Toe River Valley Boys, (Red Wilson, Clarence H Greene, et al)
Don Talley
the Toe River Boys.
The Toe River Valley Boys were active in the sixties and seventies playing
concerts, dances, and making records in the TN/NC border region. This area
was rich in musical traditions including early recording artists such as G.
B. Grayson, Steve Ledford, Clarence Ashley, Lula Belle and Scotty, as well
as later musicians such as Raymond Fairchild, Frank Buchanan, and the
legendary old-time stringband the original Roan Mountain Hilltoppers.
Although most of the band members were well versed in the traditional
mountain music prevalent in the area, the Toe River Valley Boys would be
characterized more as a bluegrass band by most listeners.
At various times the Toe River Valley Boys lineup included: Oscar "Fiddlin
Red" Wilson (fiddle), E. C. Miller (banjo), Charles Renfro(guitar); C.A.
"Gus" Washburn (guitar, harmonica); Clarence H. Greene (mandolin, lead
guitar); Cecil "Curly Burleson (bass); Dempsey Sullins (bass); Ronnie
Robinson (piano).
Of this lineup the three most names most familiar to old-time and bluegrass
listeners are Red Wilson, E.C. Miller, and Clarence Greene. All of three of
these musicans are still vibrant musicans in their communities and have
played major roles in preserving traditional mountain music by teaching
scores of young musicians over the past three decades.
Red Wilson continues to live and make music in around his home near
Bakersville NC. Legendary fiddler Steve Ledford (of Mainers Mountaineers)
lived in a nearby community. ( I've been told that Steve Ledford was an
uncle of Red Wilson but haven't confirmed this fact....I'm sure someone on
the newsgroup can confirm this). Most of Red's performances these days are
old-time fiddle tunes accompanied by Bruce Greene and Rob Levin.
E.C. Miller was born in East Tenn near the TN/NC line and continues to play
and teach 3-finger banjo around Johnson City TN. He's well respected as
both a musician and teacher and has been on staff of the Bluegrass program
at ETSU in recent years. His band played at Slagle's Pasture in June of
2002 and will be playing other festival later in the summer.
Clarence H. Greene is the son of fiddler/guitarist CLarence Greene who
recorded 78s with Clarence "tom" Ashley, Byrd Moore, and Walt Davis.
Clarence the son, is an excellent musician in his own right and plays
bluegrass in a band called ?Southbound?. Clarence Greene (the son) lives
and plays music someone near Lenoir or Statesville NC at last report.
The Toe River Valley Boys made at least 3 recordings:
The Toe River Valley Boys (GHP 903)
Train Time! (GHP 906) recorded in 1970
Square Dancing in the Blue Ridge Mountains (Mayland LP 004) (?late sixties)
I haven't been able to find information on the first recording but I own
copies of the second and third LPs above.
Train Time! includes standards such as Toe River Train (aka New River
Train), Love and Wealth, Kansas City railroad Blues, Lee Highway Blues and
others. Also included are several originals written by Mae Riddle Greene
including Estatoe, Memories of Home, When You're Only Nine, and Come CLoser
Lord. The album also includes the railroad ballad "The Wreck Above Spruce
Pine" written by Clarence Greene SR.
Square Dancing in the Blue Ridge Mountains consists of a medley of 3 dance
tunes on each side. Tunes include Bill Cheatham, Golden Slippers, Gray
Eagle, Down Yonder, Under the Double Eagle, and Alabama Jubilee.
In May of 2002, a salute to the musical heritage of Mitchell and Yancey
County was held at Bill Young's music park near between Burnsville NC and
Spruce Pine NC. One of the highlights of the show was a reunion set by the
Toe River Valley Boys. Although it had been years since the band had
played together, they kept the crowd smiling and the dancers dancing for
their entire set.
Don Talley
Black Mountain NC
Greenberry Leonard
<dta...@charter.net> wrote:
> Red Wilson continues to live and make music in around his home near
> Bakersville NC.
That's not all he makes. ; )
Kerry Blech
>
> Red Wilson continues to live and make music in around his home near
> Bakersville NC. Legendary fiddler Steve Ledford (of Mainers Mountaineers)
> lived in a nearby community. ( I've been told that Steve Ledford was an
> uncle of Red Wilson but haven't confirmed this fact....I'm sure someone on
> the newsgroup can confirm this).
Hi Don, thanks for all the information. I wish I could confirm the
above.
As I started reading your post, I was ready to follow up and make this
same query. I'm pretty sure that Red told me that Steve Ledford was his
uncle, but there is enough clutter in my brain right now that I am not
sure. I'm sure he'd be happy to talk about it any time, though. I know
that Red played guitar at one time for one of Steve's bands, and I
am almost certain I've seen a photo from that time with Steve on
fiddle, Wade Mainer on banjo, and Oscar "Red" Wilson on guitar.
Bruce Greene once played me a tape that Red had given him. It was
a tape the Steve Ledford made, over several years, of his own
playing (I think some was multi-tracked) and singing.
I only got to see Ledford once, at a National Folk Festival (at
Wolf Trap) in the early 1970s, with Wade Mainer and Zeke and
Wiley Morris. What a great band!
Best regards,
kerry