Fiddle culture and history

Fiddling with life and learning with the occasional dad joke thrown in...  

 

Frailin’ with Folk Legend Obrah Ramsey

Here’s a cool YouTube documentary on a banjo player named Obray Ramsey. Gotta love the title: “This Mountain Man Singing Banjo Picker Makes Me Dance & Sing. & He will Do That To You As Well” Obray Ramsey was a master of the banjo and a major player in the world of folk music. Born … Continued

Joe Cooley: Irish Music Legend

This was written by guest blogger Robin Stem. Joe Cooley was born the son of two melodeon players in Peterswell, Galway, Ireland in 1924. By age 10 he took up the famed Irish-button accordion. He played with the St. Patrick’s Amateur Band, Tulla, in the 40’s and 50’s, along with Galway fiddler, Joe Leary. In … Continued

Frailin’ with Folk Legend Obrah Ramsey

Here’s a cool YouTube documentary on a banjo player named Obray Ramsey. Obray Ramsey was a total boss on the banjo and a major player in the world of folk music. Born in North Carolina in 1926, he started playing the banjo at a young age and quickly developed a unique style that mixed traditional … Continued

America Fiddles – The Early Days

Written by Jim Guinn The Early Days Long a popular European musical instrument and because it was small and easily portable, the fiddle found its way to America packed away in the meager possessions of the first explorers, traders, and settlers to our shores. For years, the fiddle was virtually the only instrument found on … Continued