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Cousin Emmy and Her Kinfolk
Born:  March 14, 1911
Died:  April 11, 1980
KWKH Louisiana Hayride
WSB Barn Dance
WWVA Original Jamboree
WAGA Atlanta, GA
WHB Kansas City, MO
WNOX Knoxville, TN
WSB Atlanta, GA
WHAS Louisville, KY (1935)
WWVA Wheeling, WV (1937)
KMOX St. Louis, MO (1941)


About The Artist

Always joked, "I ain't educated, but I'm sincere." Not only that, but she was apparently an astute business person, copyrighting her songs and was careful about her money. Once said to have remarked, "I'm the first hillbilly to own a Cadillac."

Began her career playing the five-string banjo with her cousins, Bozo and Warner Carver on WHB in Kansas City.

In 1935, she was a featured act with Frankie More's Log Cabin Boys on WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky.

Her stage dress was a baggy gingham dress, white stockings and ankle boots along with platinum blond hair. Which, if that wasn't enough, was held in place by bright colored ribbons.

She was a star in a time and era where it was very difficult for women to break into show business.

Timeline and Trivia Notes

  • 1937, part of WWVA Jamboree, met and tutored Grandpa Jones on five-string banjo.
  • In 1941, became sponsored act on KMOX in St. Louis
  • In 1943, featured in Time magazine
  • In 1960's, worked at Disneyland in California
  • In 1960's, talked out of retirement to record with Lost City Ramblers.
  • One of her standard songs was "Ruby, Are You MAd At Your Man", which is now a bluegrass standard.
  • Never married
  • Born Cynthia May Carver, in 1903

Sound Sample—(YouTube Video Format)


Ruby

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)

 
Decca
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  23583 A Ruby
  23583 B The Broken Hearted One You Left All Alone
  24213 A Pretty Little Miss In The Garden
  24213 B Come All You Virginia Gals
  24214 A I Wish I Was In Bowling Green
  24214 B Johnny Booker
  24215 A I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again
  24215 B Lonesome Road Blues
  24216 A Free Little Bird
  24216 B Lost John


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