Wilson Douglas
Sluys Guys
Wilson. She also sent some attached photos which I did not include, if
anyone wants to see them, email me., Nancy
The Old-Time music community has lost a great musician with the
passing of
Wilson Douglas Wednesday night, March 10th.
Wilson lived in the central West Virginia area, mostly Clay &
Braxton Counties, and is known for his unique fiddling of that area's
repertoire. He learned primarily from French Carpenter, and others of
the Carpenter family, the occasional travelling-through dance fiddler,
Ed Haley whenever possible, and his mother.
He and his wife, Aggie, have been living in Sutton, WVa. for the
past few years.
After three different rounds with throat cancer, he developed a bone
cancer in one leg. That had been treated and was healing well, but a
spot on one lung was being treated with chemo. Wilson passed away in his
sleep, apparently of heart failure, at the age of 76. Despite all those
tribulations his strong character and sense of humor bullied through.
The "Elzic's Farewell", that has made the session rounds and gone
through many transformations, came through Wilson from the Carpenters to
us younger folk, and remains, in my mind, the best version of the tune.
I'd been playing it for years before I actually met him, and ever since
have had an annual "Elzic's Lesson" to get it Right! Our last 'lesson'
was a few months ago, and still I picked out a nuance or two I hadn't
'got' before. During that visit he also taught me his enigmatic
"Durang's Hornpipe", describing the essential hook of one passage with
an early-tv reference that will always stick with me.
I am so grateful for all the special times I've had with Wilson, and
the
genuine attention he has given fiddlers of all ages and proficiency over
the years. He was always so concerned to pass along the essence of a
tune, and to inspire the player to pull the soul out of it, and of
themselves.
He taught me so very much about listening, and about those subtle
rythm
things he did so well. Thank goodness we have the recordings to keep it
alive, but the man and his humor will be strongly missed.
~Betty Vornbrock
--