Hey, Ron:

You're right, friend. Your prejudices are showing. Charlie Poole is my favorite old-time string band leader and he recorded a wealth of songs (and very few instrumentals or dance tunes with endlessly repeating lines.) He recorded ballads, vaudeville and pop tunes from the turn of the century (like Airship) humorous songs, love songs.. and on and on. I'd put other early duos like Grayson and Whitter, the Dixon Brothers and Darby and Tarlton in the range of old-time with generous portions of blues mixed in. Of course, it depends on which category you put groups in. The Blue Sky Boys could just as easily fit in old time music as bluegrass.

But, then ALL of us show our prejudices. Show me a man without any musical prejudices and I'll show him the door.

Jerry