Clayton McMichen

Clayton McMichen

(January 26, 1900 - January 4, 1970)

Next to Tommy Jarrell, Clayton McMichen was another Old Time fiddler who I listened to early on and was influenced by a great deal. He was a popular contest winning fiddler, and radio / recording artist in the earliest days of radio. I first heard him on old recordings of a band known as The Skillet Lickers that played during Prohibition.

The Skillet Lickers circa. 1930 Gid Tanner - fiddle, Clayton McMichen - fiddle, Riley Pucket - guitar, Fate Norris - banjo

Here are some versions of tunes recorded by the Skillet Lickers:

Soldier’s Joy

Sal’s Gone To The Cider Mill

Rock That Cradle Lucy

Clayton McMichen was also a featured fiddler in another band of that era, The Georgia Wildcats.

Georgia Wildcats Pat Berryman, Clayton McMichen, Jack Dunigan, Slim Bryant

Though based in Georgia, the band had a Pittsburgh connection; guitarist Slim Bryant. They were regulars on KDKA radio back in the 1930’s, and Slim went on to host his own music show on KDKA TV.