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Riley Puckett collection

 Collection
Identifier: M047

Scope and Content of the Collection

The Puckett collection consists of one folder containing a brief biography of and list of recordings made by Riley Puckett, and nine photographic images of Puckett, his family, and other contemporary country musicians. One clipping has been transferred to the Ephemera file. Both the printed materials and the photographic images are copies made from the originals.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1925-1946

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Biography of Riley Puckett

Riley Puckett was born May 7, 1894, and was blinded shortly after birth. Despite his condition, Puckett became proficient as a vocalist, guitarist and banjo player, performing with many Atlanta area country groups, including the Hometown Boys String Band, the Skillet Lickers, the Sand Sifters, the Georgia Red Hots and the Georgia Hot Shots. Puckett also recorded over 200 solo records for the Columbia, Decca and Bluebird labels; after Fiddlin' John Carson, Puckett was the most frequently recorded southern singer at the time. Puckett was a fixture at the annual Georgia Old-Time Fiddlers' Conventions, held in Atlanta's old Municipal Auditorium, and was also one of the first performers featured on WSB Radio after the station signed on in 1922. Puckett performed on other Atlanta area stations, most notably WJTL, WGST, WNOX, WGAA and WAGA. Riley Puckett died July 13, 1946. In 1983, Puckett was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet (in 2 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract:

Riley Puckett (1894-1946), a vocalist, guitarist and banjo player, was one of the most recorded performers in early country music. He performed with many Atlanta area country groups and frequently on Atlanta radio. The collection consists of a brief biography of and list of recordings made by Riley Puckett, and nine photographic images of Puckett, his family, and contemporary country musicians.

Off-Site Storage

Collection is stored offsite. Allow at least 2 working days for retrieval.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Blanche Bailey, September 18, 1985 (M1985-13).

Related Archival Materials

The Popular Music and Culture Collection includes numerous photographs that have been digitized and are available online in Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.

Separated Materials:

During processing various materials were separated to other Popular Music and Culture Music Collections. Please contact Special Collections for access.

Bibliography

Further information on Riley Puckett can be found in:
  • Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame News 2 (June 1983).
  • Daniel, Wayne. "The Georgia Old-Time Fiddlers' Convention: 1920 Edition," JEMF Quarterly XVI/58
  • Daniel, Wayne. "Tex Foreman [sic] and Curley Collins Remember Pop Eckler and His Young'Uns," JEMF Quarterly XVI/59.
  • Daniel, Wayne. Pickin' on Peachtree (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1990).

Processing Information

Processed by Christopher Ann Paton and Christine de Catanzaro at the file level, October 1987.

Title
Riley Puckett:
Subtitle
A Guide to the Collection at Georgia State University Library
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
October 1987
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)