Henry Clay Gilliland, a fiddler born in Granby, Missouri, made historically significant recordings in New York City in 1922 that contributed to the birth of commercial country music. On June 30, 1922, Gilliland and a much younger fiddler, Alexander Campbell “Eck” Robertson, entered the Victor Talking Machine Company's studio to record two fiddle duets: “Arkansaw Traveler” and “Turkey in the Straw.” The following day, Robertson returned to the studio alone to record additional material, including “Sallie Gooden.” These recordings were issued by Victor that year and circulated widely in 1923. Historians describe their achievement as a crucial step, building on existing fiddle traditions to establish an entirely new era of music.
The opportunity for the recordings arose after Gilliland and Robertson attended a large veterans' reunion in Richmond, Virginia, on June 21, 1922. Gilliland, who was 77 at the time, leveraged a connection with New York attorney Martin W. Littleton, who had ties to the Victor Talking Machine Company. Littleton helped the two musicians secure an audition. Gilliland reportedly arrived at the audition still wearing his Confederate uniform from the reunion, while Robertson appeared in his distinctive western attire, presenting an unusual sight to the recording company representatives. Despite their unconventional appearance, the audition was successful, leading to the studio session days later.
During the recording session, Gilliland played the lead part in the duets, with Robertson supplying the second fiddle. Their collaboration developed over time as they performed together around the Southern Plains, playing towns throughout Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. Robertson, born in 1887, was decades younger than Gilliland, but their styles complemented each other. Gilliland, known affectionately in Altus as “Uncle Henry,” had a reputation for playing that was fast, precise, loud, and technically impressive.
Before his pivotal recording session, Gilliland had long established himself as a prominent fiddler and a regional celebrity. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, he was one of the best-known contest fiddlers in North Texas and southern Oklahoma. He played for community dances, gatherings, and events, often competing in fiddle contests that were major community attractions. In 1901, he was a driving force behind the establishment of the Old Fiddlers Association of Texas, serving as its secretary for many years. His talent took him to the opening of the Texas State Fair in 1910, and the following year, he tied for the world's championship at a major fiddling contest in Little Rock, Arkansas. Afterward, he joined fellow fiddlers Jesse Roberts and Matt Brown on an exhibition tour through northeastern Texas, solidifying his status.
Henry Clay Gilliland's remarkable life began on March 11, 1845, in the north Granby area of Newton County, Missouri. Born to Joseph C. and Lucretia K. Gilliland, he was one of eight children. His Missouri childhood was brief; at age eight, his family moved west, eventually settling in Parker County, Texas, by 1854. Gilliland was largely self-taught, learning to play fiddle on his older brother Joseph's instrument. During the Civil War, he enlisted in 1863 in the Second Texas Cavalry, Arizona Brigade, and later transferred to the Twenty-first Texas Infantry, with service along the Gulf Coast and in the Red River Campaign in 1864. After the war, he remained active in veterans' organizations, eventually achieving the honorary rank of lieutenant general within the United Confederate Veterans. He married Susie Borden in 1869, had six children, and farmed in Parker County. In addition to music, Gilliland entered public service, elected as district clerk of Parker County in 1888, and later serving as city clerk and justice of the peace in Altus, Oklahoma Territory. His fiddle, however, remained a constant interest throughout his varied career.