musical instruments of the southern appalachian mountains: part 1

Well,

I am back in The Big Crapple

yet still thinking about 

and missing

the Blue Ridge Mountains that we got to stare 

at lovingly every night.

So, here are some shots, well, 

a BUNCH

of shots, from a book I found down there.

It is a really amazing book, and I had never seen it before,

but apparently it's not that rare.

I highly suggest you buy yourself a copy....

There are so many cool pictures in the book that I decided to do a 

part 1

featuring the people, the players and a 

part 2

featuring the amazing instruments.

I tried to edit the shots down for one post,

but I just couldn't...

This is Clyde Fox

Fiddle Maker

Stillman Lambert

Fiddle Maker

Fiddlin' Bill Sievers

of the Tennessee Ramblers

The original Tennessee Ramblers

From left:

Bill, his daughter Willie, his son Mack, and

Jerry Taylor on the mandolin.

Renda Whitaker

Banjo Maker and resident of

Lick Skillet, Tennessee.

Dow Pugh

Artist and Ham Can Banjo Maker.

Tater Hole Joe Johnson

Banjo Player and Hermit.

Earl Blackwell

Banjo Picker

The Great Alex Stewart

Mouth Bow Player.

The late Lawrence Warwick

of Dark Hollow, Tennessee.

Mouth Bow Picker

Mrs Carrico

with the family Dulcimer.

(Notice it has no fingerboard.)

Earl Mullins

playing his mother Dora Mullins'

Dulcimer with bow.

(Very rare)

The bow is strung with hair from a Mule's tail.

Made by Willie Speaks of Powell River, Tennessee.

George Allen Johnson

Dulcimer Maker and Player.

(Unidentified gentleman  in background.)

Sallie Swor 

with a rare (in Appalachia)

Humle.

Jean Schilling

Famous Dulcimer Player

(As famous as one gets playin' a Dulcimer.)

Hobart Hoskins

of 

Hoskins Hollow (on Cow Creek) in

Anderson County Tennessee.

Gourd Trumpet Player

Noah Kinney

Hub Cap Banjo Player and Maker

Charles Kinney

(Noah's Brother)

Fiddle Player and Maker

(He did not make the fiddle he is playing.)

Elaine Irwin Meter

with "the most beautiful dulcimer ever viewed."

Dulcimer Players

at

Pineville, Kentucky

1970