Henry Whitter

Henry Whitter (born April 6, 1892 near Fries, Grayson County, Virginia - died November 17, 1941 Morganton, North Carolina) was an early country musician.

Biography

Whitter learned to play the guitar from an early age, and later on, the fiddle, banjo, harmonica and piano. His love of music made him dream of a career as an artist and he spent much time listening to cylinder recordings of Uncle Josh. He found work in a cotton mill called "Fries Washington Mill", but in March 1923, he decided to quit his job in order to pursue a musical career. He went to New York City where he arranged with the "General Phonograph Corporation" to make a test recording. The A&R man of the phonograph company wasn't impressed by the two songs Whitter had recorded that day and his test recording was shelved. When Fiddlin' John Carson's successful recording "The Old Hen Cackled and the Rooster's Going to Crow" was released in July 1923, Whitter's test recording became interesting and was sent to Polk C. Brockman of Okeh Records for evaluation. Whitter received a recording contract on Okeh Records and travelled once more to New York City. In December 1923, Whitter recorded nine songs. Among them was the "Wreck On the Southern Old 97" coupled with "Lonesome Road". The recording was released in January 1924 and was quite successful. The light opera singer and country musician Vernon Dalhart heard "Wreck On the Southern Old 97" and decided to record it. That particular recording coupled with "The Prisoner's Song", went on to become the first million-selling record in country music in 1924.

References

*"Stars of Country Music", (University of Illinois Press, 1975)