Table of
Contents
Introduction..................... 1
Salem Band...................... 3
Tommy Jarrell.................. 4
Blind Boy Fuller........... 5
John Coltrane................. 6
Shirley Caesar................ 7
Doc Watson................... 8
“5” Royales.......... 9
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MUSIC
Greats
OF NORTH CAROLINA
With a focus on the Northwest Piedmont
by Elizabeth Carlson for Carolina Music Ways
D
id you know that some
of the most influential
musicians in American history
are from North Carolina?
These musical giants have
significantly
influenced
today’s popular music. In
Carolina Music Ways’ school
assembly show, the Old Timey
Radio Show: A North Carolina
Musical Revue, some of
our state’s best current-day
musicians perform songs
of the North Carolina music
greats who are featured in
this document.
1
Carolina Music Ways focused
the research we present
in this document on music
greats closely connected to
North Carolina’s northwest
Piedmont region, as our
organization is based in
Winton-Salem.
The northwest Piedmont is
so musically rich because it
is home to three outstanding
musical
cultures—African
American, Appalachian, and
Moravian.
Of the North Carolina music
greats featured in our school
show, Doc Watson, the Salem
Band, Tommy Jarrell, and many
members of the “5” Royles were
born in this part of the state and
lived their lives here.
2
Blind Boy Fuller, who lived
mostly in Durham, visited
Winston-Salem often and lived
here briefly. Shirley Caesar (also
from Durham), the only living
musician to whom the show
pays tribute, has visited family
here throughout her life.
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Music Greats of North Carolina:
Learn More:
SalemBand
Moravian
I
n 1766, the Moravians established
the town of Salem. One day in
1791, George Washington came to
visit. The town’s brass band—the
Salem Band—was there to greet him.
The Salem Band also played a
very important role during the Civil
War. In 1862, about ten members
of the Salem Band joined a group of
soldiers from North Carolina. This
famous army band was called the
26th North Carolina Regimental Band.
http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/
Music Greats of North Carolina:
ommy
T arrell
J
Old-Time Stringband
They provided entertainment for the
soldiers. The band played as the
soldiers traveled through woods and
fields, at the camps where they pitched
their tents, and before and after battles,
including the Battle of Gettysburg. The
Salem Band is the longest continuously
performing mixed-wind ensemble in
the United States. It still performs in
Winston-Salem. Residents and visitors
enjoy the Band’s summer concert
series on Salem Square.
David Holt Interview
Tommy Jarrell
Folkways: Music of
Surry County
A
famous
old-time
stringband
musician
from our area is Tommy Jarrell.
Jarrell was from the Round Peak
community of Surry County.
He lived in Surry County all his
life. Jarrell played the banjo
and the fiddle. His fiddle is visitors and taught them his
now in Washington, D.C. at Round Peak style of playing.
the Smithsonian Institute. His style was fast, hard driving
In
1982,
the
National and sounded like it came
Endowment for the Arts from a long time ago. Visiting
awarded
him
the
National musicians loved the music,
Heritage Fellowship.
the man, and the community
of Jarrell’s friends and fellow
During the folk revival of the musicians
who
embraced
1960s and ‘70s, musicians them. Some visitors stayed in
came from across the country the area, such as Debbie Gitlin,
and world to learn to play fiddler in the Old Timey Radio
Learn More:
Salem Band:
www.salemband.org
(See their concert schedule.)
the old tunes from Jarrell, an Show who came here decades
26th North Carolina
Regimental Band:
www.music.allpurposeguru.com
/2011/07/the-salem-band-at-war-26thnorth-carolina-regiment-band/
authentic master. Jarrell was ago from Cleveland, Ohio, to
LISTEN!
The 26th North Carolina
Regimental Band - Civil War Music
3
Tommy Jarrell
(1901 - 1985)
a great host who welcomed meet and learn from Jarrell.
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4
Learn More:
Walking my Troubles Away
by “Blind Boy” Fuller
Music Greats of North Carolina:
Blind Boy
Fuller
Piedmont Blues
B
Music Greats of North Carolina:
eginning in the early
1900s, blues singers
began
to
perform
in
downtown Winston-Salem.
During the 1930s, a blues
musician named Blind Boy
Fuller played there during busy lyrics were often funny, but not
John Coltrane
ohn Coltrane is considered one of the Coltrane and his quartet liked to experiment
greatest jazz musicians of all time. He with musical sounds from around the world.
lived in Highpoint, North Carolina, from age Some were soft, slow, and beautiful, while
Some always wholesome. Many of his
two months through high school. He died others were loud, fast, and shocking. His
people consider Blind Boy Fuller songs contained “adult content,”
over forty years ago, but his music is still group recorded many popular records,
the most influential and popular in
heard in movies, on TV, and on the radio.
tobacco auction time.
Piedmont-style blues player ever.
which
seemingly
innocent
Coltrane is famous for playing the saxophone,
Blind Boy Fuller’s recording career Some people did not approve of
which he began in high school.
was from about 1935 – 1941, the these songs, like some people
graduation he moved north, and performing
year he died. He sold thousands today do not like their children
music became Coltrane’s career. From the
of records during the 1930s. He listening to rap and hip hop.
mid 1940s through the 1950s, he played
recorded a variety of styles,
with big bands and small ones in nightclubs,
including blues, ragtime, and the Fuller lived most of his adult life in
ballrooms, and concert halls around the
popular music of the day.
Durham, but visited Winston-Salem
country, including North Carolina.
regularly and lived here for while.
playing in a variety of bands that were led by
Audiences loved Fuller’s singing Historians believe he lived at 7th
some of the biggest names in jazz, Coltrane
and lyrics. His voice was strong and Chestnut Street, very near
formed his own jazz quartet in 1960.
and had a lot of feeling.
His today’s downtown Arts District.
5
including “My Favorite Things” (1960) and
“A Love Supreme” (1964).
sounding lyrics would actually
mean something more R-rated.
Blind Boy Fuller
(1907-1941)
J
Jazz
John Coltrane (1926-1967)
After
After
6
Music Greats of North Carolina:
Music Greats of North Carolina:
Shirley Caesar
October 13, 1938 (Age 74)
Shirley
Caesar
DocWatson
Gospel
S
hirley
Caesar’s
singing Caesar was a member of the
career has spanned six famous
gospel
group,
the
decades. Often referred to as Caravans. She formed her own
the “Queen of Gospel,” she is group in 1966. Over the years,
one of the most influential and she has performed all over the
famous gospel performers of all United States and the world to
time. She was born and raised enthusiastic fans.
Learn More:
Shirley Caesar Bio:
in
Durham,
North
www.answers.com/topic/shirley-caesar
talented guitarist Doc Watson. He
that brought different groups of
Caesar has strong connections
was from the Appalachian town
people together.
to Winston-Salem.
of Deep Gap, where he lived
hugely popular during the folk
throughout his life. He was blind
music revival of the 1960s and ‘70s
from an early age.
and performed all over the country
the
and
www.carolinamusicways.org
(Explore) - Chapter VI
Watson
styles, including bluegrass, old-
young audiences until his death in
Park
time stringband, blues, gospel,
May 2012 in Winston-Salem.
Caesar is a ten-time Grammy
Holiness Church. In 1983, she
and early country. Musically, he is
co-pastored with her husband
best known for playing mountain
In memory of his beloved son,
Award winner.
She began
the Mt. Calvary Holy Church in
fiddle tunes on the guitar. His
Merle, Watson began MerleFest,
Winston-Salem. She still visits
musicianship was outstanding. An
the bluegrass/Americana festival
recorded her first song at age
thirteen.
Since then, she has
family and friends here.
eight-time Grammy award winner,
that now attracts over tens of
he received the National Medal of
thousands of people each spring
Arts in 1997.
to nearby Wilkesboro.
Kimberly
over forty albums to her credit.
7
many
He remained a
popular performer with old and
the
played
Doc Watson
1923-2012
He became
musical
in her uncle’s
singing publically at age ten and
Music History section of
and the world.
perform
church,
www.carolinamusicways.org
(Explore) - Gospel
city
girl to worship
Shirley Caesar - He’ll Do It Again
Music Styles section of
She came
regularly as a
northcarolinamusichalloffame.org
(Go to “Multimedia- Videos”)
Watson viewed music as a bridge
to
VIDEOS!
NC Musical Hall of Fame:
A
famous North Carolina
msucian was the enormously
Carolina,
where she still lives.
Bluegrass
Learn More:
About Doc’s Music:
www.docsguitar.com
VIDEOS!
NC Music Hall of Fame
(Go to “Multimedia- Videos”)
“Tennessee Stud” played by
Doc Watson & Jack Lawrence
UNCTV’s Conversations
with Doc Watson
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8
“ ”
5
Music Greats of North Carolina:
*Elizabeth Carlson wrote this “Music
Greats” document.
She is the Educational Director of
Carolina Music Ways. She holds a BA
Rhythm & Blues
in English and American Studies from
Princeton University and an Ed.M. in
T
the 1960s and ‘70s.
“5”
– 2005), sang with strong
he “5” Royales were
Royales’ guitarist, Lowman
feeling in a down-to-earth,
a pioneering rhythm
Pauling (1926-1973), often
gospel
and blues (R&B) vocal
wore a long strap and
The“5”Royales’
group from Winston-Salem.
played the guitar at knee-
style had a big influence
They were one of the most
level. His creative, original
on later music greats,
talented
playing style influenced rock
such as James Brown,
superstar Eric Clapton.
The Temptations, Stevie
and
innovative
groups of their time. During
the “5” Royales’ career
singing
Wonder,
from 1952 to 1965, they
The
“5”
Royales’
lead
recorded more than one
singer, John Tanner (1926
and
Language and Literacy from the Harvard
Graduate School of Education.
style.
singing
Michael
A
resident
is
currently
of
Winston-Salem,
writing
a
book
she
profiling
North Carolina bluegrass and old time
musicians,
to
be
published
by
the
History Press in 2014.
Jasckson.
END
hundred songs and five
top-ten R&B hits. At least
two of the group’s songs
have become American
classics—“Dedicated to the
One I Love” and “Think.”
The “5” Royales had a big
influence on famous soul
© Carolina Music Ways 2013, All Rights Reserved
and rock and roll stars of
9
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10
PHOTO CREDITS
Images for each page are listed in order from top to bottom.
CREDIT REQUEST:
Give Us Credit!
Page 1
If you are a student, teacher, scholar, or other wishing to use the material in this PDF document for noncommercial purposes, please credit us by acknowledging the following:
Page 2
Author: Elizabeth A. Carlson
Photo collage by Carolina Music Ways
Photo courtesy Old Salem
www.salemband.org/
www.salemband.org/
Page 3
www.oldtimemusic.com/FHOFJarrell.html
www.bradleftwich.net/bio.htm
Page 4
http://photozou.jp/photo/show/207742/97888688
www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6779366&style=music
Organization: Carolina Music Ways
Title: “Music Greats of North Carolina: With a Focus on the Northwest Piedmont”
Web Address (URL): www.carolinamusicways.org/ /pdf/mGreats.pdf
Please do not use the material in this PDF document for commercial purposes.
Thanks!
Page 5
www.commons.wikimedia.org
www.flickr.com/photos/exquisitur/2552577184/
http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/musician.php?id=5851#.UKrYgGh8wlI
Page 6
http://faac.us/adf/messages/28522/43056.html?1121464662
http://music.yahoo.com/shirley-caesar/albums/shirley-caesar-live-he-will-come--44942575
www.blackplanet.com/music/view/artist.html?pa...
Page 7
www.flickr.com/photos/guano/1628835642/
www.amazon.com/The-Best-Doc-Watson-1964-1968/dp/B001F5M7X2
www.flickr.com/photos/68824969@N00/3479706155/
Page 8
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_5_royales
http://www.streamingoldies.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=2024
www.history-of-rock.com/five_royales.htm
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