The Red Headed Fiddlers recorded Bill Cheatham as Cheat `Em at an October 27, 1929, session in Dallas.
Bill Cheatham remains a standard in old-time and bluegrass repertoires. There are several recordings under various spellings listed in Tony Russell’s comprehensive discography:
- Bill Cheatam: Blind Joe Mangum/ Fred Shriber
- Bill Cheatham: Arthur Smith
- Bill Cheatum: The Light Crust Doughboys
- Cheat `Em: The Red Headed Fiddlers, The Allen Brothers
The Red Headed Fiddlers play a tune that’s very similar to the versions played by modern musicians, though modern musicians often favor straight arpeggios at the start of the phrases in the B strain.
Bill Cheatham