Hugh Farr Birthday

Hugh Farr photo courtesy of the Sons of the Pioneers Museum, Branson, Mo

Hugh Farr, born in Texas on December 6, 1903, was the Sons Of The Pioneers' first fiddle player. He joined the group in the beginning of 1934.

Bob Nolan, Len Slye (later known as Roy Rogers), and Tim Spencer had formed a trio and wanted some instrumentalists to back them up. Hugh Farr, already an established musician, provided just what they needed, although it took some time to convince him to join.

The following year, Hugh's younger brother Karl was added to the group as a guitarist, and for the next twenty-four years, the Farr brothers' music complemented the outstanding vocals of the group. Hugh's fiddling was distinctive and varied, with a jazzy edge, and he also possessed a smooth bass voice, which he lent to certain songs whenever needed. To the public, Hugh was sometimes referred to as "Foghorn" Farr.

Although several of his peers attest that Hugh was a musical genius, his personality and character aren't quite so fondly remembered. Egotistical and demanding Hugh left the group with a bang in 1959—he sued the other members of the band, including his brother, for ownership of the title "Sons Of The Pioneers," but lost the case. Hugh never spoke to Karl again. Less than two years later, Karl had a heart attack while performing onstage, and died in a hospital shortly afterwards.

Hugh, along with Jimmie Widener, Pat Patterson, and Kenny Baker, formed a group called The Country Gentlemen (not to be confused with the bluegrass band of the same name). Although the group did not stay together for long, Hugh maintained his prowess on the fiddle for the almost the rest of his life. After living in a nursing home in Casper, Wyoming, for about two years, Hugh Farr died at the age of 77 in 1980.