Fred McFalls
Barry Brower
It is with a great deal of sadness that I report the death of Fred
McFalls of Darrington, Washington. Fred died peacefully at home May
12 at age 79.
Though not well-known outside of the state such was Fred McFall's influence
that he could probably appropriate the title "Father of Bluegrass Music" for
the state of Washington.
Originally from the Sylva, North Carolina, area Fred came to Washington
in the early 1950s along with a large number of Tarheels to work in the
forests of the Cascade mountains. They brought with them their culture
and authentic southern music including bluegrass.
Fred's band, the "Carolina Mountain Boys" was formed with other
Darrington Tarheels in the mid-1950s and was probably the first bluegrass
band to exist in the state. Fred played banjo as his primary instrument but he
was also adept at mandolin and guitar.
Fred's major contribution to bluegrass in this state, however, may have been
his openness as a teacher and mentor to many fledgling musicians. I have
talked with a number of people about his life and the recurring theme is
his patience and enthusiasm in conveying bluegrass music to anyone who
showed an interest.
A prime benefactor of this attitude was Phil and Vivian Williams who
singularly point to Fred as their source and inspiration in learning
bluegrass. Many people in Washington now hold Phil and Vivian in this same
regard. Fred was their teacher.
In the late 1950s and for many years aspiring bluegrass musicians were
taken in and made welcome at Fred and Alice McFall's home. Vivian had this
to say about Fred: "Musically he was The Man and the center of all
hospitality. He welcomed anyone who enjoyed the music and we spent many
weekends there. We ate them out of house and home. It was a great
period of time."
Additionally, Fred's connection with musicians outside the Darrington
community can probably be looked to as a reason for the ongoing success
of the Darrington Bluegrass Festival. Fred was always a big supporter of
the festival and his link with the Seattle acoustic music community led many
to attend the festival. For many this was their first contact with authentic
southern music and, as a result, the long term influence on bluegrass in
Washington is extensive. Fred was the source of much of this.
Vivian Williams told me a story that seems to sum up much of what was
good about Fred McFalls. When she and Phil first encountered Fred they
had both just completed college and as a result, according to Vivian, she
was "well on her way to being a music snob. Fred changed my whole attitude,"
she said, "and I learned you don't have to be a Ph.d. to be a sage."
Fred McFalls funeral will be at the Assembly of God Church in Darrington
Saturday at 11:00 am PST. He will be greatly missed.