Started going to the West Virginia State Folk Festival in June of 1973, and played with these folks:
Melvin Wine
Wilson Douglas
Glen Smith
Lee Triplett
JP Fraley (often attended)

Good bunch there, Carl!
Since the video was about Bill Monroe fiddle tunes, Lamar Grier once told me that when Bill Monroe came up with a new tune he wanted the band to learn, on the bus he would not only play or sing the tune, but actually show Lamar where to place his fingers on the banjo fretboard to play the melody.

Once I had the pleasure of meeting a 'hero' before I knew he was famous... Yep.. I had an 'everybody invited ' jam at my house. This guy who I didn't know showed up and played his beautifully inlaid banjo.. He was quiet and unassuming.. Later, during a snack break someone came up to me and said, "How did you get HIM to come to this jam?" I replied, "HIM? Who are you talking about?" My friend said, "KEN PERLMAN, one of the most famous banjo players around.." I'd never heard of him until that day. Over the next few months I crossed paths with Ken and came to realise that he was the ultimate gentleman and I got to have him as a 'hero' after the fact..

Well, fame is relative - there are only a handful of entertainers, athletes, and politicians who are famous in the old-fashioned sense; that is to say, that virtually everyone has at least heard of them. The rest of the hotshots and bigshots are just famous among aficionados. JP Cormier talks about how excited everyone was that he'd played with 'Rod Stewart', when it was actually Marty Stuart ... Marty who, you say??

I first encountered Ken Perlman in relation to his work on the PEI fiddlers; I recall Gordon Stobbe trying to impress upon me what a big deal Ken Perlman was in the banjo world, and me trying to impress Gordon Stobbe with how impressed I was by learning this ... you know, Gordon Stobbe, right? The famous fiddle guy? Impressed?

My eldest son works in a music store, and he's got lots of stories about some 'famous' person coming in, with a hanger-on who is desperate to bring the staff up to speed about what a big deal this person is ... it's all relative ... !

Since two people on this thread actually know him as a friend, it seems silly, but I've played a few times with Walt Koken because he's friends with the folks I get to camp with at Clifftop, he's a heck of a nice guy. I've had the pleasure of sitting next to Carlb in a C jam. He's a mighty fine player and I really enjoyed that afternoon as well as any time we've shared a jam. Took a small class with Alan Jabbour and later took part in a very small jam (6 others? something like that) with him and Ken Perlman. Really, Clifftop sort of shows what regular people everyone playing old time are. There is a who's who of the old time "heavy hitters" in attendance and everyone is approachable - I've chatted with Charlie Walden while camping in line for the opening of the gates there. Heck, FHO's very own DougD is a celebrity, though most of us only "know" him via this community. 

I've had the opportunity to play with a few notables in the 40+ years I have been playing fiddle. Jay Unger for one, back in the late 70's, we did a few gigs where I played either bass or second fiddle. Jammed with the Highwoods String Band in that period too; we had hired them to play a gig at a bar located DEEP in the woods, and after it was done we jammed for what seemed like hours. Met and played Vassar's fiddle, after I won the local fiddle contest. When I was first learning, jam sessions in Central Part, NYC, back in the early 70's, usually had a number of notables in the 'inner' circle.
There is probably more, but CRS sets in when trying to recall stuff. CRS - Cain't remember s**t.

There was a time. Probably ten years prior to the start of my journey, where you could walk up and chat with Sam Bush, or John Hartford, et. al. When I started, there were still festivals every weekend all summer long. But if you think about it, the demise of the music festival coincided with the coming of the internet. The younger people that would possibly help the music festivals grow didn't feel like it was worth going anywhere. While the old guard just started dying off. I got in on the tail end of the festival jams, and I'm glad I did. There may have been some famous folks in those jams, but it wasn't cool to girf all over them. After all, they just wanted to jam, too. You know when you have a ringer in your midst. The funny thing is, they don't flaunt their talent. They always leave room for everyone else.

I hear that. Another notable was Fred Travers (Dobro) of the Seldom Scene along with Dudley, both of these guys parked beside us and they were so kind and thoughtful. They offered up conversation and even made our set the following day as promised. I really fell out of the music scene for many years but it was nice to rub elbows with the pros and be around it all.

Al - You've got me wondering - where was that bar DEEP in the woods where we played? We didn't play too many bars because the economics usually weren't feasible, so I still remember some of them.
Curious in TN.

Hey Doug! Yep DEEP in the woods, like the road to this place was not even a road at some points, just bare shelving rock you drove over and hoped there was actual road at the other end. The place was called "Smitty's", it was outside New Paltz, NY, in the Shawangunk mountains. We, the Split Rock River Rats, opened for you guys, and then jammed until who knows when. One of the best musical times of my life. Would have been around 1974 or so?

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

Once I had the pleasure of meeting a 'hero' before I knew he was famous... Yep.. I had an 'everybody invited ' jam at my house. This guy who I didn't know showed up and played his beautifully inlaid banjo.. He was quiet and unassuming.. Later, during a snack break someone came up to me and said, "How did you get HIM to come to this jam?" I replied, "HIM? Who are you talking about?" My friend said, "KEN PERLMAN, one of the most famous banjo players around.." I'd never heard of him until that day. Over the next few months I crossed paths with Ken and came to realise that he was the ultimate gentleman and I got to have him as a 'hero' after the fact..

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I took banjo lessons from Ken for a year and a half, maybe two. That included the two summer when he was doing his PEI field collections. If it weren't for Ken I doubt I would have stuck with it. Unfortunately I've lost all my banjo chops!

I do remember Jon from the days he visted the Netherlands.

First time I guess was in Del McCoury's band and the second time with Bob Paysley.

It's long ago, so I might be mxing up things.

Anyway, he was a kind person. Appreciative to us, relative newbee players from a different continent.

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Originally posted by RB-1

I do remember Jon from the days he visted the Netherlands.

First time I guess was in Del McCoury's band and the second time with Bob Paysley.

It's long ago, so I might be mxing up things.

Anyway, he was a kind person. Appreciative to us, relative newbee players from a different continent.

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Very cool. Some of the local players around me talk about this guy and praise him pretty high. Then I started paying attention to his recordings recently, those with Del and next thing ya know, I'm meeting him. 

Some of the fiddlers named bring to mind Bill Poffinberger (RIP). Anyone ever hear him or meet him?

He was one of the most inventive bluegrass fiddlers I've seen/heard. I met him and asked him for some fiddling tips back when I was afraid to take my fiddle out into public.

Here's Bill P. with some legendary bluegrass characters. https://youtu.be/8z0cz5nY33w

Jimmy Arnold !

Maybe I have influences more than heroes, but other fiddler heroes I've met include Irish fiddlers Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Ciarn Tourish of Altan, Martin Hayes

Bluegrassers: Stuart Duncan, Jason Carter, James Price RIP

Local old tim: e JC Hollis, Grover Broadwater, Woody Simmons, Elmer Rich, Joe Coe, Bobby Taylor, Alan and Phil Birkby. Probably more.

Still one of my favorite fiddlers to listen to would be Bill Poffinberger.

Ever meet your fiddle heroes?

i do, every time i meet a dedicated fiddler. They are either what i was, what i want to be, or what i am,  And will find a way of getting as far as they can, by hook or by crook, all are fiddling heroes of mine....including myself for trying!

i honestly love playing fiddle...And i reckon that's all it takes to be a fiddler..Beginner or accomplished....Just keep at it as hard as you can, until you can't no more.

quote:

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Originally posted by Shawn Craver Fiddler

Some of the fiddlers named bring to mind Bill Poffinberger (RIP). Anyone ever hear him or meet him?

He was one of the most inventive bluegrass fiddlers I've seen/heard. I met him and asked him for some fiddling tips back when I was afraid to take my fiddle out into public.

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I have heard of him. 

quote:

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Originally posted by Shawn Craver Fiddler

Maybe I have influences more than heroes, but other fiddler heroes I've met include Irish fiddlers Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Ciarn Tourish of Altan, Martin Hayes

Bluegrassers: Stuart Duncan, Jason Carter, James Price RIP

Local old tim: e JC Hollis, Grover Broadwater, Woody Simmons, Elmer Rich, Joe Coe, Bobby Taylor, Alan and Phil Birkby. Probably more.

Still one of my favorite fiddlers to listen to would be Bill Poffinberger.

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I met Jason C before I started fiddle but what a nice fellow! 

can't say he knows me, but i've met him. yep, great guy! used to see him a lot when i lived in the northern shenandoah valley.

I almost forgot. I live an hour away from Dwight "Red" Lamb. He's listed in the National Registry etc. Don't know how much he plays anymore. Not only is he a fine fellar and fiddler, he recorded Cyril Stinnett and others. Back when video was expensive, he knew how important it was.

I have "met" a number of fiddlers I admire a lot - at workshops and small concerts. Trevor Stuart is one I am proud to have shaken hands with before he left us. The Stuart Brothers are definitely a big influence on me.

My favorite fiddler that I personally know? I had the great pleasure of playing in a band with Kalia Yeagle for a while, She is now teaching Appalachian fiddle at East Tennessee State University. What a talent! Wonderful stage presence and great all-around friend. Her dad (Bill) played mandolin. Great time.

I have had the incredibly good fortune to meet a number of my musician heros!

Boys of the Lough -great guys! Aly Bain, Cathal McConnell - can't remember the others, but we had one heck of an after-concert house party that lasted until daybreak!!! Also, when I lived in Austin, Tx, we brought in Dave Swarbick, John McCutcheon, Kevin Burke, Malcom Daglish &Grey Larson and others. What a time!!

Riders in the Sky - Woody Paul (fiddle), especially, was incredibly generous and kind during my early years!

Art Gailbraith, Taylor McBain, Fred Stoneking were the well-known Missouri fiddlers I met in MtnView, AR. Also Grandpa and Ramona Jones who lived there.

Smokey Montgomery (tenor banjo) of the Light Crust Doughboys just before he passed around 2002. I know, not a fiddle hero, but come on. The Light Crust Doughboys represented Burrus Mills and Elevator Company in Ft. Worth. EVERYBODY knew them!

The band I was in at the time in the mid-90s, PigAnkle, opened for Bruce Molsky at the Ozark Folk Center in Mtn View. That was an ego trip!!

...and Kirk Hunter is a hero I have had the pleasure of meeting and playing tunes with.   

I did get to jam with Tim Crouch a few months ago... He is certainly a first class fiddler / all round musician, and very down to earth, humble gentleman.