Tucson Fiddle Contest

Notable Events

1. 1941Old-time fiddlers competed in an open contest held at the corner of Stone and Congress. tucsonfiddlecontest.org
2. 1942The second contest was held February 1st, 1942 at Armory Park with the community sing program sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the city recreation department. tucsonfiddlecontest.org
3. 1943In the third contest on January 10th, 1943, fiddlers were required to play two breakdowns and a waltz, and a special award was given for the best rendition of Arkansas Traveler. tucsonfiddlecontest.org
4. 1948In 1948 the contest was recorded and sent to the Library of Congress for filing under American folklore. tucsonfiddlecontest.org
5. 1952In 1952 over-60 and under-60 categories were established along with the Arkansas Traveler category. tucsonfiddlecontest.org
6. 1990sThe contest ran at Armory Park under the city recreation department through 1990; in the 1990's it moved to Reid Park under the City Park and Recreation Department and added age and specialty divisions. tucsonfiddlecontest.org
7. 2010Due to budget cuts, in 2010 sponsorship was placed solely with the Southern Arizona Old Time Fiddlers Association, where it remained until 2021; it is now a cultural heritage event of the Arizona Old Time Fiddlers Association. tucsonfiddlecontest.org

People

• Jim Klingenfus, Events coordinator at Reid Park, where the contest was held.
• A.A. Musgrave, Took first place at the second contest (1942).
• Andy Olsen, Won the over-60 group; of Tucson (1952).
• Bill Bradley, Notable participant; first entered in 1945, won in 1948 and 1949 (1945, 1948, 1949).
• Bill Skinner, Won the Arkansas Traveler competition at age 13 (1943).
• Don Johnson, Notable participant who won the contest at least 7 times.
• E.T. Mitchell, Competitor in the first contest, at Stone and Congress.
• G.L. Kelley, Competitor in the first contest, at Stone and Congress.
• James A. Jackson, Competitor in the first contest, at Stone and Congress.
• M.H. Cruise, Won third place at the first contest; of Tucson.
• Pug Scott, Of Benson; the first woman champion (1952).
• Rex Thompson, Won first place ($5) at the first contest; of Phoenix.
• Richard R. Smith, Competitor in the first contest, at Stone and Congress.
• Sam Pottorff, Competitor in the first contest, at Stone and Congress.
• T.G. Crawford, Competitor in the first contest, at Stone and Congress.
• T.T. Martin, Competitor in the first contest, at Stone and Congress.
• V.W. Hamby, Won first place at the third contest (1943).
• W. F. Crowley, Competitor in the first contest, at Stone and Congress.
• Wild Horse Shorty Hamby, Won second place at the first contest; of Benson.

Sources

1. tucsonfiddlecontest.org/home
2. tucsonfiddlecontest.org/contest-rules
3. arizonaoldtimefiddlers.org/events.htm