Harry Gay and Steve Tatar, both guitarists, lived in Scott County, Virginia, in the 1920's and performed as a duo at functions on both sides of the Virginia-Tennessee line. In 1928, they recorded "Brownie Blues" in Bristol, Tennessee on the Victor label with Gay on guitar and Tatar on vocals and lead guitar. The duo were two of the few African-American musicians from Southwest Virginia to record during the early days of the "race" record industry. Music recorded by African-Americans was referred as "race" records while music recorded by acts like the Carter Family was referred to as "hillbilly" records. The song "Brownie Blues" demonstrates the inclusion of ragtime instrumental techniques in the blues