Tune

Cripple Creek

A majorOld Time

“Cripple Creek” is a traditional Appalachian folk tune with lyrics probably no older than 1900, though the tune’s origin is unknown. The first commercial recording was by Sam Jones (Stovepipe No. 1) on August 20, 1924. Cripple Creek is commonly played in both bluegrass and old-time jams. Notable early recordings include Gid Tanner and Riley Puckett (1924) and Fiddlin’ John Carson (1927).

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Timeline

Lessons

Cripple Creek – David Bragger
Cripple Creek – Craig Judelman
Cripple Creek – Improvising – Philip Bowen
Fiddle with Darol Anger – Darol Anger (Subscription Required)

Recordings

Cripple Creek – Flatt & Scruggs (YouTube)
Cripple Creek – Ed & Ella Haley (YouTube)
Cripple Creek (from Bill Hensley) – Megan Wobus (YouTube)Why this one: Solo fiddle version of the Milliner-Koken transcription

Books

English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians – Sharp, Cecil J., collected by; Karpeles, Maud, ed.
Traditional Music of America – Ira Ford
The Fiddle Book – Marion ThedePage 109
The Fiddler's Fakebook – David Brody
The Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes – Clare Milliner and Walt Koken

External Sources

“In High Water: Songs of the Civil War” by The Nutmeggers – American Battlefield Trust
Vi Wickham Cripple Creek Research & Recording – Vi Wickham
Early Published Cripple Creek Lyrics Collected by E.C. Perrow 1915, See P. 180 – Internet Archive