Musician. Henry Clay Gilliland, an American, was a famous fiddler. He has been credited as the first person in history to make a country music recording. In 1922 Henry and a friend Eck Robertson, whom he met at a Confederate veterans reunion, traveled to New York and made a recording of "Arkansas Traveler" and "Turkey in the Straw". In this recording Gilliland played the lead and Robertson played the second part. These recordings later became known as the first recordings of Country Music. During his lifetime he participated in and won many fiddle contests and many considered him one of the best fiddlers to have ever played. He also was a member of the Texas cavalry where he served in the Confederate Army from 1863 until the end of the Civil War. After the war, he fought Comanche Indians in North Texas for several years. During his career as a fiddler, he lived first in Parker county Texas and then later in Altus, Oklahoma where he became known as "Uncle Henry".
Musician. Henry Clay Gilliland, an American, was a famous fiddler. He has been credited as the first person in history to make a country music recording. In 1922 Henry and a friend Eck Robertson, whom he met at a Confederate veterans reunion, traveled to New York and made a recording of "Arkansas Traveler" and "Turkey in the Straw". In this recording Gilliland played the lead and Robertson played the second part. These recordings later became known as the first recordings of Country Music. During his lifetime he participated in and won many fiddle contests and many considered him one of the best fiddlers to have ever played. He also was a member of the Texas cavalry where he served in the Confederate Army from 1863 until the end of the Civil War. After the war, he fought Comanche Indians in North Texas for several years. During his career as a fiddler, he lived first in Parker county Texas and then later in Altus, Oklahoma where he became known as "Uncle Henry".
Bio by: Ken Townsend
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