Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – Masters of Old-Time Music Fundraising Concert, 6:15 PM
Join us at Oklawaha Brewing Company for an evening of mountain music with Roger Howell (fiddle and guitar) and George Gibson (banjo) to support the JAM (Junior Appalachain Musicans) Kids of Henderson County.
Legendary banjo artist George R. Gibson is a master musician, collector, historian and nationally known authority on banjo history in the Upland South. Born in Knott County, Kentucky, he learned to play and sing songs (in the old tunings) from his father and neighbors. With multiple recordings on Appalshop’s prestigious June Appal label, Gibson said of his recording “Last Possum Up the Tree,” “I believe that continuing to play banjo was my way of holding on to a past that I glimpsed only briefly. That past is part of a world and time in Knott County that has vanished forever. As far as I know, I am the last person left playing the old Burgeys Creek banjo music. I am the last possum up the tree.” His performances and playing reflect his powerful skill and thoughtfully charming demeanor. George Gibson is now a resident of Henderson County and brings his many years of knowledge to the community. He has performed for the JAM kids in their classroom and graciously donates this rare performance for their benefit.
Roger Howell grew up and still lives on Banjo Branch, on Bailey Mountain, near Mars Hill in Madison County. Neighbors played string band music and his dad bought him a Kay electric guitar. He quickly mastered Travis-style picking and about the same time picked up the banjo. In later years he learned fiddle from regional fiddlers Tommy Hunter and Woodrow Boone. In 1967, he met famed “minstrel of the mountains” Bascom Lamar Lunsford who encouraged his playing. Across the years Howell became friend and played with legendary fiddlers like Fletcher Bright, John Hartford, and Charlie Acuff. Awards line the walls of his luthier’s shop, including first place fiddle (many times) at festivals like Fiddlers Grove, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, the North Carolina Mountain State Fair and first place in banjo at the Georgia Mountain Fair. He appears on over 30 recordings including his solo CD “Hills & Heroes” (JAM kids director Carol Rifkin appears on guitar and vocals) Fiddler for the Carroll Best String Band, the Carolina Old-Timers and the Bailey Mountain Ramblers , he has also played weekly with fiddler Bobby Hicks for many years. In 2015, the North Carolina Folklore Society honored Roger Howell with the prestigious Brown-Hudson Folklore Award for his work in preserving and celebrating regional music traditions. JAM kids are ever grateful for the many instruments he has so kindly donated his time to restore or repair at his Bailey Mountain fiddle shop on Banjo Branch and look forward to his performance.
JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) kids of Henderson Co. Henderson County Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM kids) is operated by FBVMA and is an after-school program for children ages 8-17 to learn regional mountain music and dance. JAM kids learn music through small group instruction on instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as the fiddle, banjo, and guitar. Students learn songs, participate in group “all-play” and string band classes, learning regional music and making friends along the way. The Henderson County JAM is an affiliate of the parent organization JAM but is locally operated and funded. Henderson County JAM kids are taught by well-known regional instructors well versed in the music. Classes currently meet approximately at 1-6 pm Tuesdays at the Henderson County Parks and Recreation Center at 708 South Grove Street in Hendersonville.
FBVMAmail@gmail.com, https://frenchbroadvalleymusic.org/jam-kids/
This event and others is produced by the French Broad Valley Music Assoc., a 501-c3 non-profit that administers JAM kids and hosts a free and family friendly weekly music session 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays in downtown Hendersonville, NC. Nationally known artist Carol Rifkin is FBVMA and JAM kids executive director.
Tickets: regular $10, seated $20, VIP $25, Event Brite online or door
Charitable donations can be made on the website or by mail to FBVMA, PO Box 914, Horseshoe, NC 28742. More on website at https://frenchbroadvalleymusic.org or email fbvmamail@gmail.com for more information or interviews.
