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Otto Funk

Otto Funk (October 6, 1868 – February 6, 1934) was a German-American fiddler who gained fame as "the Walking Fiddler" in the Guinness Book of World Records for playing his Hopf violin every step of the way as he walked from New York to San Francisco in 1929, a trip of 4,165 miles.[1] He was 61 years old at the time of his marathon walk. He stood five feet two inches tall, and weighed approximately 100 pounds.

Otto Funk
Background information
Born(1868-10-06)October 6, 1868
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
DiedFebruary 6, 1934(1934-02-06) (aged 65)
Hillsboro, Illinois, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Violinist, composer

In the era of roller derbies, 30-day dance contests and walkathons, Otto Funk's whimsical journey was an attempt to draw attention to his abilities as an old-time fiddler and durable walker. On April 29, 1928, he had been featured in a cover story in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat's rotogravure Magazine section (complete with a rare color photograph), and this publicity sparked his interest in making a national name for himself. His hope was that his fame might exceed that of his musical rival, the Austrian-American violinist Fritz Kreisler.

Funk's parents had migrated to America from West Prussia in the mid-19th century, and were married in Pilot Knob, Missouri in 1859. Following the ravishing of their 80-acre (320,000 m2) family farm by Confederate soldiers, they moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Otto (one of seven children) was born in 1868. In 1881, the family bought a 360-acre (1.5 km2) farm in Montgomery County, Illinois, and relocated there.

Otto Funk's early musical training was in piano and violin. In his teens, he was sent by his parents to study with some of Germany's finest music teachers, including Max Brödl, Robert Goldbeck, and Max Oesten, the son of well-known German composer Theodore Oesten. Goldbeck was a particularly significant musical influence. Born and trained in Germany, he founded the St Louis College of Music in 1880, and subsequently moved to Königsberg at the time when Otto was studying there. Goldbeck moved back to St Louis in his later years, and died there in 1908. Otto Funk returned to the St. Louis area, after his studies in Königsberg, to perform as a concert violinist, and later re-located with his wife, the pianist Della Edwards, to the Funk family farm in Illinois. For many years, he managed a popular music and recreational venue known as “Funk’s Lake” in rural Montgomery County, having created a large fishing pond by digging out a cornfield with a mule and plow.

The Funk Family in Hillsboro, Illinois, 1912 - Myrtle (13), Otto (44), Viola (15), Della (35) with baby Clara Del (2), Rosa (12), and Benjamin (10). A sixth child, Otto Eugene, was born in 1916.

Otto Funk's cross-country trek began in New York on June 28, 1928, when he was seen off by Democratic presidential candidate Al Smith on the steps of City Hall. He reached San Francisco on July 25, 1929, where he was received by Mayor (and future California governor) James Rolph, together with the cameras of Fox Movietone News.

His journey had taken him 4,165 miles (6,703 km), and involved playing 142 theatre performances, hundreds of street concerts, and 18 live radio concerts. He wore out several dozen bows and twenty pairs of shoes (provided by one of his sponsors, the Brown Shoe Company). He was accompanied on his trip by his son-in-law, Lester Grundy, who drove behind in a Ford motor car that served as dressing room, storage facility and sleeping quarters.

Following Otto Funk's death in Hillsboro, Illinois at the age of 65, he was accorded the biggest funeral in the history of Montgomery County.

Otto Funk in Navajo Country, 1929

Otto Funk described his epic walk as follows: “I have seen God’s country, every foot of it that I walked over. You can’t see it right from a car or a train. Sole leather express is the only way.” His trip had taken him through America's Indian reservations, cities, small towns, forests, and deserts.

References

  1. ^ See, e.g., Guinness Book of World Records, McWhirter, N. and McWhirter, R., Revised and enlarged new Bantam edition, Stirling Publishing Company (New York, March 1977).

Further reading

  • “Otto Funk Admits He’s as Good as the Best Fiddler and Better than Most of Them,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 29, 1928 (magazine section).
  • “Prof. Otto Funk, Troubadour of the World: He Walked, Fiddling All the Way from New York to California,” The Montgomery County News (Hillsboro, IL), July 24, 2004, p. 1.
  • “Out West With the Walking Fiddler: From Amarillo to San Francisco, Prof. Funk’s Final 1689 Miles,” The Montgomery County News (Hillsboro, IL), July 31, 2004, p. 1.
  • “The Walking Fiddler,” Modern Woodman magazine, Vol. LXXVI, No. 5, October 1959, p. 10.
  • Forrester, Gary, Blaw, Hunter, Blaw Thy Horn, Mayhaven Publishing Co., Illinois 2011.

External links

  • Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois

otto, funk, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2018, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, octo. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Otto Funk October 6 1868 February 6 1934 was a German American fiddler who gained fame as the Walking Fiddler in the Guinness Book of World Records for playing his Hopf violin every step of the way as he walked from New York to San Francisco in 1929 a trip of 4 165 miles 1 He was 61 years old at the time of his marathon walk He stood five feet two inches tall and weighed approximately 100 pounds Otto FunkBackground informationBorn 1868 10 06 October 6 1868St Louis Missouri United StatesDiedFebruary 6 1934 1934 02 06 aged 65 Hillsboro Illinois United StatesGenresClassicalfolkOccupation s Violinist composer In the era of roller derbies 30 day dance contests and walkathons Otto Funk s whimsical journey was an attempt to draw attention to his abilities as an old time fiddler and durable walker On April 29 1928 he had been featured in a cover story in the St Louis Globe Democrat s rotogravure Magazine section complete with a rare color photograph and this publicity sparked his interest in making a national name for himself His hope was that his fame might exceed that of his musical rival the Austrian American violinist Fritz Kreisler Funk s parents had migrated to America from West Prussia in the mid 19th century and were married in Pilot Knob Missouri in 1859 Following the ravishing of their 80 acre 320 000 m2 family farm by Confederate soldiers they moved to St Louis Missouri where Otto one of seven children was born in 1868 In 1881 the family bought a 360 acre 1 5 km2 farm in Montgomery County Illinois and relocated there Otto Funk s early musical training was in piano and violin In his teens he was sent by his parents to study with some of Germany s finest music teachers including Max Brodl Robert Goldbeck and Max Oesten the son of well known German composer Theodore Oesten Goldbeck was a particularly significant musical influence Born and trained in Germany he founded the St Louis College of Music in 1880 and subsequently moved to Konigsberg at the time when Otto was studying there Goldbeck moved back to St Louis in his later years and died there in 1908 Otto Funk returned to the St Louis area after his studies in Konigsberg to perform as a concert violinist and later re located with his wife the pianist Della Edwards to the Funk family farm in Illinois For many years he managed a popular music and recreational venue known as Funk s Lake in rural Montgomery County having created a large fishing pond by digging out a cornfield with a mule and plow The Funk Family in Hillsboro Illinois 1912 Myrtle 13 Otto 44 Viola 15 Della 35 with baby Clara Del 2 Rosa 12 and Benjamin 10 A sixth child Otto Eugene was born in 1916 Otto Funk s cross country trek began in New York on June 28 1928 when he was seen off by Democratic presidential candidate Al Smith on the steps of City Hall He reached San Francisco on July 25 1929 where he was received by Mayor and future California governor James Rolph together with the cameras of Fox Movietone News His journey had taken him 4 165 miles 6 703 km and involved playing 142 theatre performances hundreds of street concerts and 18 live radio concerts He wore out several dozen bows and twenty pairs of shoes provided by one of his sponsors the Brown Shoe Company He was accompanied on his trip by his son in law Lester Grundy who drove behind in a Ford motor car that served as dressing room storage facility and sleeping quarters Following Otto Funk s death in Hillsboro Illinois at the age of 65 he was accorded the biggest funeral in the history of Montgomery County Otto Funk in Navajo Country 1929 Otto Funk described his epic walk as follows I have seen God s country every foot of it that I walked over You can t see it right from a car or a train Sole leather express is the only way His trip had taken him through America s Indian reservations cities small towns forests and deserts References Edit See e g Guinness Book of World Records McWhirter N and McWhirter R Revised and enlarged new Bantam edition Stirling Publishing Company New York March 1977 Further reading Edit Otto Funk Admits He s as Good as the Best Fiddler and Better than Most of Them St Louis Globe Democrat April 29 1928 magazine section Prof Otto Funk Troubadour of the World He Walked Fiddling All the Way from New York to California The Montgomery County News Hillsboro IL July 24 2004 p 1 Out West With the Walking Fiddler From Amarillo to San Francisco Prof Funk s Final 1689 Miles The Montgomery County News Hillsboro IL July 31 2004 p 1 The Walking Fiddler Modern Woodman magazine Vol LXXVI No 5 October 1959 p 10 Forrester Gary Blaw Hunter Blaw Thy Horn Mayhaven Publishing Co Illinois 2011 External links EditOtto Funk Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Otto Funk amp oldid 1066587816, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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