Mac Wiseman

Subject: Mac Wiseman
From: GUEST,Peter T.
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 02:44 PM

I have been listening to a variety of country music story ballads the last few weeks (my current favourite line: "There's a little box of pine, on the 7:29") and naturally Mac Wiseman ("Little Blossom", "Bringing Mary Home", and other delightful horrors, etc.) looms large with that great voice. Anyone know anything about him (I know he is a bluegrass stalwart, recorded with Monroe and Flatt& Scruggs, etc.) as a person? He seems to have been around forever. All I know about him is that Rick Fielding once said that he was about the only person in bluegrass that didn't play a Martin guitar. Just interested. I can't find a decent Web site about him, though he appears to be everywhere.
Yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Dale Rose
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 03:20 PM

You're right, there's not a lot about Mac on the web, but then, I think bluegrass has been rather slighted in that respect. Maybe bluegrassers are too busy playing (and listening) to put up websites for their favorites. Check out this one. (Includes an Email address for Mac) I'll look around some more later. I well remember seeing him in person some 25 years or so ago.

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Mark Clark
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 03:21 PM

Here is some basic info on Mac. I checked using WebFerret and found loads of references. This one was near the top.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 10:18 PM

Years ago I played several times on the "Tommy Hunter Show", and on one of the occasions got to meet Mac Wiseman. He had just had his stomach stapled and was showing the "guys" his scars! He was extremely friendly (as opposed to Tommy Hunter) and very encouraging. A gentleman indeed.

On other "Hunter" shows I met Merle Travis and Tammy Wynette. Both were equally nice, and once again very encouraging to the "local" act.

There are a lot of folks who think that the Monroe/Wiseman duets were simply the best. He also played for a time with Flatt and Scruggs, but supplemented his income for years as an "A and R" man with Decca.

Rick

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 10:21 PM

Oops, should have added that Mac's refusal to carry a band while touring (like Chuck Berry he worked with locals) didn't help his image with his peers. Often his back up bands were just plain bad, and he had a reputation for cheapness because of it.

Rick

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: mactheturk
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 10:23 PM

He is known as "The Voice with a Heart"...which says quite a lot.

MP

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 12:51 AM

When I was growing up in Virginia we often went to the Old Dominion Barn Dance in Richmond. Mac Wiseman was usually there as was Rose Maddox, along with a lot of others whose names I can't think of right now. Mac was born near Waynesboro, my home town, so we kind of latched onto him. A lot of his songs became our favorites. Remember I wonder how the old folks are at home?And 'Tis Sweet to be Remembered? Songs I'll never forget.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: GUEST,James
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 07:42 AM

I have not heard of Mac Wiseman in years...but ai loved his music..I particularly remember a song called Jimmy Brown The Newsboy.. I believe he was sometimes on a radio program hosted by Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Are there Cds available by any of these people, I would love to get a couple. Also, does anyone know the words to Jimmy Brown ?

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 08:19 AM

"Jimmy Brown the Newsboy" is in the DT. (Covered in the UK by Lonnie Donegan, of course!)
RtS

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: GUEST,Peter T.
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 10:00 AM

There are a number of records of his available. I have one called "The Mac Wiseman Story" which was recorded in 1976, and has a good selection of his tunes. I think the old selections have also been compiled. I first heard him on a collection of "20 Country Waltzes" including "Waltz Across Texas" (the Ernest Tubbs song) and "The Last Letter". This too is available. I have no idea what of the duet/bluegrass albums are around.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 12:04 PM

One of his biggest numbers was a cover of Pat Boone's "Love Letters in the Sand"! The guy didn't stick to the Bluegrass repertoire, that's for sure!

Rick

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Mark Clark
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 08:11 PM

Whenever Mac sang “Love Letters In The Sand” he introduced it as though it was his song. I often wondered if it was Boone who did the cover.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: kendall
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 08:16 PM

I believe Dan Crary plays a Taylor?

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Armen Tanzerian
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 08:49 PM

Well, I'm glad I found this thread and the above link. It confirms something I had always heard about Mac Wiseman -- that he was classically trained. Actually, I had assumed that he had had classical voice training, though only a stint at conservatory is mentioned in the bio. But this may explain something alse I have heard about him -- that he never uses a capo (B-flat? No problem.) I love a lot of his work, particularly Can't You Hear Me Callin' and other stunning duets with Monroe. I never did care for the sappy little minor-key coda he added to Jimmie Brown the Newsboy. Give me Lester Flatt and Earl's lovely guitar breaks on that one.

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Justa Picker
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 08:58 PM

Thou art correct, Kendall (especially since Taylor makes a Dan Crary signature edition.)

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From:
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 10:25 PM

"Jimmy Brown the Newsboy" was originally a Carter family recording, recorded Nov 25 1929 in Atlanta Georga. They have more than one version, I think. Certainly Jeanette Carter sings different lyrics from what Sara originally did and she pairs two verses together before the guitar break. The song has no chorus for voice, but rather the chorus is done by guitar (which is what I am calling the "guitar break". Here are the original lyrics:

Jimmie Brown the Newsboy

by A.P. Carter

I'm very cold and hungry, sir, my clothes are worn and thin
I travel about from place to place, my daily bread to win,
Then Maybelle's beautiful guitar break and on to verse II

But never mind sir how I look don't stare at me and frown.
I sell the morning papers sir, my name is Jimmie Brown.

Guitar Break

My father was a drunkard, I've heard my mother say,
But I am helping mother as I go along my way.

Guitar Break

I Sell the morning paper, sir, my name is Jimmie Brown.
Most everybody knows I am the newsboy of the town.

Guitar break and ending chord.

It is one of my favorites.

Murray

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From:
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 10:30 PM

Oops. The third verse should have "My father was a drunkard, sir, ....."

They all have "sir".

Murray

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 11:01 PM

Armen, you're right about him not using a capo. He DOES know his closed positions, but you'll find most of his songs are in the "straight" keys. The bit he added to "Jimmy Brown" (G//Em//C//G//) was to make the song a bit more like "sixties folk". Bobby Bare was also doin' some of that. It worked. The song AND the riff became popular in a cross-over way.

Rick

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Greycap
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 04:04 AM

Mac may be accused of being 'cheap' by using local back-up bands - however, Bill Clifton fixed me and my buddies to back Mac for a couple of weeks touring here in England in the '70s. We had the experience of working with a master bluegrass legend, lots of fun, and oh, yes, he played a Martin D-35 that he borrowed from Bill. Roger Knowles ( late of Natchez Trace ) My 2 cents on the subject.

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 11:08 AM

Mac is playing the Tennessee Homecoming - Oct 14 to 17 at Norris Tennessee.

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: fiddlegal
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 06:56 PM

Mac plays a Yamaha, which could be mistaken for an old 'bone. He never travels with a band and expects the venue to supply him with musicians to back him up. They are expected to do this non gratis.

f.g.

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: GUEST,Bill in Alabama
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 07:04 AM

Mac works the Museum of Appalachian Homecoming every year (mentioned previously by GUEST. At that venue, he most frequently performs solo, accompanying himself on the guitar, probably because, while the Homecoming features some bluegrass, it is a celebration of traditional Appalachian music and not a bluegrass festival.

Subject: RE: Mac Wiseman
From: Cappuccino
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 09:28 AM

Was it Mac Wiseman who did 'You Can't Go in the Red Playing Bluegrass?'

- Ian