As I've said before, it takes awhile for news to get to this corner of the forest. Some news I wish would never arrive, such as the death of old friends or people who I surely would have been friends with, if I'd ever met them. One of the latter was Malcolm Bell "Mac" Wiseman, who passed away on February 24th, at the ripe old age of 93.
Mac Wiseman was a justly famous bluegrass singer, from Virginia. His musical career began as upright bass player in the Cumberland Mountain Folks, the band of country singer Molly O'Day. When Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs left Bill Monroe's band, Mac became the guitarist for their new band, the Foggy Mountain Boys. Later on, he played with Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys.
In 1951, his first solo single, "`Tis Sweet to Be Remembered", was released. According to Rolling Stone this song "catapulted him to solo stardom." It was the theme of his late-night radio program on WWVA "Clear Channel 1170 in Wheeling, West Virginia", back in the 60s. (The show was often hosted by yer coffee-drinkin' buddy Lee Moore.) Agent 6, who knew me when, may remember that I liked to climb into my car late at night and head for the hills north of our town, where the radio reception was better, just to listen to all the wonderful music on Mac's show.
There are many recordings of "`Tis Sweet to Be Remembered" on YouTube. My favourite is this one, recorded in front of a live audience, probably in the late 90s. Mac passed away on February 24th, 2019. I remember you, Mac. RIP.
UPDATED 1/4/19: Since posting this, Walt's attention has been drawn to an interview Mac Wiseman did with Hee Haw's Archie Campbell on Yesteryear in Nashville, a show that aired on TNN, in 1983. Click here to see and hear it.
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