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.
Linda met Keith Watts and became a member of the Wilkes Acoustic/Folk Society at its beginning. Throughout the years Linda participated in almost every event of the Society including fundraisers, MerleFest, Hometown Opry, and other radio programs to promote the Society and music, as well as playing for the music program each January at the Lutheran Church. She played with local fiddler Fred McBride and others providing music for the Tom Dooley play each night for the season and, more recently, Linda was part of the music for the Christmas play "A Beautiful Star" at Benton Hall.
Linda has received several awards for her clawhammer-style playing and in the old-time band contests from Happy Valley, Sparta, Ashe County, Adwolfe, Va., Mocksville, and Yadkinville. Linda is a regular attendee at most of the regional area fiddlers conventions, including Galax, Mt. Airy, Clifftop, West Va., and many smaller conventions.
For 1 1/2 years Linda was one of the teachers with the Jam Program at the Roaring River Elem. School. For approximately 20 years Linda has worked with the music portion of the Heritage Fair for kids at Hiddenite Educational Center and schools in Alexander County and has been on the music program at the Traditional Stage at Hiddenite Celebration for about 20 years as well as continuing to play for fund-raising events for the Jam Program at Hiddenite Educational Center.
Events Linda has played include: Chicken Fest, Merry-Go-Round show at Earle Theatre in Mt. Airy, show at the Andy Griffith Theatre in Mt. Airy, a concert with a group on theatre stage in Shelbyville, Indiana for the Arts Council, and once joined friend, LeRoy Troy, for a few tunes on side stage at the Tennessee Fall Homecoming in Norris, Tennessee.
In 2002 Linda, David and Tammy Sawyer, along with local fiddler Fred McBride, calling themselves the "Stone Mountain Stringband, " did a recording to preserve some of Fred's tunes and fiddle style. Linda has been on a few more recordings, the most recent with Howard Naughton, Chad Ritchie and Gary Saunders.