Chubby Wise
Recording Artist · Active 1962–1996
Old-Time (Traditional)
Robert Russell “Chubby” Wise was the fiddler of Bill Monroe’s classic 1945–1948 Blue Grass Boys — the five-piece lineup whose Columbia sessions established the template for bluegrass as a genre. His smooth, bluesy phrasing became the pattern for generations of bluegrass fiddlers.
- Born October 2, 1915, in Lake City, Florida; started on banjo and guitar and switched to fiddle at age 12.
- Joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1942 and remained through 1948, including the foundational 1945–1948 lineup with Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and Cedric Rainwater that first recorded for Columbia.
- Appeared on the original Columbia recordings of “Kentucky Waltz,” “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” and the Monroe-Flatt-Scruggs sessions widely considered the first true bluegrass records.
- Long claimed partial authorship of “Orange Blossom Special” with Ervin Rouse, though Rouse holds the copyright; Wise’s performances made it one of the fiddle’s most-played tunes.
- Joined Hank Snow’s Rainbow Ranch Boys in 1954 and stayed with Snow on the Grand Ole Opry until March 1970.
- Also recorded over the years with the York Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs, and Connie B. Gay.
- Returned to Florida in 1984 and semi-retired, continuing to tour and record occasionally, including work with the Bass Mountain Boys in 1992.
- Died January 6, 1996, in Florida.
- Inducted posthumously into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
-
Bonaparte's RetreatAn American Original (1995)
-
Down YonderIn Nashville (1994)
-
Under the Double EagleAn American Original (1995)
-
Bobby OsbornePlayed on recordings with Chubby Wise
-
Robert Russell "Chubby" WisePlayed on recordings with Chubby Wise
-
David CrowePlayed on recordings with Chubby Wise
-
Sonny OsbornePlayed on recordings with Chubby Wise
-
Terry SmithPlayed on recordings with Chubby Wise
-
Larry PerkinsPlayed on recording with Chubby Wise
-
Mike BubPlayed on recording with Chubby Wise
-
Terry EldredgePlayed on recording with Chubby Wise