West Texas Music Hall Of Fame

HUGH FARR (Fiddle) KARL FARR (guitar)

This team of brother virtuosos was the most important fiddle & guitar duo in the history of Country & Western music bringing a vocabulary and dexterity of the best jazz into the confines of Country and Cowboy songs for more than 25 years. That they are not better known as a duo stems from the fact that their work, from the 30’s onward, was largely confined to being members of The Sons of the Pioneers.

Hugh was born in Llano in December 6th 1903. Karl was born in Rochelle (near Brady) April 25th 1909. Their father, a building contractor, and their mother were both part-time musicians playing local dances as a fiddle and guitar duo. Hugh was seven years old when he first picked up the guitar, mastering it, and then joining his dad as a duet playing dances. His father wanted a fiddle player so by age 9 Hugh moved to fiddle. By the year 1916 his brother Karl (guitar) got interested joining Hugh and their other brother, Glen, who played the mandolin. Hugh’s fiddle style, as it developed in his teens and early 20’s was heavily influenced by the Jazz of the era. The 3 brothers continued to play together after their father moved the family to California. After making a name for themselves playing in numerous bands Hugh was offered a spot with The Sons of the Pioneers that included Roy Rogers. It wasn’t long after that Karl would join. Hugh & Karl would remain with The Sons of the Pioneers for 20 years sacrificing some of the recognition they might have received as individual performers. Karl could have easily been another Merle Travis or Chet Atkins as he was that talented. Karl was so well-known within the professional music circles, of his time; he was given one of the very first Fender Telecaster guitars in 1949. While Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer were brilliant song-writers and Roy Rogers was a great performer the Farr Brothers brought an instrumental dexterity to the group that was extraordinary. The original Sons of the Pioneers were inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Karl’s early recordings (1935-1945) were played an un-amplified Martin flat like Jimmy Rogers.

West Texas Music Hall of Fame

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	HUGH FARR (Fiddle) KARL FARR (guitar) This team of brother virtuosos was the most important fiddle & guitar duo in the history of Country & Western music bringing a vocabulary and dexterity of the best jazz into the confines of Country and Cowboy songs for more than 25 years. That they are not better known as a duo stems from the fact that their work, from the 30’s onward, was largely confined to being members of The Sons of the Pioneers. Hugh was born in Llano in December 6th 1903. Karl was born in Rochelle (near Brady) April 25th 1909. Their father, a building contractor, and their mother were both part-time musicians playing local dances as a fiddle and guitar duo. Hugh was seven years old when he first picked up the guitar, mastering it, and then joining his dad as a duet playing dances. His father wanted a fiddle player so by age 9 Hugh moved to fiddle. By the year 1916 his brother Karl (guitar) got interested joining Hugh and their other brother, Glen, who played the mandolin. Hugh’s fiddle style, as it developed in his teens and early 20’s was heavily influenced by the Jazz of the era. The 3 brothers continued to play together after their father moved the family to California. After making a name for themselves playing in numerous bands Hugh was offered a spot with The Sons of the Pioneers that included Roy Rogers. It wasn’t long after that Karl would join. Hugh & Karl would remain with The Sons of the Pioneers for 20 years sacrificing some of the recognition they might have received as individual performers. Karl could have easily been another Merle Travis or Chet Atkins as he was that talented. Karl was so well-known within the professional music circles, of his time; he was given one of the very first Fender Telecaster guitars in 1949. While Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer were brilliant song-writers and Roy Rogers was a great performer the Farr Brothers brought an instrumental dexterity to the group that was extraordinary. The original Sons of the Pioneers were inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame. Karl’s early recordings (1935-1945) were played an un-amplified Martin flat like Jimmy Rogers.

West Texas Music Hall of Fame