I live in Texas County Missouri. I was asked by someone if I knew a local tune called "Raymondville". Raymondville, Missouri is a small town in Texas County. A local old timer told me he thought the tune was similar to The 8th of January. Is there anyone out there from the Ozarks that knows this tune? I think its probably an old tune that was renamed by the locals.

Thanks,
Terry

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  00:41:46          

It's the tune most commonly called Chinky Pin. It is often known as Crooked Stove-Pipe around here, and less commonly Missouri Mule. You are correct about the locals re-naming it to Raymondville.

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  07:10:17  

I learned to play all 3 tunes (i.e. 8th January, Chinky Pin, and Crooked Stovepipe). I don't think any of the three tunes sound similar. I really enjoy playing Crooked Stovepipe. I learned Vivian Williams version and think it sounds better than the over versions I have seen/heard.

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  07:41:17    

One of my books lists more than a dozen other names for Chinky Pin, but doesn't list Crooked Stovepipe, Missouri Mule, or Raymondville as alternate titles.

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  09:46:24          

Different tunes, different places, different names, Crooked Stove-Pipe and Missouri Mule are both local names for the tune, just as Raymondville is local to that area. Way back, the old-timers called what is most popularly known as Chinky Pin, Missouri Mule. That title is all but forgotten now, though Beisswenger mentions it in his and Gordon McCann's Ozarks Fiddle Music, and notes the source for that as being my friend Sam.

For reasons unknown, though we suspect Percy Copeland, the tune began to be called Crooked Stove-Pipe around here. It may be that Percy just liked that name; or, it may be that Percy couldn't think of the alternate title, and said that instead. But, Percy came to this area from Missouri. May be that he didn't like the Missouri Mule title? Who knows?

I believe Chinky Pin has more alternate titles than any other fiddle tune. That suggests that the tune was wide-spread long before commercial recordings were made. Luke Hignight's Ozark Strutters recorded it in 1928, as I Love Somebody. Sam's father knew it long before that.

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  14:49:57    

Thanks M-D. You have knowledge beyond your years. From what I read your source is a book titled Ozarks Fiddle Music by Beisswenger & McCann. Thier source was Sam. It would be interesting to know who the heck Sam was. I don't have any of those tunes mentioned. I'll search for Chinky Pin, Missouri Mule, Crooked Stove-Pipe and see if I can find sheet music, tab, or audio. Got any tips on where to look? By the way where are you, besides sittng in front of a computer?

Thanks again,
Terry

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  15:27:41  

If you are looking for notation, Chinky Pin and its many other names can be found in quite a few notation books. The "Craig Duncan Master Fiddle Solo Collection" has this tune. This is probably Duncan's best fiddle repertoire book, and for people who use notation, it is well worth having.

I learned Crooked Stovepipe from one of Vivian William excellent repertoire books/CDs. I have heard other variations, but her version seems to be popular. I bought it from the Voyager Music website.

Check the "Fiddler's Companion" website. For each tune, it provides source for notation.

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  16:23:58    

There is a tab for Chinky Pin at Mandolin Cafe
http://www.mandolincafe.com/tab/chinkypin.txt

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  16:32:01          

Sam is the last of the old dance-fiddlers in this area. He and the other old-timers are my sources. I cited Beisswenger/McCann because their book is more accessible, for most people.

Percy Copeland played the French harp, in the old-time style (as did my grand-father), and did so for square-dances. He was a main-stay in this area, dying in 2008 at the age of 94. Up until the last year of his life, he could be seen walking all over town.

Fiddler's Companion is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to fiddle-tunes. Here's the alphabetised file-list:
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/FCfiles.html

There is information there, but also ABC files, which may be converted to notation/tab using a converter (see top of page), or the program TablEdit. Get the demo program, not merely the viewer, if you get it. www.tabledit.com

Look at my profile for an approximate location. I used to turkey hunt all over Texas County, but spent most of the time in Licking. Hood's Drive-In still there?

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  23:05:47    

You said the majic word "turkey hunting". I live between Montauk State Park and Licking. I hunt mostly around home on the farm. My wife and I was hunting last spring and were nearly blown away by a tornado. Lots of trees came down especially down by Montauk. I occasionally make box calls. The first few I made were so bad they ended up in the wood stove. I made some recently out of walnut and maple. They turned out pretty good. Hoods Frosty Treat Drive-in is still kicking. Its the local hang out. It's been there over 50 years. Around 10 years ago Paul tore down the old place and built a new one. From looking at your picture, you look familiar. I think I saw you at Hood's a long time ago. I also think I might have met you in a music store in Mountain View, AR. Am I wrong?

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  23:23:06    

Thanks to everybody for the info. Mystery solved.

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  23:46:50          

I made one box-call, out of cherry. Faithfully copied a Lynch. Thought I had it to a T. Wrong. LOL Hard to beat that old Lynch any how.

Glad to hear that Paul is still ginnin' 'round up there. MIght've seen me at Hood's, but it's been a while. Yep, you and your wife.

Posted - 02/09/2010 :  00:29:05    

I recon Chinquapin and Chinky Pin are the same thing. Kind of like a banjo player I know refers to Blackberry Blossom as Black Hairy Possum.

Posted - 02/09/2010 :  06:31:27          

Yes, the latter is a mis-spelling of the former. We often call it Black Hairy 'Possum, too. But then, we also play Glass-Eyed 'Possum. And then there's the old community of 'Possum Walk, down south of Kahoka.

Posted - 02/09/2010 :  10:45:34    

Found Chinky Pin in the archive. Downloaded it. Sounds great. Found some tabs too. I am on the road to success. Success is a little town 17 miles west of here. I need to borrow a tune and call it 17 miles from Success. Ha.

Posted - 02/11/2010 :  08:27:34          

Write your own tune and call it that. That'd be a good title.