The Gully Jumpers
Old-time string band and early Grand Ole Opry regulars.
The Gully Jumpers were an old-time string band from the United States. Their original lineup featured bandleader Paul Warmack on mandolin, Charles Arrington on fiddle, Burt Hutcherson on guitar, and William Roy Hardison on banjo. The group was a regular act on the Grand Ole Opry during the late 1920s. Though its members changed over time, the Gully Jumpers kept performing into the mid-1960s.
Warmack, who led the group (initially called "Paul Warmack and His Gully Jumpers"), was born in Whites Creek in 1889 and worked as an auto mechanic in Goodlettesville before forming the band around 1927. Opry founder George D. Hay suggested the name, as he often gave early Opry string bands more colorful, rural-sounding titles. In 1928, the Gully Jumpers were one of the Opry's steadiest acts, appearing on the show more often than any other group. In October 1928, they recorded "Stone Rag," written by Oscar Stone, along with a tune called "Robertson County."
Even after losing Warmack and Arrington, the Gully Jumpers continued playing on the Opry into the 1960s. Fellow Opry pioneers like Sid Harkreader and Kirk McGee often filled in on fiddle for Arrington. Hutcherson, the last surviving original member when he died in 1980, was a capable guitarist, though claims of his pioneering a finger-picked style that influenced Sam McGee and Mother Maybelle Carter are not supported by established canon.
- formed
- around 1927
- original members
- Paul Warmack, Charles Arrington, Burt Hutcherson, William Roy Hardison
- field
- Old-time string band
- nationality
- American
- known for
- regular performers on the Grand Ole Opry in the late 1920s
Lore & Background
The Gully Jumpers were formed around 1927 by Paul Warmack, an automobile mechanic from Goodlettesville, Tennessee. The band's name was suggested by Grand Ole Opry founder George D. Hay, who often gave early string bands colorful, rural-sounding names. In 1928, the Gully Jumpers were one of the Opry's most consistent acts, appearing on the show more times than any other group that year. In October 1928, they recorded 'Stone Rag,' written by Oscar Stone, and a tune entitled 'Robertson County.'
Reader's Guide
The Gully Jumpers hold a significant place in the history of recorded country music as the first group believed to have released a record recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1928. Their regular appearances on the Grand Ole Opry in the late 1920s helped establish the show's early reputation. Despite the losses of original members Paul Warmack and Charles Arrington, the band continued performing on the Opry into the 1960s, with fellow Opry pioneers Sid Harkreader and Kirk McGee often stepping in to play fiddle. Burt Hutcherson, the last surviving original member, was a pioneer of the finger-picked guitar style and was cited as a key influence by long-time Opry guitarist Sam McGee and early Country music star 'Mother Maybelle' Carter. Their legacy is preserved on the compilation 'Nashville - The Early String Bands, Vol. 1,' which includes their tracks 'Robertson County' and 'Stone Rag.'
Did You Know?
- The band's name was suggested by Grand Ole Opry founder George D. Hay.
- In 1928, the Gully Jumpers appeared on the Grand Ole Opry more times than any other group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The Gully Jumpers?
The Gully Jumpers were an American old-time string band that came together around 1927 under the direction of mandolin player Paul Warmack. They became a familiar live act on the Grand Ole Opry stage during the late 1920s.
What role did The Gully Jumpers play in old-time music?
As a string ensemble, they performed the traditional old-time repertoire on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and banjo. Their steady presence on the Grand Ole Opry in the late 1920s helped cement the show's early identity as a home for that style of playing.
How does The Gully Jumpers's story end?
Although the membership shifted over the years, the group kept playing into the mid-1960s. Their career effectively wrapped up around that time, closing out a run that stretched from the late 1920s for nearly four decades.
Why is The Gully Jumpers important?
They were among the earlier string bands to become a regular fixture on the Grand Ole Opry, helping establish the program's old-time roots in its formative years. Their long performing life, spanning from the late 1920s to the mid-1960s, also illustrates how durable the old-time string band format remained across generations.
Who were the original members of The Gully Jumpers?
The founding lineup consisted of Paul Warmack on mandolin, Charles Arrington on fiddle, Burt Hutcherson on guitar, and William Roy Hardison on banjo. Warmack, a former auto mechanic in Goodlettesville, assembled the group around 1927 under the name 'Paul Warmack and His Gully Jumpers.'
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