Eefing

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Eefing is an Appalachian vocal style that sounds like beatboxing but is about 100 years old. NPR describes it as a hiccupping, rhythmic wheeze that began in rural Tennessee. An early eefing piece, "Swamp Root," was one of the first singles recorded by Sam Phillips. In 1963, Joe Perkins had a minor hit with "Little Eeefin' Annie," featuring eefer Jimmy Riddle, who is considered the master of the genre and helped bring eefing to national attention on Hee Haw. Also in 1963, the Ardells released "Eefenanny," a bluegrass/hillbilly spoof of the folk hootenanny movement, but it wasn’t a big hit. That same year, Alvin and the Chipmunks released "Eefin' Alvin" as they attempt eefing. Another 1963 release came from the Goodlettsville Five on Guyden Records, "Eef" backed with "Bailey's Gone Eefin" (a version of "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey"), likely performed by session musicians under producer Jerry Kennedy. The Evolution Control Committee's "Hillbilly Beatbox" features eefing recordings.