This text is a contribution by author, musician, and long-time Saving Nation Music reader Steven Paul.
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There are numerous tall tales and outright fabrications on the earth of music, and nation music is not any exception. Ridiculous tales persist into the current day about nation music’s largest stars, and there are true tales which might be wilder than even probably the most ingenious thoughts might think about.
One tall story has so lengthy outrun the reality that it has been shared, unfold, and repeated advert nauseam till even among the most studious nation music historians mistake it for truth. It’s the story that DeFord Bailey (1899-1982)—one of many largest nation stars of the Nineteen Thirties—was fired from the Grand Ole Opry as a result of he was Black.
Although writers, historians, and nation music specialists have endeavored to set the file straight (on the time of this writing, even Wikipedia displays the precise purpose for Bailey’s firing) many years of nation music followers have believed in error that Bailey’s firing was racially motivated.
Born in Tennessee in 1899, DeFord Bailey was solely a few generations faraway from slavery. In actual fact, consistent with the pattern of freed slave households adopting the surnames of their former house owners, the Bailey surname comes from the household’s ancestral slave proprietor. However DeFord Bailey would rise to turn into the primary Black nation star, the most well-liked nation artist in addition to Uncle Dave Macon, and a harmonica participant of such respect that later nation artists, together with harmonica virtuoso Charlie McCoy, all however begged to file with him or to file him personally for posterity.
Armed with a riveting backstory befitting a rustic legend, DeFord Bailey was a star within the making even earlier than he got here to prominence. As a baby, Bailey was bothered with Polio that saved him bedridden for a number of months, throughout which period he practiced harmonica and mandolin, however largely harmonica, studying to mimic his grandfather’s fiddle tunes, the sounds of wildlife, and the sound of a passing prepare. Bailey would take heed to passing trains as a baby, however because of his sickness, he wouldn’t see an actual prepare for a few years.
Because of his childhood sickness, Bailey would retain a slight stoop, a full peak of solely 4’10” (one inch shorter than ‘Little’ Jimmy Dickens), and a small body that saved him from performing the extra grueling farm labor, which in flip offered Bailey ample time to follow. By the point he was mature, Bailey was already well-known for his virtuosic enjoying, prepare impressions (his signature “Pan American Blues” can be the primary recording of a harmonica blues solo), and repertoire of fiddle tunes. Bailey would later enter and win a harmonica contest. However due to his pores and skin tone, he was solely awarded second prize, regardless of his victory.
Although not technically the primary nation artist on the radio, nor the primary on WSM, Bailey is usually considered having been the primary ‘Opry’ performer. It was whereas introducing Bailey that WSM supervisor ‘Solemn Previous Decide’ George Hay adopted Bailey’s “Pan American” with the now well-known “Opera to Opry” quote that some take into account the start of the Grand Ole Opry. Since Uncle Jimmy Thompson performed on the unique WSM Barn Dance, and Bailey was the primary performer on the Opry, each artists have been referred to as the primary Opry performers.
To know the eventual causes of Bailey’s termination, it’s important to supply a full understanding of what nation music performances and excursions seemed like.
First, there have been few if any solo nation stars within the early days. Even probably the most well-known nation artists traveled in teams, invoking the sights and sounds of the medication present. A “nation” efficiency was often a number of artists in various kinds: a singing duo corresponding to Sam and Kirk McGee or the Delmore Brothers, a solo banjoist or fiddler, a three-or-four piece string band, and a comic or different selection act. DeFord Bailey and Roy Acuff have been each recognized to do tips with yo-yos, and Acuff could have gotten this from watching Bailey.
It was Uncle Dave Macon who challenged the notion that hillbilly or early nation musicians couldn’t maintain a crowd engaged as a solo act. One quote from the ebook Dixie Dewdrop goes one thing like, “Nobody placed on an entire present by himself. Uncle Dave Macon can.”
This model of montage performing meant that few nation stars have been anticipated to have giant repertoires of songs. As an alternative they did a number of crowd pleasers that audiences got here to count on from them. Apart from “Pan American” (a DeFord Bailey unique), he got here to be recognized for enjoying “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Extra,” which he could have realized by watching Dave Macon, “Fox Chase,” a typical harmonica present tune, and “Night Prayer Blues.”
Bailey would tour and carry out with Dave Macon, Invoice Monroe, Roy Acuff, the Delmore Brothers, fiddler Sid Harkreader, and others. That is necessary data in gentle of the rumor that Bailey’s firing was racially motivated, because it has been claimed that Bailey’s pores and skin shade was saved secret by the Opry. This unsubstantiated declare is each blatantly false and, frankly, ludicrous.
Bailey’s race was well-known to nation audiences on the time, although on some excursions he would wrestle to search out lodging. Some performers would go away Bailey to sleep and eat within the automobile, however the Delmore Brothers, Dave Macon, and others would solely eat or sleep the place Bailey was welcomed, and the Delmore’s would even share a mattress with Bailey. To bypass some segregated lodging, Dave Macon and Bailey would fake that Bailey was Macon’s valet. Given Dave Macon’s lengthy listing of eccentricities and boisterous conduct and Bailey’s quiet, reserved persona, this act would often be accepted with out query.
It is usually necessary to notice that in his Opry run, Bailey would hire out rooms to visitors the place he was residing, and although he by no means paid for a hotelier’s license, Bailey successfully ran the primary desegregated place of lodging within the space, with individuals of all backgrounds coming to remain, typically hoping for an opportunity to listen to Bailey play.
DeFord Bailey was first recorded in 1927, then later in Nashville in 1928. He was among the many first artists to be recorded in Nashville, and these recordings in the end led to his termination by the Opry. A fast look via the listing of Bailey’s Twenties recordings reveals that they embody his finest recognized efficiency tunes, as can be anticipated. The listing contains “Fox Chase,” “Dixie Flyer,” “Pan American,” “Night Prayer Blues,” and others. Sadly, this may result in the practical finish of the legendary profession of DeFord Bailey, who on the time was the most important star of WSM, except for Dave Macon.
With out getting too into the small print of copyright regulation, it have to be understood that WSM refused to pay the upper charges demanded by efficiency rights group ASCAP starting in 1940, and that ASCAP songs weren’t to be performed on the station because of this. WSM was not distinctive on this, and stations throughout the nation immediately discovered themselves in want of recent materials to broadcast. This meant that many working musicians have been anticipated to rearrange public area materials or compose new songs.
Throughout the nation, fan favourite songs have been now not accessible to performers. “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” as an illustration, wouldn’t be public area till 1943. Audiences rapidly took umbrage to discovering their favourite applications enjoying mushy preparations of well-known ballads and classical items. Musicians have been discouraged from improvising in case they unintentionally borrowed from a copyrighted melody. Songs like “Jeannie with the Mild Brown Hair” could have been as ubiquitous because the cans of spam that will encourage the legendary Monty Python routine that resulted in undesirable mailings and cellphone calls being referred to as “spam.”
The results of the ASCAP strike have been far-reaching, partly contributed to the decline of huge band music, and in addition impacted the careers of many established stars. Jack Benny couldn’t play “Love in Bloom,” Burns and Allen couldn’t use “Love Nest” and extra necessary to the subject at hand, Deford Bailey couldn’t play “Pan American.”
Because the Bailey recordings of 1927 and 1928 have been copyrighted, it meant that Bailey couldn’t play the songs he was recognized for enjoying on WSM, and that audiences anticipated to listen to on WSM. If viewers reactions to different artists altering their repertoire is any indication, had Bailey carried out different songs, it could have been as effectively obtained as a peanut butter and artichoke pizza.
DeFord Bailey was let go from the Opry within the spring of 1941, ending an almost decade-and-a-half run with WSM and successfully ending the profession of one of many largest nation stars of the period. In October, the ASCAP strike would come to an finish, however DeFord Bailey wouldn’t return to the Opry. (Reinstate who?)
Since 1941, the rumor mill has churned out all types of tall tales about Bailey’s termination, most of them someway involving his race, though it’s unlikely that the Opry would fireplace considered one of their largest stars for one thing most viewers members evidently couldn’t have cared much less about.
A part of the city legend round DeFord Bailey’s termination stems from Decide Hay’s 1945 ebook, A Story of the Grand Ole Opry, wherein Hay describes Bailey unflatteringly as “lazy” and claims he “refused to be taught new tunes.” As beforehand acknowledged, given how audiences responded to different acts attempting out new materials, it could have finished little good for Bailey to have finished so. Bailey himself would later declare that Decide Hay was nothing however good and useful to him, and that Hay’s hurtful characterization of Bailey was written to appease his superiors on the matter.
In any case, after the ASCAP strike, Bailey was not requested to return to the Opry, and although some have claimed the choice to not rehire Bailey was racially influenced, it’s inconceivable to totally validate or refute such a declare. What is thought is that Bailey didn’t ask the Opry for his outdated job again. It may be moderately assumed that the matter of Bailey’s job post-1941 was a stand-off, with neither aspect eager to make the primary transfer for concern of getting egg on their face. It isn’t a stretch to think about Decide Hay squirming on the considered asking somebody he’d simply fired a number of months prior to return again with no arduous emotions, neither is it arduous to think about Bailey being desperate to humble himself asking for his outdated job again.
It’s additionally attainable that DeFord Bailey was merely a casualty of a quickly altering world. Bailey was fired in spring of 1941, the ASCAP strike ended that October, and that December a significant information story would devour the waking ideas of most People for the following a number of years. The disappearance of DeFord Bailey doubtless crossed only a few minds of the 40s. Additionally, different excessive profile nation performers would go on to be fired or banned from the Opry within the coming years, together with Hank Williams and Johnny Money.
With out the Opry, Bailey returned to his pre-Opry job shining footwear, now with a number of workers. Bailey would typically play his harmonica for visitors whereas his workers labored, drawing crowds of all colours and backgrounds. He additionally continued his room renting on the aspect, together with his room renting offering an inexpensive secondary earnings. Essential to notice, the David C. Morton ebook DeFord Bailey, a Black Star in Early Nation Music does describe an remoted incident of a cross being burned on the household’s garden.
As a aspect word: The Delmore Brothers had left the Opry in 1938, and after the struggle would add one other harmonica vunderkind, Wayne Raney (of Raney and Glosson fame) to their entourage. With Raney, the Delmores would file the clearly Bailey-inspired “Pan American Boogie” that includes Raney’s harmonica. Since many nation followers would recall seeing Bailey and the Delmores on the touring circuit, some listeners have mistakenly credited DeFord Bailey for enjoying on the Delmores’ post-war recordings.
DeFord Bailey would carry out a number of instances on the Opry within the ensuing many years, together with his seventy-fifth birthday celebration and to have fun the Opry leaving the Ryman home. He additionally carried out in people circles through the people revival of the sixties. Right now, Bailey would sing and play banjo and guitar as effectively. Bailey, who was left-handed, was in all probability a greater banjoist than Dave Macon, however performed the banjo the other way up.
You will need to perceive that Bailey was not wanting for alternatives to carry out. Bailey didn’t, as it’s typically claimed, languish in obscurity as a result of nobody would rent him. In actual fact, Bailey would flip down most presents to carry out or be recorded. The first purpose Bailey declined many job presents is as a result of he felt most presents have been too low.
One well-known story goes that Bailey was requested to be concerned in a manufacturing that featured Johnny Money, and Money was to be higher paid than the opposite contributors. Bailey would have solely accepted the supply if he have been paid equal to Johnny Money, and negotiations ended. Given the standing of Johnny Money, a listing of performers the producers would have been keen to pay as a lot as Money might in all probability be counted on one hand.
Just a few late profession recordings of Bailey do exist, and Bailey did work with David Morton to publish a biography that’s fairly the web page turner for anybody with a ardour for early nation music. However Bailey nonetheless pale from Nation music consciousness. His son ‘Junior’ Bailey would start his personal musical profession and be a mainstay on TV’s Night time Practice within the sixties. Distinguished in Junior Bailey’s band through the Night time Practice period was a guitarist who would later turn into well-known by the title Jimi Hendrix. (Hendrix and DeFord Sr. are recognized to have met a number of instances.) Clearly, the affect of DeFord Bailey stretched to all areas of American tradition.
After the 1982 passing of DeFord Bailey, a lot dialogue has centered on recognizing his place as a pioneer of nation music and an establishment in his personal proper, and an equal quantity has been stated about Deford Bailey’s race, a lot of it misinformed by Decide Hay’s 1945 testimony.
Make no mistake, nation music—like all American establishments courting again far sufficient—has its skeletons within the closet regarding race. Lefty Frizzell would name Charley Satisfaction the infamous phrase that rhymes with ‘greater.’ In his biography, Grandpa Jones recalled being approached by a Black man who took exception to the vocabulary of Grandpa’s repertoire of conventional songs. Although Grandpa would defend the songs as being people songs that merited devoted preservation, he understood the person’s perspective.
It bears mentioning that DeFord Bailey ended his Opry profession in 1941, and Charley Satisfaction wouldn’t be the primary solo Black singer on the Opry till 1967, leaving a niche of over 1 / 4 century.
DeFord Bailey was a cornerstone of American nation and blues music, a performer who was second in stature solely to the most important star of his period (Dave Macon), and an influencer who touched the careers of artists as numerous as Doc Watson, Jimi Hendrix, Pete Seeger, Roy Acuff and Charlie McCoy. The importance of Bailey’s work—restricted although his recorded output was—is tough to overstate. Regardless of his significance to the early Opry, a lot of DeFord Bailey’s lasting affect has been neglected, lowered, or downplayed because the dialogue shifted to race.
DeFord Bailey deserves to be remembered and revered for his artistry and for what his profession meant to the development of nation and blues music within the Nineteen Thirties and into the Forties. Any dialogue on what that meant almost about race needs to be finished with correct data.
The historical past of Nation Music is huge, complicated, and full of colourful, typically weird characters. However definitely among the many most memorable is the mushy spoken 4’10” Black harmonica wizard at all times in a high-quality swimsuit who’s prepare impressions stay among the many most inspiring ever carried out on the instrument, and who’s profession was destined to turn into the stuff of Nation Music legend.
DeFord Bailey was inducted into the Nation Music Corridor of Fame in 2005.
For additional studying on the early and golden period of nation music:
George Hay: the Story of the Grand Ole Opry (1945)
David C Morton: Deford Bailey, a Black Star in Early Nation Music
Michael Doubler: Dixie Dewdrop, the Dave Macon Story
