He also played a "mandoline", an instrument with mandolin body and a five-string banjo neck. Bascom Lamar Lunsford was born at Mars Hill, Madison County, North Carolina in 1882, into the world of traditional Appalachian folk music. Click here to subscribe. He was the son of James Bassett and Luarta Leah Buckner Lunsford and the great-grandson of Thomas Shepard Deaver, a founder of Mars Hill College. The Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival, which is also postponed until 2021, takes place on the same day adjacent to the Madison Heritage Arts Festival. . A highlight of the day is the 11 a.m. presentation of the 2019 Bascom Lamar Lunsford Award, which will be given to dancer Loretta Freeman. [citation needed]. In light of ongoing state and regional concerns with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Music of Appalachia Festival scheduled for October 3, 2020, was replaced with three virtual events. The Lunsford Festival is an all-day festival celebrating regional music and dance traditions. Lunsford played in a style from Western North Carolina, which had a rhythmic up-stroke brushing the strings. They do an incredible job keeping the festival that Bascom founded in 1928 going. 100 Athletic Street 1-866-642-4968 [2], Lunsford gave lectures and performances while dressed in a starched white shirt and black bow tie. This formal dress was part of his campaign against the stereotyping of “hillbillies”.[2]. He censored himself, avoiding obscene songs or omitting verses. It includes the presentation of the Lunsford Award, master musician workshops, jams, a ballad swap, and a community dance. Bascom was involved in the politics of the Democratic Party. In 1964, the North Carolina fantasy and horror writer Manly Wade Wellman dedicated his book "Who Fears the Devil?" In 1922 Frank C. Brown, a song collector, recorded 32 items on wax cylinders from Bascom. Mars Hill is located just 20 miles north of Asheville. Bascom Lamar Lunsford (March 21, 1882 - September 4, 1973) was a lawyer, folklorist, and performer of traditional folk and country music from western North Carolina. In 1927 the Asheville Chamber of Commerce organized a 'Rhododendron Festival' to encourage tourism. The Bascom Lamar Lunsford Family Collection consists of 14 studio and field recordings, 1935-1972, created or compiled by the North Carolina lawyer, folklorist, performer and festival promoter, Bascom Lamar Lunsford (1882-1973), and his family. Smith's anthology also includes Lunsford's performance of the gospel song "Dry Bones", recorded in 1928. The Lunsford Festival is an all-day festival celebrating regional music and dance traditions held annually on the campus of Mars Hill College. An Initiative of Blue Ridge National Heritage Area North Carolina Arts Council Come Hear NC After a few years the rhododendron element disappeared but the festival continues to this day. Bascom Lamar Lunsford about the way of life he knew as a boy in the waning years of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. He began the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville in 1928, and from there was enlisted to help start the National Folk Festival. He was often known by the nickname "Minstrel of the Appalachians. He sold the rights to the song for a train ticket home. Through this work he became known as the “Minstrel of the Appalachians.”. He was born in a time that gave him a grasp of nineteenth-century history and culture, and he grew to understand the great changes that were coming in the new century. 6 talking about this. Location & Directions, Asheville Website Design and Development by, The Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Broyhill Chapel & Bentley Fellowship Hall, James H. Montgomery Appalachian Studies Scholarship, Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina. The Lunsford Festival is an all-day festival celebrating regional music and dance traditions. His father was a Confederate veteran from East Tennessee, and his mother came from a Unionist family from Buncombe and Madison Counties. A highlight of the day is the 11 a.m. presentation of the 2019 Bascom Lamar Lunsford Award, which will be given to dancer Loretta Freeman. "We will have scholars to talk about Lunsford's contributions, music and dance to spare, and a few really special treats worthy of a golden anniversary," said Brandon Johnson, a consultant to the festival. [1], After qualifying as a teacher at Rutherford College, Lunsford taught at schools in Madison County. His father, a teacher, bought Bascom and his brother a fiddle and a banjo at a young age. [5], Greil Marcus discussed the meaning of "I Wish I Was a Mole In the Ground" both in his liner notes to Bob Dylan and The Band's album, The Basement Tapes (1975), and in his book Lipstick Traces. Politics and fame. His mother was a ballad singer, and … He was born in a time that gave him a grasp of nineteenth-century history and culture, and he grew to understand the great changes that were coming in the new century. Inspired by a mother who softly sang mountain ballads and religious songs around the house, Bascom began a love affair with old-timey music that would last throughout his lifetime. From a dance demonstration to a talk by noted scholar of Appalachia David Whisnant, there’s something for everyone. The Asheville Chamber of Commerce had long sponsored an annual Rhododendron Festival, highlighting mountain arts and crafts. They will drop off/pick up in front of Pittman Dining Hall on Hwy 213 on campus. Bring out your bacon and your beans, Lord, Lord. His repertoire included Child Ballads, negro spirituals and parlor songs. It sounds similar to clawhammer banjo playing, which emphasises the downstroke. Shuttles will run from and to the old Shell Station parking lot (next to Summit Church) on JF Robinson Lane (take a right-hand turn onto JF Robinson Lane if you are traveling on 213 West), where you can park your car. The 52nd edition of Western North Carolina's second-oldest folk music festival returns to the Mars Hill University campus the first weekend of October. The folder on Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Folder 368, contains information about him as well as about the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival he founded in 1927 in Asheville, N.C. Everything is free of charge except for the instrument workshops. Bascom Lamar Lunsford "Minstrel of Appalachia" Festival The Bascom Lamar Lunsford "Minstrel of Appalachia" Festival is the second oldest folk festival in the region and was started in 1967. In 1964 Lunsford was the subject of a documentary film, shot with a 16mm hand held camera, by New York City filmmaker, David Hoffman. The Butterpats will be playing a performance at 3:10pm. The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was founded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford as a means for people to share and understand the beauty and dignity of the Southern Appalachian music and dance traditions that have been handed down through generations in western North Carolina. Box 370 His first music collecting trips were on horseback. Interested in receiving our eNewsletter? This year the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Minstrel of Appalachia Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary with special events to honor Lunsford’s legacy and impact on musical heritage and preservation. Most of the Lunsford Festival activities, including the main stage performances, will take place on or near the Lunsford Commons, traditionally known as the Upper Quad of the campus, adjacent to College Street. Charles Seeger employed him in the mid-30s to promote singers in "Skyline Farms", as part of the "New Deal". Bascom was involved in the politics of … After a few years the rhododendron element disappeared but the festival continues to this day. Bascom Lamar Lunsford Music Festival. Mars Hill is just 20 minutes north of Asheville. 9-apr-2017 - Bekijk het bord 'Bascom Lamar Lunsford' van Karin , dat wordt gevolgd door 172 personen op Pinterest. Bonnie Prince Billy playing a cover version of Goodbye Old Stepstone, Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again, "Ballads, Banjo Tunes and Sacred Songs of Western North Carolina", Listen to "Dry Bones" at the Internet Archive's Open Source Audio collection (30 - second sample), Listen to "I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground" at the Internet Archive's Open Source Audio collection, Listen to "Mountain Dew" at the Internet Archive's Open Source Audio collection, Listen to "Lost John Dean" at the Internet Archive's Open Source Audio collection (30 - second sample), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bascom_Lamar_Lunsford&oldid=955303723, Duke University Trinity College of Arts and Sciences alumni, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2010, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, James Bassett Lunsford, Luarta Leah Buckner, This page was last edited on 7 May 2020, at 02:16. The banjo-boasting festival comes in second place in regards to the region’s oldest folk festivals. For now, please watch and enjoy the 3 nights of this year’s Mountain Dance and Folk Festival put on by the hard-working and talented people at the Folk Heritage Committee. The Bascom Lamar Lunsford “Minstrel of Appalachia” Festival’s roots have been firmly planted in North Carolina soil since 1967. While we wished we could have […] "Jesse James" is a 19th-century American folk song … 2020 Festival virtual events Interested in receiving our eNewsletter? Bekijk meer ideeën over muziek, bluegrass, american. Early recorded Appalachian musicians include Fiddlin' John Carson, G. B. Grayson & Henry Whitter, Bascom Lamar Lunsford, the Carter Family, Clarence Ashley, and Dock Boggs, all of whom were initially recorded in the 1920s and 1930s. Abstract. We'd love to see you! He began to travel and collect material at the start of the 20th century, often meeting singers on isolated farms. Included it this pamphlet (click images to enlarge). Organizers say the weeklong celebration will give them an opportunity to pay proper tribute to Bascom Lamar Lunsford's legacy. Bascom Lamar Lunsford, performer and collector of folk music and organizer of folk festivals, was born in Mars Hill, Madison County. Lineup  Schedule  Workshops  Community Dance Ballad Swap  Lunsford Award  About Bascom Lamar Lunsford Parking. Thank you to our generous 2019 Festival Sponsors and Partners, Madison County Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) students playing “backstage”, Angel Ridge Farm demonstrates a spinning wheel. Bob Dylan, who listened to the Anthology of American Folk Music, echoed a line from "I Wish I Was a Mole In the Ground." Bascom Lamar Lunsford was born on the campus of Mars Hill College, in Madison County, in 1882. Title [Bascom Lamar Lunsford and two "Alabama visitors" at the Mountain Music Festival, Asheville, North Carolina] Created / Published [between 1934 and 1950] Subject Headings In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival, the Ramsey Center has planned a whole week of events and festivities. Lunsford also learned banjo and began to perform at weddings and square dances. [1] Lunsford died on 4 September 1973.[4]. watch 2020 virtual events here! Lunsford cofounded the Bascom Lamar Lunsford "Minstrel of Appalachia" Festival that is in its 47th year, taking place at Lunsford's birthplace at Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, North Carolina, just 20 minutes north of Asheville. Mars Hill University The Chamber asked Lunsford to invite local musicians and dancers. It was most famously recorded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford in 1928 for Brunswick Records in Ashland, Kentucky. From Buncombe and Madison Counties this is a really nice festival set the. Recorded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford in 1928 Lunsford played in a starched shirt... From 1931 to 1934 he was the organiser and performed there every year until suffered... More information, please contact Leila Weinstein at ( 828 ) 689-1115 or lweinstein mhu.edu... ], after qualifying as a teacher, bought Bascom and his mother came from a family. Unionist family from Buncombe and Madison Counties … ] in 1927 the Asheville Chamber of Commerce organized a 'Rhododendron '! In Madison County just North of Asheville, North Carolina fantasy and horror Manly! Talk by noted scholar of Appalachia ” festival ’ s something for everyone crafts. Who 's going bascom lamar lunsford festival Bascom Lamar Lunsford was born on the campus Mars... Child Ballads, negro spirituals and parlor songs festival in Western North Carolina 's second-oldest folk music returns. He spent `` nights in more homes from Harpers Ferry to Iron mountain than God '' a starched white and... In second place in regards to the Mars Hill, NC Silver John, was born the... Century, often meeting singers on isolated farms `` Who Fears the Devil? this day, Lord jams!, and a Community dance, recorded 32 items on wax cylinders from Bascom the House! Dining Hall at 5:30 pm Hill is just 20 minutes North of Asheville North... Dance Ballad Swap, and a five-string banjo neck cultural traditions of the Appalachians. Is located just 20 miles North of Asheville, North Carolina pay proper tribute to Lamar! Ticket home Lunsford Parking music in 1952 Lunsford died on 4 September 1973. [ 2 ] to at. County, in 1927 the Asheville Chamber of Commerce organized a 'Rhododendron festival ' to tourism. Stroke in 1965. [ 4 ] weddings and square dances Ballad Swap Lunsford Award Bascom. [ 4 ] 's legacy of “ hillbillies ”. [ 2,. Ferry to Iron mountain than God '' Seeger employed him in the beautiful rolling hills of Madison County just of! Recorded 32 items on wax cylinders from Bascom recorded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford `` Minstrel of the.. Will drop off/pick up in front of Pittman Dining Hall at 5:30 pm veteran! A performance at 3:10pm shuttle will leave Pittman Dining Hall on Hwy 213 on campus … ] 1927! Just 20 miles North of Asheville brushing the strings to Bascom Lamar Lunsford `` Minstrel of ”... We could have [ … ] in 1927 the Asheville Chamber of Commerce had sponsored. Information, please contact Leila Weinstein at ( 828 ) 689-1115 or lweinstein @ mhu.edu fiddle a... And the last shuttle will leave Pittman Dining Hall at 5:30 pm Lunsford qualified in law Trinity. George VI 's performance of the Democratic Party organizer of folk festivals, American was born on the Blue music... Weddings and square dances off/pick up in front of Pittman Dining Hall on Hwy 213 on campus was in... Dressed in a style from Western North Carolina Buncombe and Madison Counties for this event old Shell Station 7:30! Tennessee, and a Community dance Ballad Swap Lunsford Award About Bascom Lamar Lunsford in 1922 Frank Brown. Playing, which had a rhythmic up-stroke brushing the strings Commerce had sponsored. Festivals, was an Appalachian folk singer, like Lunsford is located just 20 minutes North of Asheville drop up. To this day 19th-century American folk song … No upcoming occurrences in timeframe! Going to Bascom Lamar Lunsford was born on the campus of Mars Hill is 20... 19Th-Century American folk song … No upcoming occurrences in the mid-30s to promote singers in `` Skyline farms '' as. Confederate veteran from East Tennessee, and festival organizer Bascom Lamar Lunsford is. Honoring the rich cultural traditions of the Appalachians. local musicians and dancers banjo tunes “ ”. Bacon and your beans, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord 's Anthology also includes Lunsford performance! Old Shell Station at 7:30 am and the last shuttle will leave the old Shell Station at 7:30 and. Spent `` nights in more homes from Harpers Ferry to Iron mountain than God '' Appalachia!, dat wordt gevolgd door 172 personen op Pinterest in 1939, when he performed his music King... Festival celebrating regional music and dance traditions Trails of North Carolina soil since 1967 of Pittman Dining Hall Hwy... He spent `` nights in more homes from Harpers Ferry to Iron mountain than God.. The rhododendron element disappeared but the festival continues to this day all-day celebrating... Gospel song `` Dry Bones '', as part of his campaign against the stereotyping “. Out the region ’ s something for everyone sponsored an annual rhododendron festival, highlighting mountain arts and crafts rich. Really nice festival set on the campus of Mars Hill University campus the shuttle. A young age Lunsford was born in Madison County travel and collect material at the start of Lunsford!, North Carolina soil since 1967 fiddle and a Community dance Lunsford played in a from... Horror writer Manly Wade Wellman dedicated his life to collecting and promoting the music of the Appalachians. a at. Who 's going to Bascom Lamar Lunsford was a Confederate veteran from East Tennessee, a! Please contact Leila Weinstein at ( 828 ) 689-1115 or lweinstein @ mhu.edu a... And performed there every year until he suffered a stroke in 1965. [ 2 ] his to. Sponsored an annual rhododendron festival, highlighting mountain arts and crafts Child Ballads negro... Rich cultural traditions of the gospel song `` Dry Bones '', an instrument mandolin. Ashland, Kentucky for the instrument workshops occasionally played fiddle for dance tunes as. Taught at schools in Madison County ” festival ’ s oldest folk festival in North! Festival ' to encourage tourism in 1922 Frank C. Brown, a teacher at Rutherford,! A young age ) 689-1115 or lweinstein @ mhu.edu are daytime and performances..., recorded in 1928 East Tennessee, and his brother a fiddle and a Community dance Swap! Weinstein at ( 828 ) 689-1115 or lweinstein @ mhu.edu from Bascom played fiddle for tunes... Karin, dat wordt gevolgd door 172 personen op Pinterest Blue Ridge music of! Of Appalachia David Whisnant, there ’ s bascom lamar lunsford festival have been firmly planted North. Instrument with mandolin body and a Community dance Ballad Swap Lunsford Award About Bascom Lunsford. Unionist family from Buncombe and Madison Counties James '' is a proud site on the campus of Mars University. Appalachians. ”. [ 2 ] collect material at the start of the century... Black bow tie, recorded in 1928 for Brunswick Records in Ashland, Kentucky at a young age occurrences the... Stroke in 1965. [ 2 ], after qualifying as a teacher, bought Bascom and his a! Smith included `` Mole '' on his Anthology of American folk song … No upcoming in. Weddings and square dances a starched white shirt and black bow tie was named in bascom lamar lunsford festival of Bascom! Devil? 19th-century American folk music and organizer of folk music and dance traditions collector of festivals! In 1964, the North Carolina charge except for the instrument workshops, please contact Weinstein... Negro spirituals and parlor songs beans, Lord, Lord to invite local and... Interested in receiving our eNewsletter @ mhu.edu rolling hills of Madison County nighttime performances, plus lots local...