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Ridgel's Fountain Citians

About the Group About The Group Ridgel's Fountain Citians was an old-time string band that in 1929 and 1930 recorded for the Vocalion label. They hailed from the Knoxville suburb of Fountain City (now incorporated into the larger city). Regular personnel consisted of fiddler Leroy Ridgel (November 1887-July 11, 1965), his sons Ancil (December 3, 1908-July 1976) on mandolin, Carthel (January 25,1912-Sepember17,2003) on guitar, and neighbor Millard Whited (August 13, 1905-January 4, 1969) on 12-string guitar. Ancil and Millard generally handled the vocals. Leroy Ridgel came from Illinois, but for several years from 1910 he and wife Mary lived in Oklahoma. In the mid-1920s they settled in Fountain City, Tennessee that had been Mary's place of birth. Leroy had fiddled in Oklahoma and continued doing so at local functions in Tennessee. After their last recording sessions, the group disbanded and members eventually drifted out off music. Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com would like to express its thanks to Ivan M. Tribe, author of Mountaineer Jamboree — Country Music in West Virginia and other books that can be found on Amazon.com and numerous articles in other publications for providing us with information about this artist.

Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Vocalion Rec. No. Side Song Title   5363 A Be Ready   5363 B Hallelujah to the Lamb   5369 B Free Little Bird   5389 A Little Bonnie   5427 A Baby, Call Your Dog Off   5427 B Gittin? Upstairs   5455 A The Bald Headed End of a Broom   5455 B The Nick Nack Song