Fate Norris-Biography
Singleton LaFayette “Fate” Norris, who played the banjo for the Skillet Lickers, was from Resaca, Georgia, north of Atlanta, and unfortunately, is almost inaudible on most of the recordings. He was born in 1878 and was married to Elizabeth (Lizzie), with whom he had one daughter, Mable. In the 1900 Census he lists his occupation as farm laborer but later he lists it as musician. He is not to be confused with Land Norris, no relation, who was a banjo player from the same area that played occasionally with Fiddlin’ John Carson. The first mention of Fate performing is in the July 4, 1912 Fiddlers contest in Lawrenceville, Georgia where he is listed a Fate Norris of Norcross.
Experienced in the medicine show circuit, Fate often appeared as a one-man band. He had a flare for comedy that included a 'talking doll' and built his elaborate one-man band contraption of six instruments, which he took to fairs and fiddlers' contests throughout the south. Reprinted from a 1927 Tennessee newspaper article: “Fate Norris, of Dalton, Georgia, the one-man wonder, who plays six individual instrument in an individual band, will also furnish entertainment. Mr. Norris has in his band two guitars, bells, bass fiddle, fiddle, and mouth harp or kazoo. He devoted seventeen years to mastery of his art.”
Fiddler Bill Helms recalled seeing Norris at a fiddler's convention in Chattanooga: “Fate Norris was there too, had a musical soapbox - made out of soap boxes with a pocket knife, and strings from mandolins, guitars, fiddles, autoharps. Had pedals and kneepads. Played two instruments with his feet; played a mouth harp.” [From 'Interview with Bill Helms', JEMF Quarterly, Vol. 2, Part 3, (June 1967), p. 57.]
When the Skillet Lickers appeared in Nashville in 1927, it was reported: “There are no recordings of Fate Norris' one-man band, only these descriptions and a few photographs, one of which shows him sitting before his contraption, fiddle in hand, on a sidewalk in front of a hand-written sign reading: 'A real string band played by one man will start at 12 pm'.” JEMF Quarterly, Vol. 12 (winter 1976), p. 180.
The photograph provides a better view of Norris' invention, its unusual arrangement of guitars, a large cogwheel, and the three pedals for his left foot and one for his right. He's added kazoo to his fiddling and looks as if it is one minute past noon and he is about to launch into his first number.
Norris also recorded with two groups that bear his name in the 1920s: Fate Norris and The Tanner Boys; Fate Norris and His Playboys (See Discography below).
Singleton LaFayette Norris died on stage Nov 11, 1944 after playing for the March of Dimes benefit in Subligna, Ga. He said, "I'm not afraid," and fell to the floor [Spring 1997 volume of the Chattooga County Historic Society Quarterly].
Fate Norris Recordings:
Fate Norris and The Tanner Boys (Columbia Records; November, 1926- Fate Norris with Gid and Arthur Tanner): I Don’t Reckon That’ll Happen Again; New Dixie
Fate Norris and His Playboys (Columbia Records; April- 1929- Fate Norris Clayton McMichen Riley Puckett): Roll Em On The Ground; Johnnie Get Your Gun;