Emry Arthur Born:  September 17, 1902 Died:  August 22, 1967

About The Artist Wayne County, Kentucky native Emry Paul (His World War II registration card shows "Penniecuff" as his middle name) Arthur was an old-time singer who became best known for being the first person to record the ballad "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow." Unable to earn a living through music he moved to Indianapolis. He became competent at playing, but his guitar work was very limited as he had lost a finger on his left hand. After living in Indianapolis for a time, he had an opportunity to successfully audition for Vocalion Records. He summoned his brother Henry from Kentucky to help and between January 1928 and June 1929 placed a variety of old ballads, turn-of the century Tin Pan Alley songs, and older hymns on disc. Their most popular efforts, the sacred coupling of "Love Lifted Me" b/w "Shining for the Master," gained the best sales but the "Constant Sorrow" had the most lasting effect. He apparently had learned it from Blind Richard Burnett who never recorded it. Arthur had personal problems. He lost everything he had in a divorce. He had married the former Florence Hayes on December 21, 1920 in Indianapolis, IN. Moving to Wisconsin, he went to work as a factory hand for the Wisconsin Chair Company and recorded for Paramount, owned by the Chair firm. He also picked up a new singing partner, Della Hatfield, who soon became his second wife. They were married on July 18, 1932 in Indiana. They remained with Paramount through 1931 which was about the time that the company went bankrupt. Arthur had one more recording session, cutting eight numbers for the new Decca label in 1935. After that, he slipped into musical obscurity, dying in 1967. Della survived into the 21st century. Meanwhile, Old Homestead released an LP of his early recordings and the later motion picture Oh Brother Where Art Thou revived interest in the man and his 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. Get The Music British Archives of Country Music

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Decca Rec. No. Side Song Title   5067 A The Broken Wedding   5067 B My Own True Lover   5068 A Rambling Hobo Blues   5068 B Don't Get Married   5085 A Look Out For The Window   5085 B I'm Always Thinkin Of You   5127 A Six Months In Jail Ain't Long   5127 B Bootlegger's Lullaby   Lonesome Ace Rec. No. Side Song Title   3 A Sunshine And Shadows   3 B True Love Divine   Paramount Rec. No. Side Song Title   3221 A The Broken Wedding   3221 B I?m Always Thinking of You   3222 A The Bluefield Murder (w/Della Hatfield)   3222 B George Collins (w/Della Hatfield)   3237 A Reuben, Oh Reuben (w/Della Hatfield)   3237 B She Lied to Me (w/Della Hatfield)   3243 A Bloodstained Dress (w/Della Hatfield)   3243 B The Day I Left Home (w/Della Hatfield   3249 A Jennie My Own True Love (w/Della Hatfield   3249 B A Railroad Lover for Me (w/Della Hatfield)   3289 A The Married Man   3289 B I?m a Man of Constant Sorrow (w/Della Hatfield   3290 A There?s A Treasure up in Heaven (w/Della Hatfield   3290 B Short Life of Trouble (w/Della Hatfield   3298 A I?m Going Back to the Girl I Love   3298 B Careless Love   3301 A I Tickled Her Under the Chin   3301 B Got Drunk And Got Married   Vocalion Rec. No. Side Song Title   05208 A I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow   05208 B Down In Tennessee Valley   05229 B The Little Black Train Is Coming   05229 B Let That Liar Alone   05230 B Going Around The World   05230 B Nobodys Business   05234 A Wandering Gypsy Girl   05244 B Bring Back To Me My Wandering Boy (W/Frank Owens)   05244 B Your Mother's Going To Leave You Bye And Bye (W/Frank Owens)   05249 A The Rich Man And Joe Smith   05249 B Ethan Lang   05264 A Empty Pocket Blues   05264 B Train Whistle Blues   05288 A My Girl She's A Lulu   05288 B Mary Don't Go   05335 A The Wanderer (W/William Rexoat)   05335 B The White Rose (W/William Rexoat)   05340 A Frankie Baker   05340 B Frankie Baker Part Ii   05351 A Mountain Daddy Blues   05351 B Prison Bound Blues   05354 A My Mother In Law   05354 B I Got Drunk And I Got Married   05358 B Mother's In Heaven Tonight   05358 B The Blind Boy   05385 A The Bootlegger's Song   05396 B Remember The Old Folks Back Home