Roots of American Fiddle Music - Early Fiddlers
 
Doc Roberts
Doc Roberts was born in 1898 near Kirksville, Madison County, Kentucky and recorded recorded over 80 traditional tunes over a course of 10 years with Gennett, ARC, and Paramount. He played in a bluesy style which is attributed to his mentor, Owen Walker. He was a black fiddler born in 1857 and taught Roberts most of his tunes.

Thanks to Kerry Blech for additional information and corrections.

The following is in part from Jane Keefer's Folk Song Database.

Fiddlin' Doc Roberts
   Appearance as principal performer

  1. All I've)Got's Done Gone
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 1 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 2
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 22
  2. And the Cat Came Back The Very Next Day
    • Fiddle Band Music from Kentucky, Vol.3, Wish I Had ... MorningStar 45005 (1980), cut # 13 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 5
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 15
  3. Arkansas Traveler
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 8
  4. Billy in the Lowgrounds
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 3 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 6
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 14
  5. Black-Eyed Susie
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 7 
    •  Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 10
  6. Blue Grass Rag
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 20
  7. Brickyard Joe
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 1
    • Fiddle Band Music from Kentucky, Vol.2, MorningStar 45004 (1980), cut # 3 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 21
  8. Buck Creek Gal
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 9
  9. Carroll County Blues
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 13
  10. Charleston #1
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 6 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 14
  11. Chicken Reel
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 20
  12. Coal Tipple Blues
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 22
  13. Cripple Creek
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 13
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 13
  14. Cumberland Blues
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 3 
    • Mountain Blues, County 511 (), cut # 11 
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 6 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 16
  15. Cumberland Gap
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 15
  16. Dance With A Gal With Hole In Her Stocking
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 18
  17. Deer Walk
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 2 
  18. Deer Waltz
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 16
  19. Devil in Georgia
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 13
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 14
  20. Did You Ever See The Devil Uncle Joe
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 3
  21. Dixie ('Way Done South in Dixie)
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 14
    • Fiddle Band Music from Kentucky, Vol.3, Wish I Had ..., MorningStar 45005 (1980), cut # 6 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 4
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 21
  22. Down Yonder
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 17
  23. Drunken Man's Dream
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 9
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track #
  24. Farewell Waltz
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 4 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 4
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 6
  25. Girl I Left Behind Me
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 9
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 11
  26. Hawk's Got a Chicken (and Gone)
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 11
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 21
  27. Hog Trough Reel
    • Visits, Heritage (Galax) 033 (1981), cut # 4b 
  28. Honeymoon Waltz
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 11
  29. Honeymoon Stomp
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 18
  30. I Don't Love Nobody
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 4 
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 10
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 9
  31. In The Shadow Of The Pine
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 7
  32. I've Got A Girl Named Susie
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 1
  33. Jack's Creek Waltz
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 12 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 12
  34. Johnny Inchin' Along
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 15
  35. Leather Breeches, Big Eared Mule, Irish Washerwoman
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 19
  36. Mandolin Rag
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 5
  37. Martha Campbell
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 10 
    • Visits, Heritage (Galax) 033 (1981), cut # 4a
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 1
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 7
  38. Miss McCleod's Reel
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 5 
  39. My Baby Loves Shortenin' Bread
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 3
  40. New Money
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 2 
    • Fiddle Band Music from Kentucky, Vol.3, Wish I Had ..., MorningStar 45005 (1980), cut # 2 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 22
  41. Ninety-Nine Years
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 12
  42. Old Buzzard
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 8 
    • Fiddle Band Music from Kentucky, Vol.2, MorningStar 45004 (1980), cut # 11 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 11
  43. Old Zip Coon And Medley Reels
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 17
  44. Over The Waves
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 10
  45.  Pickin' & Playin'
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 19
  46. Rocky Mountain Goat
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 5 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 13
  47. Run, Boy, Run
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 8 
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 11
  48. Run Smoke Run
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works,  Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 2
  49. Rye Straw
    • Old Time Tunes, County 412 (), cut # 7 
    • Old Time Fiddle Classics, Vol. 2, County 527 (1973), cut # 8 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 18
  50. Sally Ann
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 9 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 19
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 5
  51. Shamrock Schottische
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 17
  52. Shippin' Sport
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 20
  53. Shoot That Turkey Buzzard
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 3
  54. Shortenin' Bread
    • Kentucky Country; Old Time Music From Kentucky, Rounder 1037 (1983), cut # 15
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 4
  55. Smoky Row
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 16
  56. Take Those Lips Away
    • Early Mandolin Classics, Rounder 1050 (1989), cut # 4
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 6
  57. Turkey In The Straw
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 8
  58. Waggoner
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track #
  59. Waltz The Hall
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 8
  60. Waynesboro
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 14 
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1", DocumentDOC-8042, track # 12
  61. Wednesday Night Waltz
    • Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 (197?), cut # 12
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3", Document Doc-8044, track # 7
  62. Who's Been Here Since I've Been Gone?
    • Fiddlin' Doc Roberts "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2", Document Doc-8043, track # 10
   Side Performer Appearance
    Gambler's Lament, Country Turtle 6001 
James Roberts
   Side Performer Appearance
    Roberts, Fiddlin' Doc / Classic Fiddle Tunes, Davis Unlimited DU 33015 

    Oh, My Little Darling; Folk Song Types, New World NW 245 

    Roberts, Fiddlin' Doc / Old Time Tunes, County 412 

    Visits, Heritage (Galax) 033 

 

 

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