FRED KIRBY
Fred Kirby was a North Carolina singer, guitarist and songwriter whose career spanned radio, recording and motion pictures. After recording for Bluebird in the mid-1930s, he became one of the best-known cowboy entertainers of the radio era, later gaining national popularity as a longtime performer on The Carolina Hayride. His early recordings reveal a warm, unpretentious vocal style rooted in sentimental songs, cowboy ballads and gospel music.
COTTAGE BY THE WAYSIDE
Recorded February 12, 1936 – Charlotte, North Carolina
Matrix 94672-1 - Bluebird B-6408
"Cottage By the Wayside" is a sentimental waltz expressing a longing for the comfort and security of home. Performed with only voice and guitar, Kirby delivers the song with quiet sincerity, allowing its simple melody and heartfelt lyrics to carry the emotion. Recorded early in his career, it reflects the influence of the sentimental country repertoire that remained popular throughout the 1930s.
