County Records, a Virginia based independent record label, was founded by David Freeman in 1963. They specialized in old-time and traditional bluegrass music. Their first release was drawn from his personal collection of old-time 78 rpm recordings from the 1920s and 1930s featuring Charlie Poole, the Leake County Revelers, Crockett’s Mountaineers and other similar bands. The label’s first release of new music in 1965 was recorded and produced by Charles Faurot. It featured new recordings of Wade Ward and debuted fiddle and banjo players Fred Cockerham and Kye Creed. They expanded into the bluegrass world later in 1965 with the record Blue Ridge Bluegrass (County 702) featuring Larry Richardson and the Blue Ridge Boys. In 2002, founder Dave Freemen was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Linda Cabe is not a native of Wilkes County but has resided here since the 70's. In mid-1990 she became fascinated with the old-time music her friends were playing and, as a result, was introduced to Emily Spencer, one of the best old-time musicians and teachers in the area who taught stringed instruments for years through Wilkes Community College. Linda drove to Sparta every Monday night and learned to play clawhammer-style banjo and became acquainted with many musicians throughout the region. For 3 1/2 years she played with a group in Ashe County doing civic events, benefits and playing for each of the nursing homes and adult day care facilities almost every Saturday.
Bob Kogut, originally from Pennsylvania, says he is “an adopted son of the great state of NC and this is my home!” A licensed physical therapist, he retired after 45 years to build fiddles full time. His driving passion is to create a violin to have the elusive tone. Fiddlers have performed on Bob’s instruments all over the world and as of 2021 he has built 234 instruments. For 14 years he has been a sponsor of MerleFest meeting interesting people and welcoming musicians, professional and amateur alike, to play his fiddles.
G. B. Grayson and Henry Whitter sang together for only three years but had a tremendous effect not only on country music but other genres. Contemporary performers still perform such tunes as “Cluck Old Hen,” “Tom Dooley,” and “Handsome Molly” which originally sold 50,000 copies. Fiddler/Singer Grayson was born in Ashe County, NC and made his living in younger years as a minstrel traveling through the surrounding mountains playing at fairs and dances. Guitarist Singer Whitter was born in Fries, VA and was devoted to promoting old-time music. They met at a fiddlers’ convention in Mountain City, TN in 1927. Teaming up, they had two record deals by the fall. They recorded 14 records with a total of 40 songs but the untimely death in 1930 of Grayson in an auto accident brought a sad end to the duo.
G. B. Grayson and Henry Whitter sang together for only three years but had a tremendous effect not only on country music but other genres. Contemporary performers still perform such tunes as “Cluck Old Hen,” “Tom Dooley,” and “Handsome Molly” which originally sold 50,000 copies. Fiddler/Singer Grayson was born in Ashe County, NC and made his living in younger years as a minstrel traveling through the surrounding mountains playing at fairs and dances. Guitarist Singer Whitter was born in Fries, VA and was devoted to promoting old-time music. They met at a fiddlers’ convention in Mountain City, TN in 1927. Teaming up, they had two record deals by the fall. They recorded 14 records with a total of 40 songs but the untimely death in 1930 of Grayson in an auto accident brought a sad end to the duo.
Samantha Bumgarner of Sylva, NC was one of the first women and traditional Southern banjo player to be recorded. Playing both banjo and fiddle, she and Eva Davis were recorded in 1924 and these were some of the first Southern old-time music records released. Samantha, like many other musicians of her time, learned to play fiddle by sneaking out at night with her father’s instrument to play with others. Learning to play the banjo during these forays, she was accompanying her father when he played in surrounding counties by the age of 15. She performed at the first Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in 1929, a brainchild of Bascom Lamar Lunsford, and appeared every year until 1959. In the 30s she traveled the country and for a time had her own radio show in a Texas border town. In 1939, she was invited by Lunsford to play for President and First Lady, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and the King and Queen of England during their visit to the US. Until her death in 1960, she continued to play music in the Asheville area, winning instrumental and clogging contests and catching the attention of the folk revival enthusiasts.
Chester Burton Atkins, nicknamed by throngs of fans as “Mister Guitar,” changed the world of guitar music, developing and elevating an innovative guitar playing style that has inspired scores of musicians. His style and sound are often duplicated but no one has completely captured the sound of Chet. He admired and was influenced by Merle Travis, Les Paul and Django Reinhardt. Working his way from low paying radio gigs to success in the business world at RCA Nashville, he discovered and signed many talented artists of his time. As one of the most prolific record producers of all times he was a driving force in the development of what was dubbed “the Nashville Sound.”
Dr. T. R. Bryan Wilkes Heritage Music Award: Dr. T. R. Bryan
Dr. Thomas Rhudy Bryan, Jr. (Doc) was synonymous with love for all other human beings far beyond himself. He was also never present in any one place for very long, before the sounds of music could be heard around him. He was always drawn to music, especially the pure sounds of old Country Music, Bluegrass, Folk and Americana styles of music. He owned every kind of music reproducing device including an old megaphone record player with the cylinders, old 33 record players, 8 track tape players, MP3 players as well as CD and DVD players. In the car, camping, horseback riding, at home, rafting at the Nantahala, in the medical office, in the labor and delivery room, at a family reunion, sitting around with friends and family, wherever he was, he made sure he could listen to music.
He had a great love and appreciation for many of the grass roots performers of early country music and bluegrass. He was a big fan of The Carter Family and so many of the original Grand Ole Opry performers such as Patsy Cline, Flatt and Scruggs, Hank Williams, Uncle Dave Macon, Grandpa Jones, Jim Reeves, Roy Acuff, Little Jimmy Dickens, Johnny Cash, Doc Watson, and many more. He visited the Grand Ole Opry quite a few times in his life.
Doc attended the original MerleFest as its resident physician. He did not miss a single MerleFest since its inception in 1987 up to his last MerleFest in April of 2011. He was a fixture at all the musical events that occurred annually in Wilkes County. He was always present at Chickenfest, the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, Carolina in the Fall, and Americana Day. According to Ken Welborn, publisher of The Record newspaper, the Mayor of North Wilkesboro, George Church, would officially open up Chickenfest with the words “We can begin now, because our faithful attendee, Dr. Bryan is present.” Doc would often bring a chair for his beloved “Ruthie” to sit and enjoy the music by his side.
He began his own musical gathering about 5 years ago and called it his “Pre –Memorial”. His theme for this gathering was based on the song, “Give Me the Roses While I am Living.” He wanted to enjoy the music of his friends while he could. He invited many of his talented friends to come and play music for him and his guests. It was a free fun jam for all who were able to attend. He also provided food and drinks to complete the occasion.
Doc Bryan was also a man who encouraged local musicians by attending their performances and also by financially supporting them. He was great friends with the Krüger Brothers, David Culler and BackPorch Bluegrass, The Snyder Family, David Johnson, Charlie Tesh, Tut Taylor, Herb Key, Bill Williams, Mule Ferguson, Kirk and Maria Stadlin, Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society and too many more to name. However, he did not like receiving recognition or accolades for the support he would give to these musicians. He preferred to stay out of the limelight and would blush or shake his head when recognized for his generosity.
He enjoyed going to the Hometown Opry many Friday mornings, arriving to begin as early as 6:30am to take in the local talent performing that day live on WKBC radio. On a few occasions, he would sing along or even sing the lead to a song. After the Hometown Opry was over, a favorite tradition would be to continue the music at Harold Call’s Restaurant at Broadway, enjoying good food and more fun music with friends.
He frequently attended the Senior Center musical gatherings on Tuesday evenings where he would sing along with his many friends there. He would bring family, such as Jim England with him to share his talents on the juice harp and the autoharp. The musicians loved having him around because he knew the words to most any old time song by heart. His instrument of choice was his walnut carved wooden spoons. He enjoyed making rhythm to the music with his spoons, but he also mastered a few tunes, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” on the Plicket that Tut Taylor gave him.
Of course, he was known for his active membership in the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. His participation in that organization was a highlight to his promotion of traditional music in the area. Ken Welborn said that he was always glad to give Doc Bryan the stage to promote the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. At the Chickenfest of 2011, Doc set up a table and sold raffle tickets all day for a Deering Banjo. Those funds were to help support the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. At the Chickenfest performance, Dr. Bryan delighted the Elkville String Band and the audience when he made the remark that he would have just as soon been here (at Chickenfest) as at the Grand Ole Opry.
Doc Bryan’s lifelong love of traditional music gave him thousands of hours of listening pleasure and gave him a wonderful bond with so many of the talented and good people of Wilkes County. He would want the Traditional Americana Music of this area to continue to be promoted and preserved for future generations to enjoy as he did.
Dr. Bryan also enjoyed sharing his beloved music with his family. I can remember family reunions at Kerr Scott Lake when he would hire musicians to come play their instruments and sing the old time songs. He would also invite musicians and friends to his home to gather in the living room and play music and sing along. He enjoyed learning to play a “canjo” that his brother John Q. Bryan made for him and all the rest of the Bryan sisters. At the Bryan family reunion in Traphill, they played their canjos together. He and his brother-in-law Joe Brewer sang a few duets. Some of his 6 grandchildren had a love of traditional and bluegrass music. They spent many times at MerleFest together. The family remembers singing country tunes with Doc while riding up the ski lift to pass the time and try to stay warm. The nurses at the hospital have recalled many occasions in which Dr. Bryan sang in the delivery room, with nurses, and even patients joining in the old hymns or traditional songs. He would sing right in the middle of a delivery to calm the laboring mom down. He brightened up a room with his smile and his tunes. Doc was a living legend. Everyone who met Dr. Bryan knew that he loved life and that he had a deep abiding love for people. I am sure that in Heaven he is one of the loudest and happiest in the heavenly choir. And now he is playing his favorite instruments with perfect rhythm and is singing his favorite songs with perfect pitch.
Bill moved to Wilkes County from Florida in 1976, and he immersed himself in the mountain music of the region. Bill’s music endeavors started when his wife bought him an old guitar shortly after they were married in 1983. He learned to play rhythm guitar and met guitarist Steve Kilby at American Drew where they both worked. Bill had been playing the “doghouse” bass some too. His first on-stage gig was playing bass with Ramona Church and her band at Fiddlers Grove in Union Grove, NC. Bill continued his association with Steve Kilby and did his first studio recording with Steve at Heritage Records in Galax, VA. The name of this recording was “Sunday Night” and all the songs were originals written by Steve. Bill was a founding member of Steve Kilby’s “Sunday Night Band” along with John Akin and Tim Lewis. He stayed with this band, later renamed “Kingsberry Run”, for about five years. While with Steve’s band he won numerous ribbons and trophies at fiddlers’ conventions throughout North Carolina and Virginia.
Around 1994, Bill met Drake Walsh and Floyd Williams. They had a band called “Southland’ and Floyd asked Bill if he would be interested in playing bass with them because their bass player, Marshal Craven was leaving the band. He stayed with this band until 2003. In 2001 Bill and Drake were approached by Jerry Lankford, editor of The Record newspaper, and asked if they would be interested in playing with a band that was being formed to play live music for a play written by Karen Wheeling Reynolds called “Tom Dooley, A Wilkes County Legend”. The play was being put on annually by the Wilkes Playmakers at Benton Hall in North Wilkesboro. Bill agreed to join the band which also included Jerry Lankford, Drake Walsh, Herb Key and Nicole Vidrine. A name was needed for the band so Her Key came up with the name “Elkville String Band” due to the fact that Tom “Dooley” Dula was born in Elkville, a small town in Wilkes County, now called Ferguson. The band played for four seasons of the Tom Dooley play and the group recorded four CDs of the music for the play. After Jerry Lankford and Nicole Vidrine could no longer play with the band, Jeff Michael stepped in and played with the band for several years. At that time “The Elkville String Band” was made up of Herb Key, Drake Walsh, Jeff Michael and Bill Williams. After Drake passed away in 2010, Jim Lloyd started playing banjo and Trevor McKenzie started playing fiddle in the band.
Bill has also played and recorded with “The Lloyd Church Band” and several other groups from this area. He is still a member of “The Elkville String Band” along with Herb Key, Jim Lloyd and Trevor McKenzie but is currently not active with the band right now due to his wife having a stroke. He is her primary caregiver but hopes to be able to play music again in the near future.
Smithsonian Folkways is the non-profit record label of the United States. Its mission is to document and celebrate traditional culture throughout the world. It began as Folkways Records in 1948 and was founded by Moses Asch and Marian Distler. The Asch estate sold the label to the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, negotiated by Ralph Rinzler, an important documenter of Appalachian music. It was re-born again the following year as Smithsonian Folkways to carry on the Asch legacy. One of the key missions of the label continues to be to provide deep information about the artists and region in the liner notes. Smithsonian Folkways has had a long history of releasing titles of Appalachian music beginning with Hobart Smith and Texas Gladden during the Asch Records period. The label was the prime destination for folklorists looking to publish their recordings from the region. During the era of the great folk song revival musician/folklorists like Mike Seeger, John Cohen, Sandy Paton and Ralph Rinzler brought their work to the public through Folkways. They published extensive liner notes discussing the history of the songs and music. Others Asch published were Hazel and Alice and the Country Gentlemen. The music of the Appalachian Region has always been a central part of what Smithsonian Folkways does. As it moves on into time, projects by Anna and Elizabeth, Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons, formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops will continue the legacy.