roscoe holcomb & wade ward: the music of...

Fantôme Phonographique present a reissue of The Music of Roscoe Holcomb & Wade Ward, originally released in 1962. A magical collection of Kentucky's own Roscoe Holcomb, one of the most legendary figures of Appalachian music and a huge influence on the '60s folk scene, and Wade Ward, a Virginia fiddle and clawhammer banjo player whose style has been often imitated. Playing banjo, guitar, and singing in that beautiful high lonesome sound, Roscoe Holcomb covers the first side of this LP, in his wild and raw style. A coal miner for most of his life, Roscoe knew the world he sang of all too well, his authenticity is unassailable. Wade Ward handles the second side, with banjo, fiddle, and vocals, playing in the Galax style and with more composure than the at times unhinged Holcomb. The last two tracks on Ward's side come from the Bogtrotters Band. The idea behind this recording was to showcase the extremely diverse styles that two banjo players both working in the old-time tradition could have, even if they were raised only a few hundred miles from each other. Though he found some success in the '60s thanks to the Greenwich Village scene, Holcomb stayed a laborer in Kentucky and passed away in 1981 at the age of 68, suffering for years from asthma and emphysema, the results of his years in the coal mines. Similarly, Ward spent his life as a farmer, despite his musical talent. What we have here is essential, and authentic American, from two of the largest names in old-time music. Comes in a heavy sleeve with a hand-numbered sticker; Includes A3 poster insert with liner notes; Edition of 500.