Black Roots

 

The banjo came to Virginia in the hands of black people from Africa; the violin in the hands of white people from Europe.  But soon there were black fiddlers, and in a few generations, white banjo players. So old-music is from many places, but forged in an American experience. 

The music of the fiddle and banjo is the oldest music we have, other than Native American.  It is the root of the root of country, rock, pop and all the rest. It was the dance music of colonial Virginia, and it is still the dance music of the Galax area.

 

Pictured here are some black musicians from along southwestern Virginia’s Crooked Road, keepers of older sounds.

 

The Foddrell family (to the right) is one of the nine families that have dominated music in Patrick County since the late colonial period. These families are of diverse origins: German, Ulster Irish, English, Huguenot, and black.  The Foddrells are black. These family members are (L-R) brothers Marvin and Turner Foddrell with their father, Posey Foddrell, great string band musicians who could also delve into bluegrass, blues, and jazz.  Sadly, these beloved members of the Patrick legacy are now gone, but their influence lives on.

 

Archie Edwards was from Union Hall, in Franklin County.  His father was a banjo player and fiddler, but Archie loved Piedmont blues, which has many tunes in common with old-time music.  He ran a barbershop on Bunker Hill Road in Washington DC for many years, was a pal of Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt, but never failed to say he was from Franklin County, and loved its music.  There are some powerful recordings of Archie.

 

Bandleader and passionate singer Carl Martin was from Big Stone Gap, and with Howard Armstrong, Ted Bogan, and others had a storied career in music.  They began on the streets in Norton, Virginia, but moved to Knoxville and other cities.  They spent a generation in Chicago, and were Al Capone’s favorite band.