Art Wooten

(fiddle - 1939-1940, 1941-1942)
Publicity photo circa 1939. Click for full version.

Born: 2/4/1906    Died: 10/6/1986

As a Blue Grass Boy: Art Wooten was the first fiddler to join the Blue Grass Boys, sometime in early 1939. He was the fiddler for the band's Grand Ole Opry debut in October of that year. He left prior to the first recording session, but returned in 1941; he recorded eight tracks with Monroe, including the fiddle tunes "Orange Blossom Special" and "Back Up and Push". Monroe said of him: "The old-time fiddle numbers, he was hard to beat."

Recording Sessions: 10/2/1941

Before and After: Wooten later played and recorded with Flatt and Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers in the late 40s and early 50s. He retired from touring a few years later, but recorded two solo albums in the mid-70s.