(Photo of Steve Tatar unavailable.)

HARRY GAY
 



(Music: 1920's - 1930's)

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


tradition. The song lyrics are a interesting commentary on society's attitudes toward skin color. The record sold well locally, but it failed to bring the duo widespread fam or wealth. Lesley Riddle, an acquaintance of Gay and Tatar, points to this as one reason he did not pursue a recording contract for himself during this time.

 The Carter Family
(Music: 1920's-1940's)
 

 Lesley Riddle
(Music: 1920's-1940's)

Dock Boggs
(Music: 1920's-1960's)
 

Kate O'Neil Peters Sturgill
(Music: 1930's-1970's)

Harry Gay and Steve Tatar
(Music: 1920's-1930's)
 

Carl Martin
(Music: 1920's-1960's)

Spike Carson
(Music: 1940's-1950's)
 

The Stanley Brothers
(Music: 1940's-1960's)

 Mother Maybelle
(Music: 1940's-1970's)
 

Jim and Jesse McReynolds
(Music: 1940's-1990's)

 Dr. Ralph Stanley & the
Clinch Mountain Boys

(Music: 1940's-Present)
 

Janette Carter
(Music: 1930's-Present)

 Ralph Stanley II
(Music: 1990's-Present)
 

 Blue Highway
(Music: 1990's-Present)

 Exhibit Photo Sources
 

 Exhibit Material Sources



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