Bluegrass Fiddling

Mac Magaha-Nashville's Dancing Fiddler

- Paul Shelasky

Mac Magaha, a consummate fiddler who danced while he played, gained fame in bluegrass when he joined Don Reno & Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cut-Ups in 1954. He recorded on a great many of their albums on the King label and switched to country when he joined Porter Wagoner's band in 1964. Most of the footage you will see of him is from Porter's syndicated TV show which aired in the 1960s. Many viewers, myself included, marveled at how he could fiddle so well while doing dance steps all the while. Mac, throughout his entire career, was the consummate showman and entertainer in addition to his