Fate Norris
Fate Norris (* 1878 in Resaca , Georgia as singleton LaFayette Norris , † November 11, 1944 in Subligna , Georgia) was an American old-time musician . Norris was a member of the string band The Skillet Lickers as a banjo player from 1925 to 1931 . In addition to the banjo, Norris also played the harmonica .
Life
youth
Norris was born in Resaca in 1878 and later became the oldest member of the Skillet Lickers. There is very little information about his youth - musical influences, for example, are not even known. Norris made a living as a farm worker until the early 20th century, but from then on made his living as a professional musician. He was married to Elizabeth (last name unknown), with whom he also had a daughter, Mable.
Norris was first mentioned as a musician when he took part in a Fiddlers Contest in Lawrenceville, Georgia on July 4, 1912 . Norris is also reported to have played with Bud Landress and Bill Chitwood, two members of the Georgia Yellow Hammers , in Resaca around 1909 . In any case, Norris traveled around with various medicine shows , where he developed his various comic acts as a blackface comedian and ventriloquist. The beginning of his one-man band also fell during this time - a newspaper article from 1927 speaks of 17 years of practice.
Career
In 1926, Norris was one of the founding members of the Skillet Lickers. He recorded about 80 pieces with this band over the next four years, but disappeared from the line-up in 1930 for unknown reasons. There were often disagreements with Fiddler Clayton McMichen during this period. McMichen had a penchant for jazz and experimented with a synthesis of old old-time music and urban swing and jazz elements, while Norris, in contrast, stuck to traditional old-time music. On most of the band's recordings, however, Norris can hardly be heard due to the poor technique and the way he plays.
In the mid-1920s, Norris also made some records under his own name for Columbia Records . His background group, called Playboys or Tanner Boys , consisted of Gid Tanner , Arthur Tanner , Clayton McMichen, and Riley Puckett .
Norris died on stage at the March of Dimes Benefit Concert in Subligna, Georgia in 1944 . He is said to have said " I'm not afraid " and then fell to the ground.
Discography
| year | title | # | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Records | |||
| New Dixie / I Don't Reckon That'll Happen Again | 15124-D | with the Tanner Boys | |
| Everyday Will Be Sunday By And By / Please Do Not Get Offended | 15217-D | with Gid Tanner | |
| Johnny Get Your Gun / Roll 'Em On The Ground | 15435-D | with the playboys | |
| Unpublished titles | |||
| 1926 |
|
Columbia Records | |
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jackie Burgess: Spring 1997 volume of the Chattooga County Historic Society Quarterly
Web links
- biography
- Detailed biography
- Fate Norris on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Norris, Fate |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Norris, Singleton LaFayette (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American old-time musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1878 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Resaca , Georgia |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 11, 1944 |
| Place of death | Subligna , Georgia |