Origins: 'Step Around Johnny'

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Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?

30 Oct 07 - 12:08 PM (#2182681)
Subject: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: Sean Belt

This is a long shot, I know. But have any of you any information on the fiddle tune "Step Around Johnny"? Recordings, sources, collection information? I've been playing the tune for a couple of years and assumed it came from the Ozarks around the Missouri/Arkansas border. But I don't really know and haven't had any luck in finding out much about the tune at all.

~ Sean R.B.

30 Oct 07 - 01:22 PM (#2182742)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: Peace

If you Google

"Step Around Johnny"

you'll be taken to a page that has some stuff you can open, including

Folk Music Index and Fiddlers Companion.

Another site says it's a 'traditional Alabama fiddler's tune. I will return later and try to find something definitive.

30 Oct 07 - 01:29 PM (#2182750)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

The "Red Mountain White Trash" call it an "indigenous" Alabama fiddle tune.
One says MO-IL, another VA.
Can't find any old information. Not on Bluegrass Messengers list.

30 Oct 07 - 01:29 PM (#2182751)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Found a few items in Google:

Appalachian Dulcimers Listing
Folk Music Index Listing
Chords for tune

There are downloads of the tune from various places as well.

30 Oct 07 - 01:38 PM (#2182757)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: Sean Belt

Thanks all.

I had looked before in the Fiddler's Companion site, which has little information about the tune at all. The other sites you mention are good ones.

Found the above abc at http://www.otmad.net/review/hrc-playlist.abc

30 Oct 07 - 02:58 PM (#2182823)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Oh yes, JC's ABC Tune finder will give the dots in a GIF from that file:

Gif with dots

30 Oct 07 - 03:50 PM (#2182851)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: MissouriMud

Didn't the Mound City Slickers used to play that? I always thought it was a sequal to Johnny Don't Come Home Drunk.

30 Oct 07 - 07:14 PM (#2183027)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: Peace

www.folkmads.org/megaband_tunes.html

Site worth visiting. Fiddle players will like it, IMO.

31 Oct 07 - 09:14 AM (#2183411)
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Step Around Johnny' - Any Background?
From: Sean Belt

MissouriMud,

The Mound City Slickers still play it. Prob'ly Johnny Don't Come Home Drunk, too. Though my memory gets hazy.