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Keep On The Sunny Side
Composer: Ada Blenkhorn / J. Howard Entwisle

Keep On The Sunny Side was played by Phil Lesh & Friends in 2012.

The lyrics of the song were written in 1899 by hymn writer Ada Blenkhorn. These were set to music by J. Howard Entwisle. The song occurs on sheet music from the early decades of the 20th century. The Carter Family recorded Keep On The Sunny Side in 1928 and subsequently used the song as their radio show theme song. The song became so closely associated with the Carter Family that many later recording credit A.P. Carter, the Carter Family or A.P. Carter & Gary Garett as songwriters.

The song also occurs as Keep On The Sunny Side Of Life.



Recordings

no info 10" (River Of Jordan / Keep On The Sunny Side), Carter Family, 1928
no info 10" (When The World's On Fire / Keep On The Sunny Side), Carter Family, 1933
no info 10" (Gospel Ship / Keep On The Sunny Side), Carter Family, 1936
no info 10" (Silver Stars, Purple Sage, Eyes Of Blue / Keep On The Sunny Side), Ernie Benedict And His Range Riders, 1947
no info 10" (Keep On The Sunny Side / Just Like Me), Johnson Family Singers, 1948
no info 10" (Picture On The Wall / Keep On The Sunny Side), Carter Family, 1948
no info 10" (These Things Shall Pass / Keep On The Sunny Side Of Life), Bill Kenny, 1951
no info 10" (Keep On The Sunny Side / I Love You Best Of All), Mac Wiseman, 1954
no info Banjo Songs Of The Blue Ridge And Great Smokies, Obray Ramsay, 1957
no info Keep On The Sunny Side, Mac Wiseman, 1960
info Songs Of The Famous Carter Family, Flatt and Scruggs, 1961
no info Blue Ridge Banjo, Obray Ramsey, 1961
no info Rural Rhythm Presents The Great Wear Family, 1961
no info Keep On The Sunny Side: In Memory Of A P Carter, The Carter Family, 1961
no info The Famous Carter Family, 1961
no info Most Requested Sacred Songs Of The Carter Family, A.L. Phipps Family, 1962
no info Single (I'll Never Fall In Love Again / Keep On The Sunny Side), Lonnie Donegan, 1962
no info 'Mid The Green Fields Of Virginia, The Carter Family, 1963
no info When Pea-Pickers Get Together, Tennessee Ernie Ford With The Green Valley Singers And Orchestra, 1963
no info Keep On The Sunny Side, The Carter Family With Special Guest Johnny Cash, 1964
no info Single (Keep On The Sunny Side / Fair And Tender Ladies), The Carter Family, 1964
no info Bluegrass Gospel Favorites, Stanley Brothers, 1965
no info Sings "Shall We Gather At The River" And Other Family Favorites, The Johnson Family, 1966
info Don Reno and Bill Harrell with the Tennesse Cutups, Don Reno and Bill Harrell with the Tennesse Cutups, 1967
no info Stars Of The Grand Ole Opry, Various Artists (The Carter Family), 1967
no info Ramblin' Round, Malcolm Price, 1968
no info Sings The Good Old Songs, Del Delker, 1970
no info The Carter Family On Border Radio, The Carter Family, 1970
no info Lewis Country, The Lewis Family, 1971
no info The Blue Ridge Quartet, The Blue Ridge Quartet, 1971
info Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 1972
no info 18 Gospel Favorites, The Legendary J. E. Mainer And The Mountaineers, 1972
no info 24 Country Gospel Greats Vol. 1, Various Artists (The Lewis Family), 1972
no info Concert Favorites, Mac Wiseman, 1973
no info Single (Keep On The Sunny Side / It Rains Just The Same In Missouri), Mac Wiseman, 1973
no info The Junkie And The Juicehead Minus Me, Johnny Cash, 1974
no info Where The Lilies Bloom: Original Soundtrack Recording, The Earl Scruggs Revue, 1974
no info Alive At The Johnny Mack Brown High School, Lester "Roadhog" Moran & The Cadillac Cowboys, 1974
info Memories, Doc Watson, 1975
no info For God & Country, Dona Klein, 1976
info In Person: At Randy Wood's Old Time Pickin' Parlor, Buck White & Down Home Folks, 1977
no info Country Gold, Various Artists (The Carter Family), 1977
no info Country's First Family, The Carter Family, 1978
no info Gospel Songs By The Carter Family In Texas Volume 3, The Carter Family, 1978
info 20th Anniversary Concert, The New Lost City Ramblers, 1978
no info Keep On The Sunny Side, Gary Williams, 1978
no info Music From The Motion Picture Convoy, Various Artists (Doc Watson), 1978
no info How Great Thou Art, Various Artists (The Carter Family), 1979
no info Songs For The Mama That Tried, Merle Haggard, 1981
no info Country & Western Classics, The Carter Family, 1982
no info Country & Western Classics, Flatt & Scruggs, 1982
no info In Harmony, Chuck Wagon Gang, 1983
no info In Concert, The Lewis Family, 1983
no info Live From The Lone Star Cafe, Kinky Friedman, 1983
no info West Virginia Woman, Karen Mackay, 1983
no info "I Need The Prayers Of Those I Love", Harry And Jeanie West, 1985
no info The Essential Bluegrass Album, The Osborne Brothers & Mac Wiseman, 1987
no info Pick The Wildwood Flower, Bev King and Joe Knight, 1987
no info Golden Gospel Greats Volume I, Chuck Wagon Gang, 1987
no info The Gospel Of J.E. Mainer And The Mountaineers, 1988
no info Greatest Hits Volume 1, Chuck Wagon Gang, 1990
no info Gospel Songs From Cabin Creek, The Stanley Brothers, 1990
info Banjo Man: A Tribute to Earl Scruggs, Carl Jackson, 1990
no info Memories, Emma Smith, 1991
info 1959-1963, Flatt and Scruggs, 1992
no info Amazing Grace, Chuck Wagon Gang, 1993
no info Anchored in Love: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1927-28), Carter Family, 1993
no info Keep On The Sunny Side: A Tribute To The Carter Family, Various Artists (Lonesome Whippoorwills), 1993
no info River Of Memories, Bill Clifton & Jimmy Gaudreau, 1994
no info The Complete Lester 'Roadhog' Moran And The Cadillac Cowboys, 1994
no info Same Branch, Different Trotters, The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters, 1994
no info I Got A Bullfrog: Folksongs For The Fun Of It, David Holt, 1994
no info Red Hot + Country, Various Artists (Randy Scruggs, Earl Scruggs & Doc Watson), 1994
no info Bluegrass Gospel Favorites, The Cluster Pluckers, 1995
no info The Galax Way, The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters, 1995
info Nashville at Newport, Various Artists (Johnny Cash), 1995
info The Man in Black: 1963-1969, Johnny Cash, 1996
no info Best Of The Best Of The Original Carter Family, 1997
info 20 Bluegrass Favorites, Don Reno and Bill Harrell, 1997
no info Songs From The Homeplace, Jim & Jesse, 1998
info The Best of the Vanguard Years, Ian & Sylvia, 1998
no info Let Us Cross Over The River, Tony & Gary Williamson, 1999
info In the Shadow of Clinch Mountain, The Carter Family, 2000
no info Lonnie Rides Again...Plus, Lonnie Donegan, 2000
no info 30 Dulcimer Classics, Nashville Dulcimers, 2000
info Kentucky Home, Tim Lake, 2000
no info O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Original Soundtrack, Various Artists (The Whites), 2000
info The Complete Vanguard Studio Recordings, Ian & Sylvia, 2001
no info Songs of the South, Carl Jackson, 2001
no info Tapestry Of The West, Jean Prescott, 2001
no info I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow: Oh Death, Various Artists (Phipps Family), 2001
no info Live From Down Under, Billy Joe Shaver & Kinky Friedman, 2002
info The Carter Family: 1927-1934, The Carter Family, 2002
no info Smokey River Boys Sing O Brother, Smokey River Boys, 2002
no info These Bones Gonna Rise Again: Unique Sound Of The Mountains #10, Larry Sigmon & Barbara Poole, 2002
no info Bona Fide Bluegrass & Mountain Music, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2002
no info The Roots Of Lonnie Donegan, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2002
info Lonesome Valley, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2002
no info Wildwood Flower, June Carter Cash, 2003
info The Carter Family: 1935-1941, The Carter Family, 2003
info 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered: Complete Recordings 1951-1964, Mac Wiseman, 2003
info Will The Circle Be Unbroken, The Trilogy, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 2003
info Life of Sorrow, David Grisman, 2003 (Hidden track)
no info Under The Double Ego, Kinky Friedman, 2003
info Live at Lock 3, Brick Road Ramblers, 2003
no info 30 Mandolin Classics, Nashville Mandolins, 2003
no info American Gothic: Bluegrass Songs Of Death And Sorrow, Various Artists (Mac Wiseman / Osborne Brothers), 2003
no info Goodbye, Babylon, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2003
no info Classic Country: Queens Of Country, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2003
info Keep on the Sunny Side: Bluegrass Salutes the Carter Family, Various Artists (Mac Wiseman / Osborne Brothers), 2003
no info RCA Country Legends, The Carter Family, 2004
no info Keep On The Sunny Side: A Proper Introduction To The Carter Family, 2004
no info Appalachian Favorites, Jim Hendricks, 2004
info Can't You Hear Me Callin': Bluegrass: 80 Years of American Music, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2004
no info Brother, I'm Ready To Go, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2004
info All Smiles Tonight: An Anthology of Heritage Music from Hampshire County, Various Artists, 2004
no info Keep On The Sunny Side: Her Life In Music, June Carter Cash, 2005
no info Songs From The Longleaf Pines, Charlie Daniels, 2005
info The Legend, Johnny Cash, 2005
no info Big Midnight Special, Wilma Lee Cooper, 2005
no info Big Man Big Guitar: Live, Popa Chubby, 2005
no info Church In The Wildwood, Bill & Gloria Gaither And Their Homecoming Friends, 2005
info Strings and Things, Vol. 1, Various Artists (June Carter Cash), 2005
no info The Bluegrass Bible: 40 Bluegrass Gospel Classics, Various Artists (Don Reno / Bill Harrell), 2005
no info In Ireland, Johnny Cash, 2006
no info Satisfied Mind, Bob McCarthy, 2006
info Essential Guide to American Roots, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2006
no info Legends Of The Opry, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2006
info Johnny Cash: Roots & Branches, Various Artists (Doc Watson), 2006
no info Bill Emerson And The Sweet Dixie Band, Bill Emerson And The Sweet Dixie Band, 2007
no info What The Crow Brings, The Low Anthem, 2007
no info Anchored In Love: A Tribute To June Carter Cash, Various Artists (Brad Paisley), 2007
no info Jim Avett And Family, Jim Avett And Family, 2008
no info Preachin', Prayin', Singin' Live From Nashville, The Charlie Daniels Band, 2008
no info Cash For Kenya: Live In Johnstown, PA, Johnny Cash, 2008
no info Flat Top Box: Guitar Pickin' Favorites, Mark Howard / Bryan Sutton / David Grier et al, 2008
no info King Of Skiffle: The Collection, Lonnie Donegan, 2008
no info Classic Mountain Bluegrass: 25 Appalachian Favorites, Various Artists (Don Reno), 2008
no info Contemporary Country, Various Artists (June Carter Cash), 2008
no info Top Tunes From Days Gone By, The Jackson Pike Skifflers, 2009
no info Playlist, Brad Paisley, 2009
no info Sunny Day, Elizabeth Mitchell, 2010
no info Beautiful Dreamers, Bill Frisell, 2010
no info Live Around The World Bootleg Vol III, Johnny Cash, 2011
no info Joy Joy Joy, Monroe Crossing, 2011
no info Lost Highway 10 Year Anniversary, Various Artists (The Whites), 2011
no info Home Sweet Home, The Red Dirt Skinners, 2012
no info Deep In The Heart: Big Songs For Little Texans Everywhere, Various Artists (Fred Andrews), 2012
no info The Last Ride: A Story Of Hank Williams, Various Artists (Rebecca Frazier), 2012
no info Cash Treasures, Johnny Cash, 2013
no info The Light Still Burns, Lauren Sheehan, 2013
no info Six Classic Albums Plus EP's And Singles, Lonnie Donegan, 2013
no info American Playground, Various Artists (Elizabeth Mitchell), 2013
no info The Gospel Side Of Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie, 2015
no info The Winding Stream, Various Artists (Carter Family), 2015
no info Circlin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 2016
no info American Epic: The Best Of The Carter Family, 2017
info Doc & Dawg: Live at Acoustic Stage, Doc Watson & David Grisman, 2018
no info Memories, Memoirs & Miles: Songs Of A Lifetime, Charlie Daniels, 2018
no info Still Woman Enough, Loretta Lynn, 2021
info Life of Sorrow: Deluxe Edition, David Grisman, 2021
no info Amerikinda: 20 Years Of Dualtone, Various Artists (Drew & Ellie Holcomb), 2021
no info Best Of Green Hill Music: The Bluegrass Connection, Various Artists (Craig Duncan), 2021

 
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