TARTER AND GAY
Stephen Tarter b. January 5 or 6, 1887 in Scott County, Virginia
d. March 19, 1935 in Gate City, Scott County, Virginia
Harry Gay b. November 23, 1904 in Gate City, Scott County, Virginia
d. during May 1979 in Johnson City, Tennessee
Tarter & Gay were a prewar blues guitar duo that were sadly underrecorded. Stephen Tarter (whose real surname may have been Tartar), was born c. 1895 in Knoxville, TN. and passed way sometime in the mid-1930's. Harry Gay was born November 23, 1904 in Gate City, VA. and passed away c. 1980. They had one recording session in 1928. Two songs were recorded, resulting in one 78 RPM record. Their one recording session took place in Bristol, TN. and may have been produced by Ralph Peer. It was around the same time that the famed Peer-produced Bristol sessions resulted in Country music artists making their debuts. Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family & the obscure one record artist J.P. Nestor. In any case, this is one side of Tarter & Gay's only record.
Stephen Tarter:Vocals & Guitar
Harry Gay:Guitar
Recorded in Bristol, TN. Friday, November 2, 1928
Originally issued on the 1928 single (Victor V38017) (78 RPM)
This recording taken from the 1991 CD "East Coast Blues 1928-1935"
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