origins of 'guitar rag'?

Subject: origins of "Guitar Rag"?
From: GUEST,trucker dave
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 12:06 AM

I guess it may seem like i have way too much time on my hands but i was wondering if anyone knows the origins of a slide guitar song recorded by Sylvester Weaver in 1923. Leon McAuliffe took it and recorded it as "steel guitar rag" later, but on the credits under the song on the cd it lists a S. Martin along with S. Weaver. Since Weaver is the only one playing on the song i was just wondering if he wrote it or just arranged it from an earlier song.I would like to post my version of it on MP3.com but it may still be under copywright protection.

Subject: RE: origins of 'guitar rag'?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 12:45 AM

Here are some notes from a Led Kaapana CD that also features folks like Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss and Ricky Scaggs. Not much you don't know but I thought people might be interested. Should be a great album. Here is another reference in a page by the Kentuckiana Blues Society.

This page on Leon McAuliffe says:

His signature song was "Steel Guitar Rag", a tune he apparently adapted from a combination of Sylvester Weaver's "Guitar Rag" and part of the Hawaiian song "On The Beach At Waikiki".

The site also quotes G. Don Thompson, Leon's business partner and manager as saying:

"Steel Guitar Rag" was not taken from a Hawaiian tune. The first five notes of SGR are the same notes he used to tune the guitar at the time. "Panhandle Rag" is just the reverse order of the same five notes.

Maybe the Smithsonian would have more information.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: origins of 'guitar rag'?
From: GUEST,trucker dave
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 08:49 AM

Thanks, I don't think i've ever heard the original recording of Leon McAuliffe's Steel Guitar Rag. Just out of curiosity I think I'm going to buy it.

Subject: RE: origins of 'guitar rag'?
From: Stefan Wirz
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 12:56 PM

Sylvester Weaver discography online !

Subject: RE: origins of 'guitar rag'?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 03:57 PM

Does Leon McAuliffe go to the IV chord in bar three, or stay on the I? I've heard it done both ways. I usually go to a IV 9th (a C9 in G).