also read that members of the Claxton family fought in the Civil War
on both sides. There is a story whose validity I cannot vouch for, which
says that an incident between two Claxton brothers was the basis for the
song 'Two Little Boys', sung by the Country Gentlemen and others.
All the best,
RAD
gtown...@gmail.com
> Does anyone know who the Daddy Claxton mentioned in the Wabash Cannonball
> actually was? My apologies if this has already been asked and answered, but
> I'm new to the newsgroup.
>
> Alan Howard
Guy Townsend