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.
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.
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.
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.