I’ve chosen Old Blue Tick from Missouri fiddler August Merrill (1913-1975) for this installment of TOTW.
Mr. Merrill appears to have left little in the way of a digital footprint so any biographical information readers can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Folklorist R. P. Christeson recorded Merrill in 1973 and transcripts of his playing were eventually published in Christeson’s 1984 compilation titled The Old Time Fiddler’s Repertory (Volume 2). Merrill died before publication of the book but it served as a vehicle for preserving his music. The Old Blue Tick is probably his best known tune. I’ve included some internet links below.
Here’s Merrill’s original recording: https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/old-blue-tick
Michael Ismerio has a fiddle solo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr3Kri2GXVU
Here’s a performance by James Byron: https://www.oldtimefiddletunes.net/tunes/audio/OldBlueTick.mp3
Here’s a jam session: http://www.pegramjam.com/tunes/Old%20Blue%20Tick.mp3
Chris Carney has a fiddle lesson here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQRFSh_-YV4
I could not find a banjo tab for the tune but most folks should be able to pick out a basic arrangement after listening to the recordings a few times. A transcription of the tune in standard notation can be found here:
https://oldtimefiddletunes.net/tunes/OldBlueTick.pdf
Wikipedia says the Bluetick Hound is a breed developed in the American South during the 19th century. Blueticks are commonly used for raccoon hunting but their intelligence and friendliness have endured them to many Southerners as family pets. The most famous Bluetick is probably Smokey, the mascot of the University of Tennessee’s football team. He leads the team onto the field before games and patrols the sidelines and end zones during the game. The Vols have won two thirds of their games and a national championship since Smokey took the job during the 1953 season.
Readers are encouraged to post observations, opinions, performances, and tabs contributing to this thread.
Edited by - Mtngoat on 08/21/2026 06:56:41
Thanks for your contribution. R.D. Lunceford played it on his CD entitled “ The Old Blue Tick: Traditional Fiddle Tunes from Missouri”.
Outstanding tune!
Nice tune, Mtngoat. I hope RD will upload his version of Old Blue Tick, as I can't find that CD on-line.
Missouri tunes are often notey. I left some out in this arrangement and suspect would have to leave out even more when playing with a fiddle.
We once had hounds who hunted raccoons (and bear) -- Plotts. Blue Tick owners are just as fond of their breed. What I learned about hounds back then is that they need to be fenced, or off they go hunting!
On an interesting note, here are the 19 tunes played by August Merrill which you can access on Slippery Hill's Old Time Fiddling from the State of Missouri, looking in alphabetical order by his first name in this list.
Lapsteel, I was introduced to the tune 25 years ago via R.D.'s CD.
RG, I agree. It's my kind of tune.
Janet, Great performance and tab. I have never known a Bluetick but my grandparents had a lovable Black and Tan named Queenie. She was a wonderful dog and, somewhat unusual for that time in the rural South, had the run of the house.
Thanks to all for your contributions.
Edited by - Mtngoat on 08/23/2026 11:21:31
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