Mtngoat - Posted - 08/15/2025:  03:47:45

Crook Brothers Breakdown

I’ve chosen Crook Brother’s Breakdown, from Tennesseans Herman (1898-1988) and Matthew (1896-1964) Crook for this installment of TOTW.  It seems that the Crooks called the tune Sally Ann but, in order to differentiate it from the more familiar traditional version of Sally Ann, others started referring to the tune as the Crook Brother’s Tune or the Crook Brother’s Breakdown.

The tune has a healthy internet presence and I’ve linked a few samples below:     

Here are the Crook Brothers themselves from 1964:  youtube.com/watch?v=lQmesDk7ubk

Here’s a string band from 2019:  youtube.com/watch?v=DFyYhF839tU

Here’s a string band from 2017:  echomountainband.bandcamp.com/...ugar-hill

Here’s an Old Time Trio: youtube.com/watch?v=CUrROzZ627s

Here’s a fiddle/banjo duet:  stuartbrothers.bandcamp.com/tr...breakdown

Here’s a dance session:  youtube.com/watch?v=T4dh0yWoWQQ

A banjo tab is here:  taterjoes.com/Warehouse/Banjo/...kdown.pdf

A transcription of the tune in standard notation is here:  jimsrootsandblues.com/crook-br...reakdown/

The Crook Brothers began their career as a popular brother duo playing twin harmonicas but eventually added a banjo, fiddle, guitar, and piano to their lineup.  The group became a charter member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1926 and performed there regularly for the next 62 years with their final appearance occurring in 1988, just a few days before Herman Crook's death. Their longevity record stood for 35 years until it was surpassed by Bill Anderson in 2023.  It is still an amazing feat given that so many music careers now seem to be measured in months rather than years.

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

Edited by - Mtngoat on 08/15/2025 03:58:39

RG - Posted - 08/15/2025:  15:46:38

Oh man is this one of my favorite tunes to fiddle! Outside of the original, my favorite version is the Stuart Brothers. They were truly remarkable in the way only twins could be musically. Here's Sausage Grinder playing it as Travis and Trevor did...

JanetB - Posted - 08/15/2025:  17:59:46

That's some Grand Old Opry history I didn't know.  We're going to Nashville in October -- that would be a nice side trip to see the old and modern venues. 

The Crook Brothers played super fast!  I'm playing at 65% of their speed.  I like the Sausage Grinder group, too. My take is probably unique because I hear a possible minor chord in the A part, so stuck that in with some cello banjo accompaniment.  

Crook Brothers Breakdown (TOTW)

Crook Brothers Breakdown

Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/16/2025:  11:43:23

The old goat has picked a good one for this week. I enjoyed all of the versions that he linked to that opened quick enough to beat out my impatience, but like everyone else, I was really taken by the Sausage Grinder's rendition. I was blown away by Janet's lovely version, too, well played and very elegant and melodious.



For quite a few years I played regularly with two Boston area fiddle players, John Maguire and John Reddick, and this is one of the tunes the three of us played often. I've attached our recording, below. When we made this back in 2022, we were each in our own homes because of Covid! We played together over the internet back then, using a system that Maguire discovered and installed for all of us, called Jackstreamer. Basically, the system took all the audio input from each source and syncronized it, and then sent it back out, so that there was no signal delay, Of course, you would hear the signal a split second or so after you actually played, so you would have to play your own instrument into your microphone with noise eliminating headphones on, so that you did not hear your own playing until it came back over the internet into your headphones with everyone elses. Believe it or not, it only took us old fogeys just a few minutes to get used to it. It was almost like we were all in the same room, but with our eyes closed. John Maguire has moved away to Utah to be close to his kids and their families, so the trio is no more. Reddick and I still get together though, once a week or so, and we are still learning some new tunes now and then.



Here's a link to my 3 finger style tab:  Crook Brothers Breakdown Tab



- Don B.

Edited by - Don Borchelt on 08/16/2025 11:54:00

Crook Brothers Breakdown

 

Mtngoat - Posted - 08/16/2025:  17:43:09

RG always great to get your input. When I found the Sausage Grinder video I knew I was going to put it at the top of the list.

Janet, I don't hear a minor chord in the tune but I like what you did with it. Thanks for the tab.

Don, I first heard the tune at a jam right before Covid. Fortunately I made a recording so I was able to work on it during the lock down. I'll see if I can find that recording and will post if I relocate it. Thanks for the great performance and tab.

Mtngoat - Posted - 08/20/2025:  19:01:11

Well I couldn't find the jam recording as promised but I did locate one of a rehearsal session from when we added it to our dance set. Also attached is a tab of my version. The melody is sparse but it works well for dances where you can play it up to speed on auto pilot.

Crook Brothers' Breakdown

Crook Brothers' Breakdown

Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/23/2025:  06:24:01

That's some fine picking and sawing, Mtngoat , very clean and lots of fine bounce to it! I wish I could have attended your performance!

- Don B