GB Grayson

GB Grayson (born November 11, 1888 in Ashe County , North Carolina as Gilliam Banmon Grayson , † August 16, 1930 in Abingdon , Virginia ) was an American old-time musician .

Life

Childhood and youth

GB Grayson went blind as a young child. This is supposed to have happened when Grayson, then only six months old, saw light reflections from the snow in his eyes. He learned to play the fiddle and banjo and began to work as a musician due to his disability.

Career

From then on, Grayson performed at Barn Dances and Fiddler's Conventions to make a living. In the 1920s he settled in Laurel Bloomery , Tennessee , on the Virginia border. There he played with many talented musicians, including Doc Walsh and Clarence Ashley . In 1927 Grayson met guitarist and singer Henry Whitter at a fiddle competition in Mountain City and became friends with him. Both musicians formed the duo Grayson and Whitter in the fall of the same year .

With Whitter Grayson recorded 40 pieces by 1930, most of them were old traditionals and are now considered classics of country music . One of their most famous songs was Tom Dooley , which is based on a true story. This title was particularly close to Grayson's heart as it was Grayson's grandfather who arrested Tom Dooley in 1866.

death

On August 16, 1930, Grayson visited his brother in Virginia. On the way back - Grayson was walking - he was taken along in his little truck by his neighbor Bill Millhorn. However, since the vehicle was already occupied, there was only room for Grayson on the loading area. When Millhorn turned a curve, he collided with another truck and Grayson died instantly. He was 42 years old.

Web links

• biography
• Entry in the All Music Guide

Sources and individual references

1. ↑ Birthplace of Country Music ( Memento from June 3, 2011 in the Internet Archive )