Curly Seckler To Perform During 34th Annual Event
MACES SPRING, Va. – Curly Seckler surely sounded excited.
The bluegrass musician, at age 88, recalled the memory of when he was last on stage at the Carter Fold in Maces Spring, Va., near Hiltons.
“I have not played there since 1987,” Seckler said during a brief Monday telephone interview from his home in Hendersonville, Tenn.
“I’m tickled to death to come back up that way,” Seckler said. “I used to work that every year, up every October.”
However, for the past few years, Seckler has been semi-retired, no longer roaming the road regularly from gig to gig. Even so, he claims to be the oldest, active, nationally-known bluegrass musician.
Born on Christmas Day in 1919, Seckler grew up listening to the music of The Carter Family in China Grove, N.C.
Later, over the years, Seckler became acquainted with members of the original trio: A.P., Sara and Maybelle.
Seckler said he once bought a book from A.P. Carter. He also noted “Mother” Maybelle Carter “was quite a great gal. She was just wonderful.”
‘VERY EXCITED’
This weekend, Seckler joins about 15 other acts on the bill at the annual Carter Family Memorial Music Festival, held at the Carter Fold in Scott County.
Other acts on the roster include Leroy Troy, Ronnie Williams, Big Country Bluegrass, Home Folks, Kody Norris and the Watauga Mountain Boys, Tennessee Skyline, Tim White, Bryan Linkous, Lorrie Carter Bennett and the Whitetop Mountain Band featuring Martha Spencer.
“We are very excited having folks like Curly Seckler and having Leroy Troy back,” said the Carter Fold’s Executive Director Rita Forrester. “This is the highlight of the year at the Fold. We’re expecting as many as 1,500 people a day at the festival.”
This year’s festival, the 34th annual event, is dedicated to the late Mary Ann Carter, a cousin of the late Carter Fold founder Janette Carter, Forrester’s mother.
The event is also dedicated to Sam Neeley, a family friend and longtime minister at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in Maces Spring, where members of the original Carter Family are buried.
Music is being staged on both days, Aug. 1-2, starting at 2 p.m. and running to nearly midnight.
“The music is inside,” Forrester said, “but, of course, they jam on the grounds, too.”
Craftsmen are also being featured on the grounds, offering such wares as baskets, books, buckets and quilts. Gate City’s Rex McCarty is also demonstrating chair caning during the weekend, Forrester said.
‘EAT GOOD’
For Seckler, playing this festival – with performances on Saturday (4 and 7:45 p.m.) – marks a chance to return to his roots as once being a member of the legendary Flatt and Scruggs.
Known for his tenor singing and mandolin playing, Seckler performed with the act from 1949 to 1962, playing on such classics as “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”
All through the years, ever since, Seckler has enjoyed playing bluegrass music.
“One thing I like about it is I’ve eat good with it,” Seckler said. “I’ve made a good living and an honest living with it.”
Honest and old-fashioned.
“I like the old stuff,” Seckler said. “I like it cut right to the ground – the grass.”
Make that bluegrass.
“I like the grass smooth,” he said. “I don’t like nothing fancy.”
Expect such simplicity in Seckler’s shows.
“I play two shows,” he said. “And they’re going to be like a good Martha White biscuit. Goodness gracious! It’s going to be good.”
YOU SHOULD KNOW
What: Carter Family Memorial Music Festival
Where: Carter Fold, Maces Spring, Va. (near Hiltons)
When: Aug. 1-2, 2-11:30 p.m. both days
Admission: $17.50 per day or $30 for two-day admission; children ages 6-11 are $1 a day; under age 6 are free.
Info: (276) 386-6054
Web: www.curlyseckler.net
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