Bascom Lamar Lunsford – Biography
Born in 1882 in Madison County, North Carolina, Bascom Lamar Lunsford was surrounded by music from an early age. His father taught him to play fiddle and his mother sang old-time ballads and church songs, beginning his love for traditional Appalachian folk music. He became a lawyer and traveled throughout the region as a music historian, collecting songs from isolated farmhouses that had been passed down generations. His recordings in the 1920s, later featured on Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music, were played in a rhythmic, rickety, almost surreal style — hillbilly music as old as the hills.
Lunsford would be the first to say that he’s more an archivist than an artist; a keeper of ancient traditions rather than an innovative trailblazer. But the music of “The Minstrel of North Carolina” is so foreign and old-fashioned that there’s something avant-garde about it. His aged, undated songs remain a touchstone a century later, overshadowing his later career as politician and teacher. Keep reading below for Bascom Lamar Lunsford music reviews and accolades.
Discography
- Smoky Mt. Ballads (1953) A-
Accolades
- Colin’s Review Hall of Fame
- 1920s Best Songs – #16 & #42