Mtngoat - Posted - 08/05/2022:  04:38:14

TOTW  -  Chuck A Luck

I’ve chosen Chuck A Luck for this installment of TOTW.   The Traditional Tune Archive notes the tune "is from the playing of Elkmont, Alabama fiddler Sam McCracken (1888-1972).  Mr. Sam, as he was called, was the 1971 Tennessee Valley Senior Champion and is considered the "spiritual father" of the Tennessee Valley Old-Time Fiddlers Convention.   The Library of Congress holds twenty recordings of Mr.  McCracken.”

The tune has a modest internet presence.    

Here’s the McCracken source recording:  slippery-hill.com/content/chuck-luck

Here’s a fiddle and guitar video:  youtube.com/watch?v=spuLIofp23U  

Here’s a kitchen jam session:  youtube.com/watch?v=OqsvUowBqCM

Here’s a recording of the Seattle String Band class: stringband.mossyroof.com/Chuck...acken.mp3

I could not find a banjo tab but most folks should be able to pick out a basic arrangement in open G after listening to the tune for a few minutes.

Here’s a transcription in standard notation:  tunearch.org/wiki/Chuckaluck

A description of the dice game from which the tune derives its name is here:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck-a-luck

Readers are encouraged to post observations, opinions, performances, and tabs contributing to this thread. 

Edited by - Mtngoat on 08/09/2022 11:33:42

RG - Posted - 08/05/2022:  10:49:53

That is a great tune! Gonna have to learn that for the fiddle as well!

JanetB - Posted - 08/08/2022:  15:11:08

It sounds like Sam McCracken had a fulfilling fiddler's life.  I wonder if he wrote the tune... It sure moves along and could have been called Happy-Go-Lucky. :)

Edited by - JanetB on 08/08/2022 15:11:42

Chuck-a-Luck

Chuck-a-Luck (CH) tab

Mtngoat - Posted - 08/09/2022:  07:16:47

RG, I agree. There lots of lesser known and under appreciated tunes residing in books, recordings, and archival collections that need to be introduced to a wider audience.

Janet, Thanks for the tab and recording. I learned it while attending a festival performance. My banjo was at the campsite so I had to keep it in my head for a couple of hours before I could transfer it to my fingers. As a result my arrangement is a bit sparse so I am happy to steal some licks from you.