88.5 WFDD - Eddie Bond

This week’s rebroadcast of a 2017 show celebrates fiddler Eddie Bond’s receipt of a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Bond fronts The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters, a powerful and charming old time mountain string band with a rich history. Hear the band with Eddie Bond’s fiddling, singing and hilarious storytelling on this Across the Blue Ridge episode. Eddie Bond Fiddler Eddie Bond of the New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters has received a 2018 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. The award recognizes tradition bearers for their outstanding artistry and for both preserving traditions and moving them forward. On this encore broadcast, we hear a fabulous Muddy Creek Music Hall stage performance from The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters, one of the finest mountain string bands performing today. Hailing from southwest Virginia, the band is a dyed-in-the-wool old time group with a stylish sound and a driving beat you will love. Its name harks back to the original Bogtrotters, a highly popular band of the 1930s and 1940s centered around the famously musical Ward family of Ballard’s Branch. The current band’s founder, Dennis Hall, can lay good claim to the name: He was raised practically steps from the home of one of the original Bogtrotter fiddlers, and he’s played since childhood. Hear the music and the history, plus a hilarious story from fiddler Eddie Bond about how he came to reconcile traditional religion with playing “the Devil’s Box” – the fiddle.   Playlist Sugar Hill The Buck Mountain Band The Original Bogtrotters Biograph   Polly Put The Kettle On The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters Same Branch, Different Trotters Heritage   Pole Cat Blues The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Red Rocking Chair The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Lee Highway Blues The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Hop Light Ladies The Bogtrotters The Original Bogtrotters Biograph   Break 1 - Cluck Old Hen The Bogtrotters The Original Bogtrotters Biograph   Susan Anna Gal The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Staggerlee The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Interview - The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   John Brown's Dream The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Break 2 - Piney Woods Girl of North Carolina The Bogtrotters The Original Bogtrotters Biograph   The Sweetest Gift The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Durang's Hornpipe The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Reuben's Train The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Jimmy Sutton The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Story does not include AP content #atbr #new ballard’s branch bogtrotters #eddie bond #dennis hall Music & Culture Normal Tweet

The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters, a powerful and charming old time mountain string band with a rich history, are our featured performers on this episode of Across the Blue Ridge. L-R Josh Ellis, Eddie Bond, Dennis Hall, Bonnie Bond, Caroline Beverly. Paul Brown This week we hear a fabulous Muddy Creek Music Hall stage performance from The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters, one of the finest mountain string bands performing today. Hailing from southwest Virginia, this band is a dyed-in-the-wool old time group with a stylish sound and a driving beat you will love. Its name harks back to the original Bogtrotters, a highly popular band of the 1930s and 1940s centered around the famously musical Ward family of Ballard Branch. The current band’s founder, Dennis Hall, can lay good claim to the name: He was raised practically steps from the home of one of the original Bogtrotter fiddlers, and he’s played since childhood. Hear the music and the history, plus a hilarious story from fiddler Eddie Bond about how he came to reconcile traditional religion with playing “the Devil’s Box” – the fiddle. Playlist Sugar Hill The Buck Mountain Band The Original Bogtrotters   Polly Put The Kettle On The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters Same Branch, Different Trotters   Pole Cat Blues The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Red Rocking Chair The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Lee Highway Blues The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Hop Light Ladies The Bogtrotters The Original Bogtrotters   Break 1 - Cluck Old Hen The Bogtrotters The Original Bogtrotters   Susan Anna Gal The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Staggerlee The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Interview The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   John Brown's Dream The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Break 2 - Piney Woods Girl of North Carolina The Bogtrotters The Original Bogtrotters   The Sweetest Gift The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Durang's Hornpipe The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Reuben's Train The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording   Jimmy Sutton The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters ATBR recording #atbr #the new ballard’s branch bogtrotters #ward family #dennis hall #eddie bond Music & Culture Normal Tweet

Curly Seckler has helped establish the tradition of bluegrass harmony singing, and is also a great lead singer. Flatt & Scruggs TV show frame, 1950s This week we examine the career of bluegrass singer Curly Seckler, who turns 97 on Christmas Day 2016.  A new biography is out by Penny Parsons, titled Foggy Mountain Troubadour: The Life And Music Of Curly Seckler. Raised on a North Carolina farm, Seckler started playing on local radio with his brothers in Salisbury, NC – and before long had joined Charlie Monroe’s band.  He eventually settled in with Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, where with his high yet silky tenor, he did as much to establish the tradition of bluegrass harmony singing as anyone. We hear some of Curly’s reminiscences, comments from biographer Parsons, musical and historical context from host Paul Brown to stitch the story together, and lots of memorably great music.  Also on this week’s show: Eddie Bond and the New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters; Alice Gerrard; Larry Stephenson; and Lightnin’ Wells. Episode 49 Playlist Foggy Mountain Breakdown Earl Scruggs Flatt & Scruggs 1947-59 Vol. 1   Waves On The Ocean New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters Bogtrotter Blues   Sweet Sunny South Larry Stephenson Larry Stephenson Webco Classics Vol. 5   Old Virginia Hills Alice Gerrard Calling Me Home   Prodigal Son Lightnin' Wells Shake 'Em On Down   Break 1 - Old Salty Dog Blues Flatt & Scruggs Flatt & Scruggs 1947-59 Vol. 1   That Old Book Of Mine Curly Seckler Bluegrass, Don't You Know?   No Letter In The Mail Sauceman Brothers with Curly Seckler The Sauceman Brothers on WCYB Bristol   Interview with Curly Seckler Penny Parsons field recording   No Depression in Heaven Charlie Monroe & The Kentucky Pardners Single   Interview with Penny Parsons ATBR recording   Why Don't You Tell Me So Flatt & Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys Flatt & Scruggs 1947-59 Vol. 1   Pike County Breakdown Flatt & Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys Flatt & Scruggs 1947-59 Vol. 1   Break 2 - We Can't Be Darlings Anymore Curly Seckler Bluegrass, Don't You Know?   No Mother Or Dad No Mother Or Dad Flatt & Scruggs 1947-59 Vol. 1   Interview with Curly Seckler Penny Parsons field recording   Why Did You Wander Curly Seckler Bluegrass, Don't You Know?   Katy Hill Curly Seckler & Tater Tate Bluegrass, Don't You Know?   Moonlight On My Cabin Curly Seckler That Old Book Of Mine   I've Got A Home In The Beulah Land Curly Seckler & Tommy Scott radio transcription #atbr #penny parsons #foggy mountain troubadour: the life and music of curly seckler #eddie bond #alice gerrard #larry stephenson #lightnin’ wells. Music & Culture Normal Tweet

Clinch Mountain Boys 1980: L-R Curly Ray Cline, Junior Blankenship, Ralph Stanley, Charlie Sizemore, Jack Cooke. Bluegrasstoday.com by Fred Robbins http://bluegrasstoday.com/charlie-sizemore-remembers-jack-cooke/ This week we feature some outstanding string band music from the New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters of southwest Virginia, with powerful singing, fiddling and autoharp playing from Eddie Bond.  Also, some wonderful West Virginia fiddle tunes from the Sky Island String Band, featuring the outstanding Jimmy Triplett on fiddle.  We also continue our remembrance of mountain music great Ralph Stanley, who died recently at age 89.  In this week’s segments, we hear 1960 Stanley Brothers radio performances; some hot music from the Clinch Mountain Boys in one of their strongest periods, the early 1970s, when Ricky Skaggs, Roy Lee Centers, Curly Ray Cline, Jack Cooke and Keith Whitley were in the band; and music from the extremely strong 1970s-80s band including Charlie Sizemore, Curly Ray Cline and Junior Blankenship.  Also featured, some poignant and compelling thoughts about Ralph Stanley the musician and the man from Sizemore, drawn from an interview a number of years ago with Across the Blue Ridge host Paul Brown. Episode 28 Playlist Johnson City Rag – New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters Bogtrotter Blues Independent Release 2014   Storms On The Ocean -- New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters Bogtrotter Blues Independent Release 2014   Little Lyzie Jane – Sky Island String Band Adventures In Old Cranberry Bemlar 2016   The Lost Girl -- Sky Island String Band Adventures In Old Cranberry Bemlar 2016   Lonesome For You – Ginny Hawker & Tracy Schwarz Draw Closer Rounder 2009   Shake That Thing – Mississippi John Hurt Revisited Varese Sarabande 2006   BREAK 1 Pretty Little Indian – Curly Ray Cline Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mtn. Boys 1971-73 Vol. 3 Rebel 1995   Theme – Stanley Brothers Stanley Brothers on Radio County 1995   Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms – Stanley Brothers Stanley Brothers on Radio County 1995   A Few More Seasons – Stanley Brothers Stanley Brothers on Radio County 1995   Love Me Darling Just Tonight – Stanley Brothers Stanley Brothers on Radio County 1995   Black Mountain Blues – Chubby Anthony Stanley Brothers on Radio County 1995   Old Country Church – Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys 1971-73 Vol. 3 Rebel 1995   Give Me The Roses Now – Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys 1971-73 Vol. 3 Rebel 1995   BREAK 2 Sally Goodin’ – Curly Ray Cline Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys 1971-73 Vol. 2 Rebel 1995   Sharecropper’s Son – Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys Lonesome & Blue Rebel 2011   Charlie Sizemore Interview Across the Blue Ridge recording   Old Richmond Prison – Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys Lonesome & Blue Rebel 2011   Charlie Sizemore Interview Across the Blue Ridge recording   I’ll Take The Blame – Ralph Stanley & Rhonda Vincent Clinch Mountain Country Disc 1 Rebel 1997   Charlie Sizemore Interview Across the Blue Ridge recording   Room At The Top Of The Stairs – Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys Lonesome & Blue Rebel 2011   Come On Little Children – Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys Ralph Stanley 1971-73 Disc 1 Rebel 1995 #atbr #charlie sizemore #curly ray cline #junior blankenship #ricky skaggs #roy lee centers #jack cooke #keith whitley #new ballard’s branch bogtrotters #clinch mountain boys #eddie bond #sky island string band #jimmy triplett #ralph stanley Music & Culture Normal Tweet