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The disaster inspired several songs, the most famous being the ballad first recorded commercially by Virginia musicians G. B. Grayson and Henry Whitter. [6] Vernon Dalhart's version was released in 1924 (Victor Record no. 19427), sometimes cited as the first million-selling country music release in the American record industry, with Carson Robison playing guitar and Dalhart playing harmonica.
Marion Try Slaughter (April 6, 1883 – September 14, 1948), better known by his stage name Vernon Dalhart, was an American country music singer and songwriter. His recording of the classic ballad "Wreck of the Old 97" was the first country song reputed to have sold one million copies, although sales figures for pre-World War Two recordings are difficult to verify.
The song is best known nowadays for melodically inspiring later country tunes—most notably, the 1903 ballad "Wreck of the Old 97", which would become first million-selling country music hit. The melody was also adapted in Walter A. O'Brien 's 1948 campaign song " Charlie on the MTA ".
Aftermath a few days later of the September 1903 derailment and wreck. The September 1903 accident inspired the famous railroad ballad - Wreck of the Old 97. [5] As mentioned in some versions of the song, Old 97's locomotive, a class F-14 4-6-0 No. 1102 [3] did make it to Spencer, North Carolina.
Old 97's were pioneers of the alt-country movement during the mid-to-late 1990s, then they developed more of a power pop style in the 2000s. [4] Lead vocalist and primary songwriter Rhett Miller has described the band's style as "loud folk". [7] The band's name is in reference to the Wreck of the Old 97. [8]
The song, based on a much older version called "The Ship That Never Returned" (or its railroad successor, "Wreck of the Old 97"), was composed in 1949 as part of the election campaign of Walter A. O'Brien, a Progressive Party candidate for Boston mayor.
The events leading to the song's immense popularity began with a decision by Victor in 1924 to issue a recording of another song The Wreck of the Old 97, also titled The Wreck of the Southern Old 97, which had been a money-maker for other record companies.
"The Wreck of the Old 97" (Traditional; arranged by The Seekers) "Morningtown Ride" ... Australian Kent Music Report: 3 Year-end charts. Chart (1967) Position