Cowan Powers and his Family Band

Fiddlin' Powers and Family was a Virginia string band from the 1920s, considered pioneers in early country music. They were the first family string band to make a commercial record (1924). The band consisted of Cowan Powers and his children, Charles, Orpha, Carrie and Ada. Cowan also played with his wife, Matilda, until her death in 1916.

Recording
Record companies of the time were trying to get "old time" or "hill country" music to sell, and tried using professional musicians such as Vernon Dalhart to imitate the sound. When it became clear the customers wanted the "real thing" the companies sought musicians to travel from the south to the recording studios in New York and Chicago.

The Powers family, who were based in Scott County, Southwest Virginia, made records with Victor Talking Machine Company, Edison Records and Okeh Records. They recorded at least 26 songs, of which 15 were issued. Their recording of Old Joe Clark in 1924 was the third best selling album for that year.

Live performances
They performed live in "the Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and perhaps a dozen other states". They played dances. At the time of the Bristol Sessions they were performing live over the radio, WOPI in Bristol, Virginia, and were among the first country acts to do so.

The band resurrected
The daughters restarted the band in the 1970s, with Orpha's husband Eugene D. Ireson.

Victor 1924
The Powers family did a trial recording with Victor Recordings in New York City, August 8, 1924, recording Way Down to Georgia.

They started recording records for Victor, doing six records 10 days later on August 18. Of those recordings, three records were issued, The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane, Old Joe Clark, and Sour Wood Mountains.

They continued recording the next day, August 19. They recorded eleven songs of which five were issued, Patty on the Turnpike, Callahan's Reel, Sugar in the Gourd, Cripple Creek, and Ida Red.

Edison 1925
The family recorded with Edison in 1925, October 2, 3, 6 and 7 in New York City. Seven of the nine that they recorded were issued, Old Joe Clark, Sour Wood Mountains, Ida Red, Cripple Creek, Cluck Old Hen, Rocky Road to Dinah's House, and Sugar in the Gourd.

Charlie Powers, Cowan's son, also recorded a song on his own with Edison, Wild and Reckless Hobo.

Okeh 1927
The last recording session was for Okeh records in Winston–Salem, North Carolina, September 28, 1927. Within three years the band would be no more, as the girls married and began families. They recorded six songs, of which four were issued, Did You Ever See the Devil, Uncle Joe?, Old Molly Hair, Old Virginia Reel — Part 1, and Old Virginia Reel — Part 2.

Ukulele in old-time music
There has been some speculation as to the origin of the ukulele in old time music. Those who are fans have pointed out stars who used the instrument, including Fiddlin' Powers and Family, Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters, Ernest V. Stoneman, Walter Smith and Friends, The Blankenship Family, The Hillbillies, The Hilltop Singers, and Jimmie Rodgers.

When Ada Powers took up the ukulele in the 20s, there was a craze for Hawaiian music on the national scene, which had young people taking up the instrument. Also there was sheet music being produced for the ukulele, which has been speculatively called a reason that many rural people took up the instrument.

Ada Powers was the Ukulele player in Fiddlin' Powers and Family. Her playing can be heard on their music, especially The Virginia Reel, part 1 in which all the family members had solos.

Recordings

 * Online recording, The Virginia Reel, Part 1, where each member of the family can be heard playing individually
 * Online recording, the family playing together, The Virginia Reel, Part II

Other links

 * Relatives of Cowan Powers made a Facebook page with quality photographs of the family band.
 * 1924 Victor Records Catalog, the page for the Cowan Family Band
 * Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings
 * Page with photo of band and a sample of their music.
 * Photo of the band with Fiddlin' John Carson and others
 * List of the music they recorded
 * Online biography, Virginia Historical Society