Come Hither to Go Yonder: Playing Bluegrass with Bill Monroe

Appendix B: Additional Information about Some of the People and Groups Mentioned

Appendix฀B Additional Information about Some of the People and Groups Mentioned Akeman,฀David฀(“Stringbean”) David Akeman, known by his stage name of Stringbean, was often called Stringbeans by Bill Monroe and others who had known him for a long time. (Stringbeans was Akeman’s first stage name, before it was shortened to Stringbean .) The first banjo player ever to be a member of the Blue Grass Boys, Stringbean recorded with Bill Monroe in 1945. By the 1970s he was a comedy star of television’s Hee฀Haw, as well as of the Grand Ole Opry. He was said not to trust banks, and he often kept thousands of dollars in the pockets of his overalls, showing it to many people. In 1973, both he and his wife were killed by burglars in their home. Twenty years after the double murder, residents of Stringbean’s old house discovered nearly twenty thousand dollars stashed behind a brick in the chimney. The money was shredded and useless, having been gnawed on by mice. Bailey,฀DeFord DeFord Bailey (1899–1982) was a black entertainer known as the Harmonica Wizard. Born forty miles east of Nashville, he was one of the earliest performers on the Grand Ole Opry. He joined the Opry when it was still called the WSM Barn Dance. One of the tunes he was best known for was “Pan American Blues,” featuring his imitation of a fast-moving freight train. Short, and weighing less than one hundred pounds, Bailey had to fight physical disability caused by infantile paralysis. Racism was another hurdle he had to overcome. He was dismissed from the Grand Ole Opry after an apparent disagreement with George D. Hay. After that he became a shoeshine man—the only employment he could find in Nashville. Many people (including me) feel DeFord Bailey should be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame because of his important early contributions to the musical genre. Blake,฀Norman Norman Blake was born in Tennessee in 1938 and grew up in Georgia. He has been playing professionally since the age of sixteen. His style of guitar playing is relaxed and ornate, highlighted by richness of tone and beauty of melody. 168฀ | appendix฀b Bluegrass฀Alliance,฀The Originally formed in the late 1950s by fiddler Lonnie Peerce, the Bluegrass Alliance performed until the late 1970s. The band was re-formed in 1998 by banjoist Barry Palmer. Carter฀Family,฀The The Carter Family, from Virginia, left more of a mark on country music than practically anyone else. A. P. Carter collected hundreds of folk and country songs, performing them with his wife Sara and sister-in-law Maybelle. Those songs later became part of the standard repertoire of folk, country, bluegrass, and even rock performers. Maybelle’s guitar playing, called “Carter picking,” also set the standard for guitar players for many years afterward. Beginning in the 1920s, the Carters performed and recorded for nearly half a century. Though changes in personnel took place, the music always remained in the family. Some of the Carter Family’s more famous songs include “Wabash Cannonball ” and “Wildwood Flower.” In 1970 they were the first group inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Cline,฀Curly฀Ray Curly Ray Cline was born in the early 1920s in West Virginia. As a youth he was inspired by Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith. In 1938 he and his brother Ezra organized the legendary Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. In 1963 he joined the Stanley Brothers. He continued to play with Ralph Stanley after Carter Stanley died. Cline retired from the music business in 1993. Cooke,฀Jack Jack Cooke played bass with Carter and Ralph Stanley in 1955. He was a Blue Grass Boy from 1956–1960, serving as lead vocalist. After performing with several other groups, Cooke returned to the Clinch Mountain Boys in 1970. Ralph Stanley often introduced him on stage as “the ex-mayor of Norton, Virginia ,” because Cooke served a half-term as mayor of Norton (his hometown and lifelong residence) in 1963. Country฀Gentlemen,฀The Formed in the late 1950s in the Washington, D. C., area, the Country Gentlemen played traditional bluegrass as well as contemporary country and music from other genres. In 1959, the most classic and memorable lineup of musicians included Charlie Waller (guitar), John Duffey (mandolin and Dobro), former Blue Grass boy Eddie Adcock (banjo), and Tom Gray (bass). The group recorded with Starday, Folkways, Mercury, and Rebel Records. Dillards,฀The The original Dillards band consisted of Missourians Doug...