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From: Robert
Date: August 15, 2007
There are two interviews that I recall that Bob mentioned specific fiddles. One is the fiddle he used as his first professional fiddle. It was slightly smaller than a full-sized fiddle. Bob's father, Uncle John Wills won it in a fiddling contest. Bob speak of having it fixed up in Amarillo and later donating it to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
Another fiddle mentioned was one he gave to Merle Haggard. This was probably one of his favorites. When Bob decided to give a fiddle to Haggard, who was visiting Bob, Bob told Betty to go get his fiddle out of the closet. She asked Bob "Which one?" to which Bob responded - "You know which one" - implying his favorite. Wills gave it to Haggard as a gift and Haggard would most likely still have that fiddle, as Bob Wills was one of his musical heroes.
Bob also has a fiddle on display at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, but I am not certain of the history behind that one.
Jody Nix probably has more stories, I believe I heard he also has one of Bob's fiddles.
Mack, the idea of the
National Fiddler's Hall of Fame is wonderful.
We applaud your efforts on this project.