My guest this week is Wayne Erbsen, professor of old-time and bluegrass music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Wayne joins me to talk about half a century of writing about old-time and bluegrass music, including his latest book Southern Mountain Music: The Collected Writings of Wayne Erbsen.

Over the past 50 years Wayne has interviewed many legendary figures in Appalachian music, as well as many lesser known names (including the guitarist who acted as AP Carter's 'human tape recorder'), often being the first and only person to collect their stories. These articles come together to create a fascinating history of bluegrass and old-time music in Appalachia.

The book profiles many pioneers of old-time and bluegrass music, alongside chapters on brother duets from the 1930s, legendary banjo pickers and fiddle players and tales of 19th-century songwriters whose songs still populate bluegrass music. 

Wayne also shares some great stories, including the time Charlie Cline's powerful snoring led to the Bluegrass Boys spending a night out in the cold and the gig where Clarence White borrowed his guitar.

You can buy Wayne's book at the MacFarland Books website. 

Check out Wayne's YouTube channel too

Happy picking!

Matt

Support the show

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Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins

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