Arthur Tanner

Arthur Tanner (June 3, 1903—February 22, 1972) was an American old-time musician, guitarist, fiddler, and banjoist from Georgia. He played in local string bands Skillet Lickers, Dixie String Band, and his own band Arthur Tanner & His Corn Shuckers.

Arthur Tanner was born Arthur Hugh Tanner in Walton County, Georgia, on June 3, 1903, to James Knox Tanner (1858–1920) and Demaris F. Bullock Tanner (1868–1917). He had five siblings—William Archibald Tanner (1882–1964), Gid Tanner(1885–1960), Luck Leroy Tanner (1888–1928), Robert C Tanner (1891–1892), and Clarence Walker Tanner (1894–1953).

His brother, Gid Tanner (1885–1960), was a famous fiddler, recognized as one of the earliest stars of country music.

Arthur Tanner started his record career in 1925 with Columbia Records where his brother Gid Tanner was also under contract. His first recording session was on January 27, 1925, in Atlanta, Georgia, where he and Gid recorded "Floella's Cottage" (Columbia 140280) and "Knoxville Girl" (Columbia 140281). However, Columbia did not issue the two titles.

Tanner was a member of the Dixie String Band with fiddlers Earl Johnson and Clayton McMichen; and guitarist Lee "Red" Henderson. Dixie String Band recorded a few titles in 1925—"Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane", "Knoxville Girl", and "When I Was Single My Pockets Would Jingle".

In the following years, Tanner produced further titles, such as "Devilish Mary", "Bring back my blue-eyed Boy" (Columbia W148264, April 1929), "Lay me where sweet flowers blossom" (Columbia W148269, April 1929), "Sailin' down the Chesapeake Bay" (Columbia W149330, November 1929), and "Everybody's doing it" (Columbia W149331, November 1929).

In the 1920s, Tanner and fiddler Earl Johnson were also heard on WSB, a commercial AM radio station in Atlanta, Georgia, as Georgia Wildcats.

Tanner also formed his own band named Arthur Tanner & His Corn Shuckers (also Arthur Tanner And His Blue Ridge Cornshuckers), with Gid Tanner (fiddle, banjo) and Fate Norris (banjo), and occasionally guitarist Riley Puckett and fiddler Clayton McMichen. Together with Gid and Norris, Tanner also played in Gid Tanner and His Georgia Boys.

Some of the recordings Tanner made at Paramount were made on their sublabels Puritan Records, Herwin Records, and Silvertone Records.

In 1934, Tanner played banjo in Skillet Lickers's last recording session. These are his last known recordings. However, he still performed at live events and also with his brother, among others.

In the years after his career as a musician, Tanner worked as a painter.

Tanner was married to Leita Allgood and had two sons—James and Hugh Lee.

Tanner died at his home in Winder, Georgia, on February 22, 1972, at age 68.

Singles