String bands in the North Carolina Piedmont / Bob Carlin ; with a foreword by Steve Terrill.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Carlin, Bob.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

String band music--North Carolina--History.

String band music.

String bands--North Carolina.

String bands.

History.

North Carolina.

Physical Description:

vii, 267 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, [2004]

Summary:

String band music is most commonly associated with the mountains of North Carolina and other rural areas of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, but it was just as abundant in Piedmont region of North Carolina, albeit with different influences and stylistic conventions. This richly illustrated history focuses exclusively on Piedmont string band music -- its place in the history and culture of the area, the music's development within traditional communities of the Piedmont, and many of the best known bands and musicians. Extensively researched, the text draws upon personal interviews with dozens of performers. Topics include African-Americans and string band music; the societal functions of square dances; the ways in which musicians learned to play and bought their instruments; fiddlers' conventions and their history as community fundraisers; the recording industry and Piedmont musicians who cut recordings; the influence of live radio stations, including WPTF in Raleigh, WGWR in Asheboro, WSJS in Winston-Salem, WBIG in Greensboro and WBT in Charlotte; the first generation of locally-bred country entertainers, including Charlie Monroe's Kentucky Partners, Gurney Thomas and Glenn Thompson; and bluegrass and musical change following World War II.

Contents:

True believers

African Americans and string band music

"Anything that I knew was something I heard him play"

"I can't remember when I didn't go to a square dance"

"Music made the day seem grander"

"The fiddlers fairly lifted the roof with 'Mississippi Sawyer'"

"Mountain folk music is being recorded here"

"He was looking for those who lived isolated lives" : Bascom Lamar Lunsford's discoveries

Broadcasting the Old North State : Stations, programs and personalities

The professionals

Bluegrass.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-255) and index.

ISBN:

0786418265

OCLC:

55502381