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The Old Rugged Cross

Source Recording: Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups (1963)

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Key A♭ Time 3/4

Verse × 2

A♭ / /

D♭ B♭m /

E♭ / /

A♭ / /

A♭ / /

D♭ B♭m /

E♭ / /

A♭ / /

Chorus × 2

E♭ / /

A♭ / /

D♭ / /

A♭ / /

/A♭ / /

D♭ / /

A♭ / /

E♭ A♭ /

Song Details

Also Known As

Old Rugged Cross

Songwriter

George Bennard

First Release

Asher and Rodeheaver (1921)

Further reading

Secondhand Songs

Genres

Gospel Traditional Bluegrass

Themes

Faith/Praise

Jam Popularity

Source Recording

Artist

Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups

Album

The World's 15 Greatest Hymns (1963)

Key A♭ Time Waltz Tempo 84 BPM Length 2:59

Musicians

Arthur Lee "Red" Smiley — Lead Vocals, Guitar
Ronnie Reno — Mandolin
Don Reno — Backup Vocals, Banjo
Mack Magaha — Fiddle
John Palmer — Bass
Steve Chapman — Guitar

Listen

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Spotify

Buy the MP3

Amazon Music

Other Notable Recordings

Bill Harrell and the Virginians

The Old Rugged Cross

After the Sunrise (1990) Bluegrass Discography

Listen on Spotify

Musicians

John Prine and Mac Wiseman

Old Rugged Cross

Ordinary Songs for Average People (2007) Bluegrass Discography

Listen on Spotify

Musicians

Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad

The Old Rugged Cross

Pickin’, Praisin’, and Singin’: Hymns From the Mountain (2008) Bluegrass Discography

Listen on Spotify

Musicians

Dailey and Vincent

The Old Rugged Cross

Singing From the Heart (2009) Bluegrass Discography

Listen on Spotify

Musicians

The Purple Hulls

Old Rugged Cross

Close to Home (2012) Bluegrass Discography

Listen on Spotify

Musicians

Tools

All Instrument Tuner

Metronome

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