88.5 WFDD - Benton Flippen: Recent Episodes
David Ford
Samuel Turner Stevens (left) and Tim Duffy (right) playing in Leicester, NC in 1998, four years after the formation of Music Makers Relief Foundation. Photo courtesy of Tim Duffy.
“We Are The Music Makers” is the current exhibit at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center featuring portrait photography of Southern roots musicians by Tim Duffy. After studying folklore at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duffy co-founded Music Maker Relief Foundation to assist aging artists in need — providing money for food and medicine. He’s also brought them to new audiences, releasing nearly 2,500 songs, and arranging over 7,000 concerts. Since 1994, Duffy’s non-profit has supported hundreds of extraordinary performers, ensuring that their unique voices will not be silenced by poverty and time.
Blues and R&B singer/pianist Ironing Board Sam (Sammie Moore) from Rock Hill, SC joined the Music Maker family in 2010. Photo by Tim Duffy
Duffy will speak Thursday evening about the musicians he’s befriended, and the music they’ve left behind. On Friday, the new Music Maker CD “Blue Muse” will be released in celebration of the organization's 25th anniversary.
"Every artist is their own thing, and there's an old saying: 'When one of these artists passes, it's like a great university library has burned down.' They have so much cultural knowledge and so many songs," says Duffy. "So, they're like a lot of American geniuses you know that are walking right amongst you and your community...these people are in my opinion some of our greatest, holding onto some of our greatest cultural resources in the history and knowledge, and they just make you feel great when you hear them play."
WFDD’s David Ford caught up with Duffy near his home in Hillsborough.
Interview Highlights On Mt. Airy old-time fiddler Benton Flippen:
I lived in Pinnacle, North Carolina and he lived in Mount Airy. He was one of my neighbors, and he was a great old-time fiddler that played square dances every weekend in his community.
Mt. Airy old-time fiddler Benton Flippen 2006. Photo by Tim Duffy.
But his fiddle style was truly inventive and amazing. He improvised with a lot of bluesy licks played very fast and it was like a combination of bluegrass and old time music mixed together. He was just a fabulous man that spent his life working in a sock factory, working hard to support his family and playing the music on his weekends. And he loved being part of the Music Makers. We'd have big picnics with all the blues players and Benton, and we'd all sit there and play together and have a good time. He represented what we do: a working class fella that retired and all he wanted was to play music. And he had medical bills, prescription medicine that he could not afford – and we were able to help him for many years afford his needed prescription drugs, and we were very proud to do that.
On Mississippi blues guitarist Dr. G.B. Burt:
He's from Birmingham, Alabama, and he was a very special man. His mother was very active in the civil rights movement. He was a Freedom Rider. He organized marches in Detroit. He was actually almost assassinated. Someone tried to shoot him, but they missed his head and hit his thumb, which affected his hands. He spent his life playing little house parties in Birmingham. And when we met him, we took him to Lincoln Center and went to Australia and throughout Europe, and people were just blown away by his performances. He was a very tall fellow. And when he walked on stage he had such a Buddha-like peaceful aura. People would give him a standing ovation before he started playing.
Blues guitarist and singer Dr. G.B. Burt in 2009. Photo taken by Tim Duffy in Birmingham, Alabama.
Then he became quite popular in southern France and played there quite often. He actually had murals on the walls and streets of Paris and it was just amazing. He walked into a museum and a curator said, "Look up," and Dr. Burt looked up onto the ceiling and there was a picture of Dr. Burt that I had taken – the one that's in [at the exhibition], and the curator said, "When people come here they'll always have to look up to you, Dr. Burt." And Dr. Burt was so proud of that. And when he told me that, it gave me the idea to start doing exhibitions and getting these people's faces that I had grown to love onto museum and cultural institution's walls so other people could see who they were. I was so busy making records I hadn't thought about the visual aspect, but just to see these faces is sometimes just as important as hearing their music.
On North Carolina singer Willa Mae Buckner:
I spent a lot of time in Winston-Salem, up and down Cleveland Avenue, and I was at a drink house. A drink house is like what in Mississippi you'd call a juke joint where you're selling dollar shots of liquor and dollar beers. They're pretty much community centers and people gather. And in walked Willa Mae Buckner when Guitar Gabriel and I were playing. And she did this bawdy song, and then did a string of them, and cursed like a sailor and we had so much fun. And I had heard about her. But she was known as the snake lady, and no one would take me to her house because she lived with two gigantic pythons that roamed freely in her house. And I went to visit her and, in fact, that was true.
Winston-Salem singer Willa Mae Buckner and her pet Siam (wrapped around her head) taken in 1994. Photo by Tim Duffy.
I think in that picture in the exhibit, if you look closely, it looks like a headband, but it's a white albino python wrapped around her head. Music Maker used to buy her frozen rats when she was too poor to feed them. And I actually watched her feed frozen rats by hand to these pythons. And she had wonderful stories. She used to travel around in a panel truck with a chimpanzee in the passenger seat and 27 snakes in cages in the back. And she'd get to a country road and she would let all the snakes out for a walk, and she'd hide behind a bush and they looked for momma and they couldn't see her, and they'd whoosh back into the truck. Just an amazing lady! And she was a city bus driver for Winston. And the greatest accomplishment I think we did [was] when we got her a show at Carnegie Hall with Guitar Gabriel called Circus Blues. The promoter got all these old acts that used to play in the sideshows of circuses. So I just love Willa Mae Buckner. She was one of my best friends.
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Story does not include AP content
music maker relief foundation #tim duffy #southern roots musicians #yadkin cultural arts center #willa mae buckner #dr. g.b. burt #benton flippen
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Frank Bode (second from left) played with most of the top old time string bands in northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia. His music is featured on this edition of Across the Blue Ridge. (L-R Barbara Poole, Frank Bode, Ginger Bode, Terri McMurray, Paul Brown, Verlen Clifton)
Bettie Clifton
This week, we hear a fine selection of bluegrass and old time songs and tunes. Melodic bluegrass banjo player Alan Munde; singers Dale Ann Bradley and Emily Spencer; and ace fiddle-banjo duet Johnny Warren and Charlie Cushman get things started. And we celebrate the music of Frank Bode, an early performer on Across the Blue Ridge back in the 1980s and 1990s and a singing and guitar-picking stalwart of award winning bands in the Blue Ridge region. He passed away recently at age 77. Listen to Frank with host Paul Brown and the Toast String Stretchers; with Benton Flippen and the Smokey Valley Boys; with Robert Sykes and the Surry County Boys; and with renowned North Carolina fiddler Tommy Jarrell. Whether it was fiddle tunes, gospel songs, or guitar-mandolin instrumentals, he turned in compelling performances. Fortunately, many were recorded, and we sample the trove this week.
Episode 58 Playlist
- Tennessee Wagoner
Alan Munde
Bue Ridge Express 2. Rain On The Roof
Dale Ann Bradley
Old Southern Porches 3. Fortune
Camp Creek Boys
Old Time String Band 4. Katy Cline
Kyle Creed & Emily Spencer
Liberty 5. Rose In The Mountain
Adam Hurt
Artifacts 6. Going Down The Road Feelin' Bad
John Jackson
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down 7. Sippin' The Whiskey
Johnny Warren & Charlie Cushman
Purely Instrumental 8. Break 1 - Zeke Backus' Waltz
James Bryan & Carl Jones
Two Pictures 9. Tempy
Toast String Stretchers
Wanted! 10. Little Maggie
Toast String Stretchers
Wanted! 11. Rank Stranger
Frank Bode
Been Riding With Old Mosby 12. Let Me Fall
Frank Bode
field recording 13. More Pretty Girls Than One
Benton Flippen
Old Time New Times 14. Break 2 - Redwing
ASH & F
From The Old School 15. Freight Train
Toast String Stretchers
Wanted! 16. Old Crossroads
Robert Sykes & The Surry County Boys
Black-Eyed Susan 17. Black-Eyed Susan
Robert Sykes & The Surry County Boys
Black-Eyed Susan 18. Sunny Side Of The Mountain
Frank Bode
Been Riding With Old Mosby 19. Piney Woods Gal
Tommy Jarrell & Frank Bode
Been Riding With Old Mosby
atbr #alan munde #dale ann bradley #emily spencer #johnny warren #charlie cushman #frank bode #toast string stretchers #benton flippen #smokey valley boys #robert sykes and the surry county boys #tommy jarrell
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Brothers Sam (l.) and Kirk (r.) McGee with Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, early stars of the Grand Ole Opry whose music continues to influence roots music players today.
Grand Ole Opry
This week’s Across the Blue Ridge gives us a sense of the continuity of an important southern American fiddling tradition. Host Paul Brown traces the influence of Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith and the McGee Brothers, early Grand Ole Opry stars, on fiddlers of later generations. Along the way, we hear great fiddling from John Dykes, Chubby Wise, Ralph Blizard, Benton Flippen and Andy Edmonds. Also on this week’s show, samples of some great new recordings from Courtney Granger; Joe K. Walsh; Zoe & Cloyd; Arnie Naiman; and Gillian Welch.
Episode 46 Playlist
- Billy In The Lowground
Sam & Kirk McGee
Live 1955-67 2. Milk 'Em In The Morning Blues
Sam & Kirk McGee
Live 1955-67 3. Cheatham County Breakdown
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners
Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners 4. What Does The Deep Sea Say?
Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers
Southern Ramble 5. Lost Indian
Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers
Southern Ramble 6. Tennessee Girls
Dykes' Magic City Trio
78 RPM disc 7. Break 1 - Bonaparte's Retreat
Mac Benford
Half Past Four 8. Pretty Little Girl
Benton Flippen & The Smokey Valley Boys
Benton Flippen Old Time New Times 9. More Pretty Girls Than One
Benton Flippen & The Smokey Valley Boys
Benton Flippen Old Time New Times 10. House Of David Blues
Andy Edmonds
Me And My Fiddle 11. Dark Hollow
Buckstankle Boys
Round Peak Home 12. Stone's Rag
Chubby Wise
An American Original 13. Break 2 - That There Boogie
Karen Collins & The Backroads Band
No Yodeling On The Radio 14. Lovin' On Backstreets
Courtney Granger
Beneath Still Waters 15. Never More Will Roam
Joe K. Walsh
Borderland 16. South River Dam
Arnie Naiman
My Lucky Stars 17. Lazy Man Blues
Zoe & Cloyd
Equinox 18. Dry Town
Gillian Welch
Boots No. 1: The Official Revival Bootleg
fiddlin’ arthur smith and the mcgee brothers #john dykes #chubby wise #ralph blizard #benton flippen #andy edmonds #courtney granger #joe k. walsh #zoe & cloyd #arnie naiman #gillian welch
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High Fidelity is a bluegrass band of young adults who reach back to the founders of the style for their inspiration.
Jeremy Stephens
The evolution of style is normally a multi-layered process. And where old time and bluegrass music are concerned, you’ll find all sorts of approaches to tradition among younger musicians. Many of them bring rock and electric music influences to bear on traditional bluegrass, or vice versa, sometimes changing the music profoundly as they push it into the future. But one band of young adults in love with the sound of original bluegrass from the 1940s and ‘50s wants nothing more than to keep the early styles alive without a great deal of change. High Fidelity lead singer and guitarist Jeremy Stephens talks with Across the Blue Ridge host Paul Brown this week and explains why. We hear plenty of music from the band’s album; some songs and tunes from artists inspiring High Fidelity; and other old time and bluegrass musicians on this week’s show. Performers include Alice Gerrard,; Giles Lephew; Ginny Hawker & Tracy Schwarz; Benton Flippen; Charlie Monroe; Ralph Stanley and others.
Episode 39 - Playlist
- Bile Them Cabbage Down
Benton Flippen & the Smokey Valley Boys
Old Time, New Times 2. Steel Guitar Blues
The Earls of Leicester
Rattle & Roar 3. Campin' In Canaan's Land
Charlie Monroe & His Kentucky Pardners
His Recordings 1938-1956 4. Honey in The Rock
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys 5. There'll Come A Time
Jim Eanes
WPAQ Voice of the Blue Ridge Mountains 6. Love Will Roll The Clouds Away
Ginny Hawker & Tracy Schwarz
Draw Closer 7. Wrong Road Again
Lynn Morris Band
You'll Never Be The Sun 8. Break 1-- Bonaparte's Retreat
Chubby Wise
An American Original 9. Lost Indian
High Fidelity
High Fidelity 10. I Ain't Got Time
High Fidelity
High Fidelity 11. I'm Happy To Know
High Fidelity
High Fidelity 12. Weep & Cry
High Fidelity
High Fidelity 13. I'm Lost, I'll Never Find The Way
High Fidelity
High Fidelity 14. Break 2-- Sugar Hill
Ed Spencer
Traditional Music from Grayson & Carroll Counties 15. Another Day
High Fidelity
High Fidelity 16. Bully Of The Town
High Fidelity
High Fidelity 17. Stable Boss
Giles Lephew
ATBR field recording 18. Sourwood Mountain
Hobart Smith
Southern Journey Volume 2 19. Little Birdie
Paul Brown
ATBR studio recording
high fidelity #jeremy stephens #alice gerrard #giles lephew #ginny hawker #tracy schwarz #benton flippen #charlie monroe #ralph stanley
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Piedmont bluesman John Jackson is but one of the many songsters and instrumentalists we hear on this week’s Across the Blue Ridge. Jackson’s subtle yet powerful blues style and engaging personality endeared him to blues fans worldwide.
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
This week we hear from a varied group of piedmont and mountain south artists for a joyful, invigorating hour of listening. Bluesman John Jackson provides a serene rag he composed. Our music also includes songs from Carol Elizabeth Jones, Doc Watson, Obray Ramsey and many more well known and lesser known performers. Along the way we’ll hear fascinating fiddle tunes from Benton Flippen and John Ashby; and come to understand the importance of piano in Blue Ridge music, with the stories and tunes of Jeff Little and Haywood Blevins. Plus … eleven-year-old guitar sensation Presley Barker from North Carolina puts in an appearance with his rendition of “Nothing Doing” – a bit of a misnomer considering how much work this youngster has put into the guitar to play at a level far beyond his years.
Episode 25 Playlist
- Maple On The Hill – Carl Jones & Erynn Marshall
Sweet Memories Never Leave
Dittyville 2015 2. Little Log Cabin By The Sea – The Carter Family
The Bristol Sessions Disc 1
CMF 1927 3. Greasy String – The West Virginia Coon Hunters
The Bristol Sessions Disc 1
CMF 1927 4. From Jerusalem to Jericho – Uncle Dave Macon
Travelin’ Down That Road
County Records 1995 5. If You’ve Got The Money Honey – Del McCoury
High Lonesome & Blue
Rounder Records 1996 6. John’s Ragtime – John Jackson
Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down
Arhoolie 1992 7. BREAK 1
Davenport – Dock Boggs
Dock Boggs His Folkways Years Vol. 2
Smithsonian Folkways 1998 8. Nothing To It – Presley Barker
Presley Barker
Independent Release 2015 9. Deep River Blues – Doc Watson
Legacy
High Windy 2002 10. Boy She’s A Daisy – Double Decker String Band
The Rest Is Yet To Come
Independent Release 2006 11. Goin’ Round This World – Lee Sexton
Whoa Mule
June Appal 2006 12. Cataloochee – Carol Elizabeth Jones
Cataloochee
5-String Productions 2008 13. Mississippi Sawyer – Benton Flippen
Beware of Dog
Independent Release 2006 14. BREAK 2
Blowin’ The Blues – Chuck Darling
Harmonica Blues
Yazoo 1991 15. Goin’ To The Free State – John Ashby
John Ashby
Field Recorders Collective FRC 2007 16. Little Maggie – Obray Ramsey
Good Old Mountain Dew
Washington Records 1963 17. Ground Speed – Jeff Little Trio
Made In The Blue Ridge
Independent Release 2014 18. Fisher’s Hornpipe – Haywood Blevins
Haywood Blevins
Field Recorders Collective FRC 2007 19. Fisher’s Hornpipe – Paul Brown & John Schwab
Field Recording 20. Brandywine – Megan Lynch Chowning & Adam Hurt
Inside Out
Fiddlestar 2016
john jackson #carol elizabeth jones #doc watson #obray ramsey #benton flippen #john ashby #presley barker #atbr
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