GREAT question! I work with a large number of old time musicians here  
in the Bay Area, and they keep coming up with new old tunes. Most of  
the folx I know will quote who they learned it form, sometimes  
people, sometimes recordings, and it would be very cool to be able to  
look them up.

Thanks,

Lou
On Oct 13, 2009, at 10:27 AM, Pete Tinker wrote:

> I've been a judge at a local "old-time fiddler's contest" for many  
> years, and there has always been controversy about some tunes.   
> Typically, we only allow tunes that originated at least 75 years  
> ago (we're a little more lenient with the term "old-time").  I can  
> get fooled by an unusual "new" tune, and ballads are even worse.   
> This year we had a disagreement that spilled over into some debate  
> among the judges, contestants, and organizers, so I'm trying to  
> remove some of the guess-work.  Here's my question:
>
> What is the best written source for determining the earliest  
> recording of a piece of music loosely dubbed "country?"  It needs  
> to be affordable to an individual, indexed and somewhat portable.   
> Online would be OK if searchable.
>
> Any leads would be very much appreciated.
>
> -- 
> Pete Tinker
> 23257 Gilmore St.
> West Hills, CA  91307  USA
> (home) 818 346 5213
> (cell) 818 694 5213