Mac Wiseman

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Malcolm B. Wiseman (born May 23, 1925 in Crimora, Virginia) is a bluegrass singer, nicknamed "The Voice with a Heart".

The bearded singer is one of the cult figures of Bluegrass music.

He studied at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Dayton, Virginia but besides his first attempts as musician he had to work as discjockey at the radio station WSVA in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

His career began as guitarist in the band of country singer Molly O'Day but when Flatt & Scruggs separated with Bill Monroe, Wiseman became the guitarist of the Foggy Mountain Boys, the band of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs. Later he has changed to the band of Bill Monroe.

After a performance at the Louisiana Hayride he became popular as solo artist.

During the Folk revival in the 1960s he had successful gigs at the Hollywood Bowl and the Carnegie Hall. In 1993 Wiseman was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor.

His substantial girth and light tenor voice gave rise to the quip that "Mac Wiseman sings like Gene Vincent looks, and looks like Ernest Tubb sings."

Contents

[edit] Discography

[edit] Notable Albums

  • I Hear You Knocking (1955)
  • Songs From The Hills (1956)
  • Tis Sweet To Be Remembered (Dot 1958)
  • Beside The Still Waters (Dot 1959)
  • Great Folk Ballads (Dot 1959)
  • Mac Wiseman Sings 12 Great Hits (Dot 1960)
  • Keep On The Sunny Side (Dot 1960)
  • Fireball Mail (Dot 1961)
  • Best Loved Gospel Hymns (1961)
  • Bluegrass Favorites (Capitol 1962)
  • Sincerely (Hamilton 1964)
  • A Master At Work (Dot 1966)
  • This Is Mac Wiseman (Dot 1966)
  • Songs Of The Dear Old Days (Hamilton 1966)
  • Sings Old Time Country Favorites (Rural Rhythm 1966)
  • Mac Wiseman I (1967)
  • Sings Johnny's Cash & Charley's Pride (1970)
  • with Lester Flatt Lester 'N' Mac (RCA Victor 1971)
  • with Flatt On The Southbound (RCA Victor 1972)
  • with Flatt Over The Hills To The Poorhouse (RCA Victor 1973)
  • Concert Favorites (1973)
  • Singing Country Favorites (Rural Rhythm 1973) - this is a reissue of Mac's previous Rural Rhythm album, with added instruments dubbed in.
  • Country Music Memories (CMH 1976)
  • with Shenandoah Cut-Ups New Traditions Volume 1 (Vetco 1976)
  • with Shenandoah Cut-Ups New Traditions Volume 2 (Vetco 1977)
  • Sings Gordon Lightfoot (CMH 1977)
  • Mac Wiseman II (1977)
  • with Osborne Brothers Essential Bluegrass Album (CMH 1979)
  • Songs That Made The Jukebox Play (CMH 1980)
  • with Chubby Wise Give Me My Smokies & The Tennessee Waltz (Gilley's 1982)
  • with Merle Travis The Clayton McMichen Story (CHM 1982)
  • Bluegrass Gold (1982)
  • Live In Concert (1982)
  • If Teardrops Were Pennies (1984)
  • Mac Wiseman III (1986)
  • Grassroots To Bluegrass (CMH 1990)
  • Teenage Hangout (1993)

[edit] Compilations

  • Golden Hits Of Mac Wiseman (Dot 1968)
  • 16 Great Performances (1974)
  • The Mac Wiseman Story (CMH 1976)
  • Golden Classics (Gusto 1979)
  • Early Dot Recordings Volume 1 (County 1985)
  • Early Dot Recordings Volume 2 (County 1985)
  • Greatest Bluegrass Hits (CMH 1989)
  • Early Dot Recordings Volume 3 (County 1992)
  • Rare Singles And Radio Transcriptions (Cowgirlboy 1992)
  • Tis Sweet To Be Remembered: Complete Recordings 1951-1964 6-CD box set (Bear Family 2004)

[edit] References