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Memories of Dances and Tunes of the Saline Area -- by Al Smitley
I'm so pleased that Al Smitley agreed to allow his collection of interviews and tune notations from Saline, MI area fiddlers to be presented on Michiganfiddle.com This book is a…
1986 Soo Jamboree Recordings
In June 1986 the Original Michigan Fiddlers Association hosted a jamboree in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Jack Stebe recorded it and later sent a cassette tape of the recording…
French Fiddling in Southeast Michigan: A County Histories Collection
The Bellin Map of Detroit, 1764 The French were doubtless the first Europeans to bring the fiddle to what is now Michigan. Michigan was once part of New France and…
A 19th Century Michigan Tune List Derived from County Histories
The Michigan County Histories and Atlases Collection at the University of Michigan (accessible here: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/ ) contains county histories published in the late 19th century and up until 1923. These…
Fidius "Fid" Stocking (1824 - 1895)
Fidius "Fid" Stocking Fidius Stocking Fid and wife Clarinda Few fiddlers made more of a lasting mark on the county and local histories of Michigan than Fidius "Fid" Stocking. Fid…
James Swan (1824-1913), fiddler and Ingham County Pioneer
James Swan, fiddler and Ingham County Pioneer James Swan was an early Michigan pioneer to Ingham County and was a notable fiddler in the region, claiming to have "called…
Giles Scott, fiddler and early settler of Allegan Co.
"The first settlement in the two counties entirely unconnected with the Indian trade was made by Giles Scott, who came from Rochester, N.Y., with his wife and two children, in…
Neil Woodward
Neil Woodward Neil Woodward has had a long career as a performing and recording artist in Michigan folk music traditions. Neil is a fiddler, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. In 2018 he…
Evart , MI Dulcimer Funfest 1982 TV Documentary uploaded by Paul Goelz
The primary focus of this documentary is the dulcimer, however there is a fair bit of fiddling and crossover in this documentary. https://youtu.be/nHSYAj-G-tc
Paul Gifford's commentary on the involvement of Henry Ford in Fiddle Contests
Taken from Paul Gifford's Facebook Post with Permission: Someone contacted me privately about this issue, but I thought the topic might be appropriate for a post here. Rhiannon Giddens…
Dave Langdon, Michigan fiddler and folklorist
Photo by Patricia "Pooh" Stevenson Dave Langdon spent his formative years in Owosso, MI. He was introduced to old time music in the mid 1970s at the Ten Pound Fiddle…
Don Messer and His Islanders play Eddie Kranz's "Michigan Hornpipe."
It could easily be argued that Don Messer's radio and television presence had one of the single most significant influences on North American fiddling. Fiddlers not just in Canada but…
George Pariseau (1869-1949)
George (Georges) R. Pariseau was a premier dance fiddler in the thumb of Michigan and Detroit area for many years. He was born in LaChute Quebec on November 29,…
Port Huron Museum House Party Recordings
Back in the 70s/80s, Stephen Williams and the Port Huron Museum hosted "rap and jam," sessions, which were get togethers of the regions old-time musicians. From those gatherings a book…
Border Fiddling Part 1: The St. Clair River
The below recording comes from the Karl Byarski collection (linked in the recordings section). This recording was an interview/visit by a Michigander at Durocher's home in 1964, where a recording…
Lois Bettesworth and Shades of Blue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nn4OupFQFIThe above video is embedded from Youtube and the Michigan Traditional Arts Program channel of Lois Bettesworth playing with "Shades of Blue," her band. Info and Photos provided by Eliot…
The Evolution of a Michigan Fiddle Tune: Whiskey Point Jig
Aerial photo of Whiskey Point, taken by Trae McMaken from John McCafferty's plane. By Trae McMaken I've been chasing the history of this tune , Whiskey Point Jig, for at…
Michigan Fiddle: Who Ignored It and What Does It Look Like? -- by Trae McMaken
Michigan-Fiddle-Who-Ignored-It-and-What-Does-it-Look-LikeDownload
Downhome Dairyland "Posen Fiddlers," by Jim Leary
Down Home DairylandDown Home Dairyland was a radio program focused on Wisconsin and Upper Midwest folk music. Downhome Dairyland Posen, MI Fiddlers Episode Excerpts: These excerpts from Down Home Dairyland are used…
The O'Donnel Collection of Patrick Bonner Recordings
There are quite a few recordings of Patrick Bonner. Famous folklore collector Alan Lomax recorded Bonner -- and in fact, one of his recordings was my first introduction to this fiddler.…
Otto and Marguerite Wood - by Glenn Hendrix
Photos and more info can be found at: https://squaredancehistory.org/items/show/1659 Otto and Marguerite Wood By Glenn Hendrix Otto Wood was a well known fiddler and caller from Grand Rapids and Marguerite,…
Orange Fame "Cub" Berdan,
Orange Fame "Cub" Berdan, from the family albummaintained by his granddaughter, Ginny. "Cub" Berdan was a tune composer/publisher located in Detroit in the 1800s. Cub is responsible for the "Pacific…
Old Time Music on Isle Royale - by Glenn Hendrix
by Glenn Hendrix Isle Royale is a large island in Lake Superior and is the most remote place in the eastern United States. It became National Park in 1935. This…
Shane Cook and the Woodchipper's continue St. Clair River Tradition
Shane Cook and the Woodchippers For many years, the St. Clair River -- and the Canadian border in general -- has been a permeable border for fiddle music. Fiddlers like…
Johnny Durocher, Sarnia ON
Johnny Durocher was a fiddler of aboriginal Canadian descent from Sarnia, Ontario. Years ago I (Trae McMaken) had the honor of crossing the river from my home into Sarnia and…
House Party: Reminiscences by Traditional Musicians and Square Dance Callers in Michigan's Thumb Area
House-Party-Port-Huron-rotated-compressedDownload
Nick and His Cornhuskers: a Long-Lived Modern and Old Time Thumb Dance Band (1940s - 1960s)
Trae McMaken Clare and Aileen Nichols (Leaders of Nick and His Cornhuskers) with their son, Wayne. One example of a public dance band in Michigan was the Thumb band Nick…
Band Spotlight: Rem Wall and the Green Valley Boys -- Michigan Country Stars ca. 1950s-1980s
Rem Wall Intro Rem Wall and the Green Valley Boys were a Michigan-based classic country band who performed on TV and Radio for decades. Generations grew up with these icons.…
Helmer Töyräs (1926), Aura
Helmer, possibly at the Aura Jamboree Biography The following is from James P. Leary's liner notes from his LP set of field recordings, Accordions in the Cutover: Field Recordings of Ethnic Music from…
Lois Bettesworth (1925 - 2019), Genesee Co.
Lois Bettesworth Biography Lois Bettesworth was inducted into the Michigan Fiddlers Association Hall of Fame at the North Central Regional Fiddlers Convention in Hillsdale Michigan, August 2011. I (Trae…
Ed Lauluma (1921 - 2005), Keweenaw Peninsula
Ed Lauluma Biography Ed Lauluma (1921-2005) was a Finnish-American fiddler who lived on a farm on the Snake River in the Keweenaw Peninsula, a region settled by a significant number of…
Jewell Francis Gillespie (1917 - 1995), Beaver Island.
Photo by Al Kamuda for Michigan State University Jewell Francis Gillespie, a member of one of the Beaver Island Irish families, is also the father of Danny Gillespie, longtime musical…
Chip Walker and the Fisher Strike Orchestra - by Eliot Singer
chip-walker-and-the-fisher-strike-orchestra-1Download
Jim McKinney (b. 1960)
Photo by Trae McMaken for the Michigan Traditional Arts Program Jim McKinney started his musical endeavors with the guitar at the age of 18 in 1978. His grandfather, a native…
Glenn Hendrix (b. 1954)
Glenn Hendrix at his home. Photo by Trae McMaken for the Michigan Traditional Arts Program. Glenn Hendrix, born in January of 1954, began his musical career as a violinist with…
Great Folks Blog Article: A Tale of Two (Michigan) Fiddlers - by Laurie Sommers
Check out the article about Trae McMaken and Patrick Bonner on the MSU Museum Great Folks blog: http://gr8tfolks.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-tale-of-two-michigan-fiddlers.html
Rene Coté (b. 1932) Sault St. Marie, ON
Rene Cote at his home in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Photo by Trae McMaken for the Michigan Traditional Arts Program Bio by Trae McMaken for the Michigan Traditional Arts Program…
An Analysis of Michigan Fiddle Stylistics -- by Trae McMaken
An-Analysis-of-Michigan-Fiddle-StylisticsDownload
Who Was Lon Allen?
In May of 1937, photographer Russell Lee (1903-1986) was in the cutover near Iron River in the upper peninsula of Michigan. He photographed a homestead and its occupants, the family…
Port Huron Museum House Party Collection Photos
Years ago, the Port Huron Museum had a "House Party" program celebrating the Michigan tradition of the house party (i.e., square dance and music party held in a home). Years…
How to Start Figuring Out What “Michigan Fiddle Style” Is -- by Eliot Singer
By Eliot A. Singer (Paper presented at a session of the Michigan Historical Society Meeting, 1988) Author Note, January 2012: This paper was given as the introduction to a session…
Dick Gravell
Dick Gravell BiographyDick Gravell, a French-Chippewa man, lived in the vicinity of Sugar Island and Sault Sainte Marie. He played a style influenced by French and Metis tradition. He is…
Ray Shepherd (1914 - 2001)
Ray Shepherd Biography The following quoted biography is from the OMFA 1986 book, page 153. "I was born in Royalton, Kentucky in 1914. My folks moved to Ohio near the…
Danny Johnston (1940 - 2020), Emmet Co.
Danny Johnston https://youtu.be/FaZumcEuwJ0BiographyDanny Johntson has lived his entire life in the Harbor Springs / Goodheart area of Northern Michigan, an area rich in fiddle traditions. One of the earliest hosts…
Restore Douglass (b. 1914), Mecosta Co.
Photo by Mary Whalen on behalf of Michigan State University Michigan Heritage Awards Biography of Restore Douglass, 2001 awardee. The following bio is from the 1986 OMFA book, page 151:…
Les "Red" Raber (1911 - 2000), Allegan Co.
Les Raber was an influential fiddler and recordings and bio information are widely available, so I won't re-invent any wheels here. Please see the below links for more info on…
Why Hasn't Everyone Heard of Michigan Fiddling?: Ethnocentrism in Folk Music -- by Trae McMaken
Why-Hasnt-Everyone-Heard-of-Michigan-Fiddling-Ethnocentrism-in-Folk-Music.Download
Helen Gross (b. 1902), Washtenaw Co.
Helen Gross as a girl Helen Gross was an influential fiddler from Saline, Michigan. Born in 1902, Helen Gross played for dances from her youth and influenced other fiddlers in…
Stewart Carmichael (1899 - 1990), Mecosta County.
Stewart Carmichael, left-handed fiddler from Mecosta County Biographical (The following biographical information prepared by Jim McKinney) Stewart Carmichael was born May 6, 1899 in Chippewa Township, Mecosta County, Michigan. …
Frank Mattison (1893-1986), Iona County.
Biography The Michigan Heritage Awards Biography Frank Mattison, 1985 Awardee. From the OMFA 1986 book, page 12: "Frank is our oldest living fiddler in OMFA and is presently 92…
County Histories Series: Detroit and Grosse Point
Detroit and Grosse Point Source: Grosse Pointe on Lake Sainte Claire. : Historical and descriptive. Commentary: I like Detroit history because I like North American French history. People…
Patrick Bonner (b. 1882), Beaver Island
Patrick Bonner at the King Strang Hotel, Beaver Island. Patrick Bonner: History and Interviews (This history and interview collection presented through the hard work of fiddler and historian Glenn Hendrix. Many…
Col. John A. Pattee (1844-1924), Wayne County
Colonel John A. Pattee (1844-1924) was a remarkably interesting fiddler of Michigan claim. I won't try to copy the work others have done in writing about Pattee's life, but I…
Jim Scott (b. 1868)
A Black String Band and Vaudeville Tent Show from Mecosta County, Michigan ca. 1900 Trae McMaken Almost all the factual information presented here derives from the remarkably interesting website of…
Jasper "Jep" Bisbee (1843 - 1935)
Photo with piano and bass player is photo of Jep Bisbee with daughter Beulah and son Earl. Jasper "Jep" Bisbee 1843-1935 Biography A great biography of Jasper "Jep" Bisbee was written by…
A Battle of the Ballads: Song Traditions of Michigan vs. Appalachia -- by Trae McMaken
A-Battle-of-the-Ballads-Song-Traditions-of-Michigan-vs-AppalachiaDownload
"Deportment in Dancing" by Henry and Clara Ford
Henry and Clara Ford dancing Deportment in Dancing From Good Morning by Henry and Clara Ford, Dearborn Publishing Company, 1926 Contributed by Glenn Hendrix, with thanks to Glen Morningstar Henry…
Ruby John (b. 1990), Leelanau Co.
Ruby John and Danny Johnston Born in 1990 in Traverse City, Michigan, Ruby is the daughter of commercial fishermen and is a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa…
Cecil McKenzie (1912), St. Clair County?
Photo credit: Photo by Al Kamuda Link: Michigan Heritage Awards Biography of Cecil McKenzie, 1986-1987 awardee.
Eddie Kranz, Thumb Region
Excerpt from House Party: Reminiscences by Traditional Musicians and Square Dance Callers in Michigan’s Thumb Area "Eddie Kranz is a smiling, friendly man who has spent his entire life on…
Lawrence "Honey" McCoy (b. 1904), Chippewa Co.
Photo credit: Al Kamuda Link: The Michigan Heritage Awards Biography of Lawrence "Honey" McCoy, 1986-1987 awardee.
George Nousianen (b. 1916)
The following is from James P. Leary's liner notes from his LP set of field recordings, Accordions in the Cutover: Field Recordings of Ethnic Music from Lake Superior's South Shore, 1989, produced by Northland…
Ralph Flowers
Ralph Flowers playing the saw, from the same source as the below bio Excerpt from House Party: Reminiscences by Traditional Musicians and Square Dance Callers in Michigan's Thumb Area "Ralph…
Original Michigan Fiddlers Association 1986 Book
Uploaded with permission of the OMFA. OMFA-1986Download
Original Michigan Fiddlers Association 25 Year Anniversary Book
Post with permission from the OMFA. OMFA-2001Download
County Histories Series: Saginaw and Environs
Source: History of Saginaw county from the year 1819 down to the present time. Comp. from authentic records and other sources: traditionary accounts, legends, anecdotes, &c., with valuable statistics, and…
Eliot Singer's Response to Trae's Manifesto, with follow-up from Trae.
If anyone else wants to weigh in, please send in your responses and discussions. Input is wonderful! Eliot Singer's Response to Trae's Michigan Fiddling Manifesto: …
Anne Lederman's Response to the Michigan Fiddling Manifesto Discussion
Biography of Anne Lederman:Originally from Manitoba, Anne Lederman is a fiddler, singer and mutli-instrumentalist, composer and researcher. She has performed and recorded under her own name and with many artists…
Obituary for Elmer Askwith, Michigan fiddler
Thanks to fellow fiddler James LaForest for giving me a heads up on this. Obituary for Elmer Askwith Source: https://www.galerfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Elmer-Askwith-1833/#!/Obituary "Elmer Askwith died in his home, just where he wanted…
Memories of Patrick Bonner, from John Bruen
I enjoyed reading the information on your site regarding Patrick Bonner: http://www.michiganfiddle.com/patrick-bonner-history-and-interviews. I had the distinct pleasure of watching him play his fiddle shortly before he died. My mother's sister was…
Digitized Footage of Fiddlers from Detroit Fiddle Contest
This may be one of the most exciting things I've stumbled upon in a long time! https://youtu.be/GlVbN7SqPdY https://youtu.be/OdWKlhcz73w
All From the Heart: The Fiddling of Rene Coté
The Michigan State University Museum's "Great Folks Blog" is currently featuring weekly posts from my recent fieldwork trip around Michigan to interview fiddlers. http://gr8tfolks.blogspot.com/2014/06/all-from-heart-fiddling-of-rene-cote.html
Waltzes with Bob Bernard
Head out over to the MSU Great Folks blog to check out another post from my fieldwork for the National Endowment for the Arts grant through the MSU Museum. http://gr8tfolks.blogspot.com/2014/07/waltzes-with-bob-bernard.html?m=1…
Blog entry about fiddler Ruby John
Click the following link for the blog entry at the MSU Museum Blog. http://gr8tfolks.blogspot.com/2014/07/across-generations-ruby-john-and-her.html?m=1
Fiddlers and Collectors: Jim McKinney and Glenn Hendrix
Check out the post about Jim McKinney and Glenn Hendrix as MSU Museum's Great Folks Blog: http://gr8tfolks.blogspot.com/2014/08/fiddlers-and-collectors-glenn-hendrix.html
Congratulations to Danny Johnston of Goodhart, Michigan.
Congratulations to Danny Johnston of Goodhart, Michigan. On August 10 at the 2014 Great Lakes Folk Festival Danny was awarded the Michigan Heritage Award for his fiddling and impact in…
The Karl Boyarski Collection
The Byarski CollectionKarl Byarski lives in Huron County, Michigan in what is known as the Thumb area. In the early 1950's he purchased a tape recorder and started recording. He…
The Michigan State Championship Old-Time Fiddlers Contest
Written by Jim McKinney The Michigan State Championship Old-Time Fiddlers Contest was first held in October 1985 in Huron Township, Michigan as part of the Huron Township Applefest, a small…
Bill Sparrow
Billy Sparrow By Jim McKinney When John Freeman was in town in early December, he gave me what he described as ?David Park Williams? original cassette recordings he had made when…
Eddie Kranz Recordings from the Thumb
Evan C., a Michigan fiddler and fiddle maker, was so kind as to pass this along. This is a collection of Edward Krantz recordings from the Thumb.https://missourifiddling.bandcamp.com/album/tunes-from-the-thumb-msotfa-120
Karl Boyarski Homage Article
Karl Boyarski Homage article by Dave Langdon Dave Langdon wrote a homage article to the late Karl Byarski (an avid recorder of local fiddle music from the thumb of Michigan).…
Trae's Michigan Fiddle Manifesto (2012)
For the past year, I have had a growing conviction about the state of Michigan fiddling. Once prior I forged a manifesto similar to this but never used it. In…
