The Collins Family on Roy Acuff's Childhood Fiddle and Country Music in East Tennessee

In 1966 Campbell County native Charlie Collins played a difficult piece of music for Roy Acuff on the occasion of their first meeting. Collins' stellar execution on the guitar during this unplanned performance prompted Acuff to invite him onboard as what would be the last member of his band, the Smoky Mountain Boys. In time, according to family members, Collins would think of Acuff as a second father.
In 1975 Charlie Collins and his son purchased a fiddle at a Nashville flea market. When Acuff admired its sound, it was given to him. Several days later, Acuff reciprocated by bestowing on his good friend the 1917 Hopf that had been his main instrument since he was a young man. The fiddle, which originated with John and Mary Johnson of Knoxville, was the one Acuff learned to play on when he was recuperating from heat stroke, suffered while training for semi-professional baseball in 1929.
During the Thirties, Roy Acuff performed throughout the region in medicine shows, talent shows, and on local radio stations WNOX and WROL. Soon after his 1938 audition on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, he became the show's number one celebrity, continuing to be its principal personality until his death in 1992. Popularly dubbed the "King of Country Music," Acuff was elected in 1962 as the first living member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Although probably best known as the guitar player for the Smoky Mountain Boys' last 25 years, Charlie Collins, born in 1933 to a coal-mining family near Caryville, was a professional musician for twice that time-in the Knoxville country music scene (Cas Walker Show, Mid-day Merry-Go-Round, Tennessee Barn Dance), as a prominent bluegrass session player, and as a performer at the Opryland theme park and on the Grand Ole Opry.
ETHS extends appreciation to Mary Agnes Collins and her family for working with us to return the Acuff fiddle to East Tennessee and for donating items relating to Roy Acuff and Charlie Collins to the museum collection. We are also indebted to those funders who helped make the acquisition possible.

[@tedijune6759]

Do you all suppose this is that fiddle? :
rarecountry.com/news/a-piece-of-country-music-history-just-showed-up-at-a-goodwill-store/

[@TronconesAmigo]

Mrs Collins , Charlie was My Friend over 30 years , He played concerts for Me in Ill and Minnesota , I never had the pleasure pleasure to Meet You , Charlie spoke Highly of You always ,Charlie was My Favorite Fiddle player . Bless You ,Good to see You speaking about Charlie !

[@kybrbngrl]

Great people! Salt of the earth! Good to see you Nanny, Lynn, and Teresa! Love you all!