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Post by Ptarmigan on Dec 30, 2007 21:55:43 GMT
Sure Jesper, they're the breastlooking Eyes I've seen in a long time! ;D What's not to like? - brilliant musicians, fantastic music! Mark is just one of those Fiddlers who makes my jaw drop, every time I see him play! Cheers Dick
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Post by Ptarmigan on Dec 30, 2007 22:00:52 GMT
Aye Jesper, of course we already have those YouTubes posted, over on the Video thread. However it's an absolute pleasure to add Mike's name to the list as he's a gentleman.
Cheers Dick
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Post by deleuran on Dec 30, 2007 23:16:39 GMT
I'm sorry. I am not allways aware of what's in and what's not. But a good thing can't be said too many times I must thank you for that Grey Eagle link with Mark O'Connor. I love it
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Post by deleuran on Jan 1, 2008 13:18:36 GMT
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otjunky
Old Time Spoons Player
Posts: 17
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Post by otjunky on Jan 3, 2008 0:40:34 GMT
Interesting list so far...
Other fiddlers that I listen to for inspiration are.
Clayton McMichen - lead fiddler with the Skillet Lickers and multi-time winner of the Atlanta fiddle contest. Of course, the Skiller Lickers had two other fiddlers - Gid Tanner and Lowe Stokes. I think McMichen and Stokes carried off most of the Skillet Lickers signature sound - often playing octaves apart. But, IMHO, McMichen was the "genius" behind their sound - and a marvelous OT fiddler in his own right.
Ed Haley - the legendary Kentucky fiddler. Haley was blind as was his wife. Both were educated musically at "schools for the blind" as was customary in those days. And Haley basically supported his family by playing the fiddle. Haley was never recorded commercially and it was first thought that his playing was forever lost. But I think John Hartford was instrumental in locating recordings made by his family and getting them issued on the Rounder Records label. The recording quality on these CDs is uniformly awful but Haley's playing shines through - even over the sometimes amateurish family accompaniment.
Eck Robertson - born in Delaney, Arkansas but his family migrated to Texas when he was quite young. Robertson's recordings in the 20's of "Ragtime Annie", "Sally Goodin", "Done Gone" and "The Brilliancy Medley" have influenced American OT fiddling to this day and - arguably - signaled the starting point of the modern Texas style.
Joe Birchfield - of the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers - a genuine OT fiddler from East Tennessee. His bowing was less subtle than Jarrell's but perhaps more rhythmic. Birchfield was an OT dance fiddler if there ever was one.
Bob Holt - only recently deceased, Holt spent time in Ohio and Illinois I think before settling finally in the Ozark regions of Southern Missouri where he routinely played for dancers. Holt's bowing is probably less subtle even than Birchfield's - but he played at breakneck speed and the clogger's loved it. His signature tune might be "Rattlesnake" in AEAE though he took the tune "No Little Home to Go to" as the title of his CD. Great straight ahead versions of "Sally Goodin" and "Wolves'a Howlin". And I think Betse Ellis, fiddler for the Wilders, credits Bob Holt as a source for many of her tunes like "Polly put the Kettle on".
I really like dance fiddlers... ;D
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Post by tobias on Jan 3, 2008 10:32:36 GMT
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Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 3, 2008 11:02:53 GMT
Your working well guys. Thanks for the great links. You really can't beat a bit of Fiddlin in the morning, to blow those cobwebs away! I like to go for the jugular, every time! Interesting reading about that Sawmill Fiddlin' too. I reckon I probably fall into that category myself! You'll never hear any of that Clare type slippery, sliding fiddling from my bow! Oh & by the way Tobias, even when I worked as a Salesman I never ever managed to look like one. Just too rough around the edges I guess, but then it didn't matter so much, cause I was selling Pest Control ~ Rats, Mice & the like! ;D Cheers Dick
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Post by john on Jan 5, 2008 15:56:33 GMT
And the we have Fiddlin John Carson. Uncle Bunt Stephens Blind Alfred Reed Earl Johnson Lowe Stokes Clayton McMichen Lily May Ledford and Charlie Bowman!!!
Been listening to them the whole day. How they rock!!!!!!!! John
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Post by john on Jan 14, 2008 19:58:54 GMT
Have been listening to Mark Simos and The Cliffhangers. He is a brilliant singer song writer and a fine composer. His two cds with original old time tunes are a must cheers, John
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Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 20, 2008 13:27:37 GMT
Sorry John, I didn't see this until now. Why oh why do you have to keep telling me about CDs I must have? The trouble with your advice dear friend, is that it is always well worth taking, but hey man, don't you know this is the season of the Credit Card Blues! Cheers Dick Yes, of course I had to buy them.
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Post by john on Jan 29, 2008 15:18:45 GMT
Hi Dick, sitting here with an old 78 with J. E. Mainer. A fine old time fiddler he was. Mainer`s Mountaineers John
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Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 29, 2008 16:17:03 GMT
Looks like he was a pretty big name in Old Time circles, his day John.
Thanks Dick
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Post by john on Jan 30, 2008 16:57:35 GMT
At the age of 96 in 1996 he could still kick ass with his fiddle playing. Mr. Bob Douglas, a hard working fiddle fit man. He was an admired, respected and celebrated old time fiddler. At the age of 75 he won the fiddle contest at the Festival of American Folk Life in Washington,D.C john
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Post by Ptarmigan on Jan 30, 2008 20:49:53 GMT
Wow, I see he lived to be 101, John. Just amazing to think he was still playing in 1996.
I found this interesting review on his life & just in case they delete it, I'll paste it here.
Cheers Dick
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Post by john on Jan 31, 2008 14:57:04 GMT
Hi Dick, yes, he was quite something. His father, a fine fiddler, died at the age of 97. His uncle played the banjo and he was old when he stopped. cheers, john
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Post by john on Feb 9, 2008 14:40:01 GMT
and we have John Hartford Clark Kessinger Dewey Shepheard John Burke Clayton McMichen Larry Older Lue Berline Byron Berline Tex Logan Phoeba Parsons French Carpenter Maria D`Amato Bill Hicks Malcom Owen cheers, john
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Post by john on Feb 25, 2008 12:54:48 GMT
and of course the one and only Fiddle Castro!!
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Post by deleuran on Feb 25, 2008 15:22:30 GMT
Yeah. By the way did you know that fidel castro is the cuban word for violin case
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Post by Ptarmigan on Feb 25, 2008 15:42:07 GMT
Can you send me some of what you guys are drinking? ;D
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Post by john on Feb 25, 2008 19:16:38 GMT
Si si, Senior Deuleran. And he played the first violin in The Cuban Old Time All Stars High Strung String Band Band for 49 years. They had a huge hit in 63 with the tune Dont Stick Your Neck Out. And who does not remember the sweet ballad Havanna Giela. And Puppet on a String was a smash hit too. A shame he could not attend the Fidel Convention in Cuba but he had to bow out. You know when they applause he cannot bow. Too old. Yes Dick, we drink only the best from the roaring hills of Virginia and the name is Virginia Lightning .......50% Alc...... and less than 30 days old. Yep! cheers, John
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