Anthology of American Folk Music
Volume 2: Social Music, Track 29
THE WILD WAGONER
J.W. Day (Jilson Setters) 
Recorded in New York: February 27, 1928
J.W. Day, vocal and fiddle; unknown guitar
Originally released on Victor 21353A
(alternate titles: Georgia Wagner; The Georgia Wagonner; The Waggoner)
The story of Jilson Setters of Lost Hope Hollow, Kentucky, is one of the most intriguing ones in country music history. Folk festival organizer and entrepreneur Jean "The Traipsin' Woman" Thomas, who ran the American Folk Song Festival, presented Setters to the public as an old mountain fiddler who had lived in total isolation for many years and was still in possesion of the traditions of his English ancestry, including a repertoire of ancient British ballads. It was also contended that Setters had recently regained his eyesight after an operation and was experiencing culture shock at discovering the urban world. Setters was taken to New York, where he was presented at society functions as a curiosity, and was taken to England, where he was presented to the King and Queen. Two books were written about him and a number of folklore scholars were convinced of his authenticity.
In reality, Setters' real name was James William Day (1861-1942) and he was from the town of Catlettsburg, Kentucky across the Big Sandy River from Huntington, West Virginia. His eye surgery had actually occurred over 20 years earlier. During his lifetime, Day composed a number of folk ballads. In the 1930s and early 1940s, Day performed at folk festivals as the character Jilson Setters -- a name he created from combining his father and mothers' names. (Much of the above information comes from Stephen Green, Institute of Texan Cultures, who presented the paper "Jilson Setters: Kentucky's 'Singin' Fiddler of Lost Hope Hollow" at the 1996 American Folklore Society conference.)
J.W. Day also recorded for the Library of Congress as Jilson Setters.
FOR ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS OF DAY/SETTERS see the collections: Kentucky Country (RND 1037a); and Wonderful World of Old Time Fiddlers (VET 104a).
OTHER RECORDED VERSIONS include:
Country/String Band: as The Georgia Waggoner: Bert Layne (HRT 048a); Joe Lee (Alabama Traditions 103c); Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers (OH 192a, VET 107a); as Georgia Wagner: Fiddlin' John Carson and His Virginia Reelers (OK 45040b); Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers (BB 5433b); as Wagoner: Snuffy Jenkins and Pappy Sherill (RND 0005a); Doc Roberts (PAR 3009b, Romeo 5104 b); Uncle Am Stuart (VOC 14840b); as The Texas Waggoner: Eck Robertson (VIC 40145b).
