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Arkansas Woodchopper

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Arkansas Woodchopper c. 1944

Arkansas Woodchopper, or Arkie (b. Luther Ossenbrink, March 2, 1906 - June 23, 1981) was an American country musician.[1][2][3]

He was born in the Ozarks near Knob Noster, Missouri, to a family who owned a farm and a general store. He taught himself to play guitar and fiddle so he could play at local square dances,[4] and his first job in music was performing on radio in Kansas City on KMBC in 1928.[2] He started at WLS in 1930,[1] performing on their National Barn Dance, and became one of the show's most popular performers,[5][6] continuing there until 1959. During this time he also released records for Columbia Records and Conqueror Records. Book of sheet music 'THE ARKANSAS WOODCHOPPER'S WORLD'S GREATEST COLLECTION OF COWBOY SONGS WITH YODEL ARRANGEMENT' copyright 1931 published by M.M. Cole Publishing House, Chicago contains 35 songs, 64 pages. He once performed with Al Trace's orchestra with the song "Why Go Home?"[7] and although his recordings for Columbia, Gennett Records, American Record Corporation, Okeh Records sold well, he never established himself as a major musician.[8]

Discography

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Cat. No. Title Date Notes
Champion
45058 I'm In the Jailhouse Now / Frankie and Johnny 1929
45192 Old and Only In the Way / Little Green Valley 1930
Columbia
15463D The Dying Cowboy / The Cowboy's Dream 1928[1]
20444 Arkansas Traveller / Mississippi Sawyer 1941 Also on Okeh 06296
20445 Sallie Goodwin / Soldier’s Joy 1941 Also on Okeh 06297
20446 Walking Up Town / Waggoner 1941 Also on Okeh 06298
20447 My Love Is But A Lassie / Lightfoot Bill 1941 Also on Okeh 06299
Conqueror
7879 Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder / Frankie and Albert 1931 Frankie and Albert originally by Charley Patton
7880 Sweet Sunny South / If I Could Only Blot Out The Past 1931 Sweet Sunny South originally by Charlie Poole
7881 Just Plain Folks / What Is Home Without Love? 1931
7882 The Last Great Roundup / Cowboy Jack 1931 The Last Great Roundup originally by Cliff Carlisle
7883 I'm A Texas Cowboy / The Bronco That Wouldn’t Bust 1931
7884 When It’s Harvest Time, My Sweet Angeline / Little Green Valley 1931
7885 Old Pal / Daddy and Home 1931
7886 Mary Dow / Little Blossom 1931
7887 Little Ah-Sid / Dollar Down And A Dollar A Week With Chicken Pie 1931

References

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  1. ^ a b c Russell, Tony; Pinson, Bob (2004). Country Music Records : A Discography, 1921-1942: A Discography, 1921-1942. Oxford University Press. p. 24-1163. ISBN 0198032048. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Jones, Loyal (2008). Country Music Humorists and Comedians. University of Illinois Press. pp. 62–409. ISBN 978-0252033698. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  3. ^ Sterling, Christopher H. (2004). Encyclopedia of Radio 3-Volume Set. Routledge. pp. 1664–1665. ISBN 1135456496. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "The Arkansas Woodchopper". The Gettysburg Times. September 14, 1936. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  5. ^ Goldsmith, Thomas (2004). The Bluegrass Reader. University of Illinois Press. p. 41. ISBN 0252029143. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "America Folk Tunes". Billboard. Vol. 58, no. 30. July 27, 1946. p. 128. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  7. ^ "After 22 years, he's squeezing the last notes of Concertinnotes out". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. March 19, 2002. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  8. ^ The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. 2012. pp. 13–186. ISBN 978-0199920839. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
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