Henry Whitter

William Henry Whitter (April 6, 1892 – November 17, 1941) was an early old-time recording artist in the United States. He first performed as a solo singer, guitarist and harmonica player, and later in partnership with the fiddler G. B. Grayson. He recorded the first version of "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad".

Biography Whitter was born near Fries, Grayson County, Virginia, United States. Other songs in Whitter's repertoire would become standards, such as "The New River Train" and "Put My Little Shoes Away". He was the first to record the harmonica tunes "Lost John" and "Fox Chase". He also recorded cover versions of hits by other performer's such as Uncle Dave Macon's "Keep My Skillet Good And Greasy" and Kelly Harrell's "I Wish I Was Single Again". Although a limited musician, he supplied what record-buyers wanted and sold well. However, by 1926 there were more skilled musicians in the market, which may explain why Okeh ceased to record Whitter.

In 1927, he recorded for Victor Records at the Bristol Sessions, and a later field recording in Memphis, Tennessee. Also in 1927, Whitter met the blind fiddler G. B. Grayson (1887-1930) at a fiddlers' convention in Mountain City, Tennessee. However, he continued to play music frequently with the fiddler Albert Hash, who cited Whitter as an important influence. Whitter died of diabetes in Morganton, North Carolina, in 1941.