John sent me the link to this picture and so many memories came rushing back. Our friends Vicky (far right) and Malcolm (3rd from right) were members of this seminal string band. (Complete information about the group HERE.)
Vicky and Malcolm were, more or less, responsible for our settling here fifty-some years ago. In 1960 Vicky and I had lived across the hall from each other during our freshman year at Emory and, as we were both sorely missing our sweethearts at other colleges, we spent a lot of time together. ('No,' I remember her saying once, 'I don't want to go for a walk--I'll just stay here and read Malcolm's letters and cry.')
The following year I transferred to UFlorida where John was, but Vicky and I kept in touch. She and Malcolm married the next year (I was there and caught the bouquet,) and they spent their junior year studying in France.
Back in the states, Malcolm was in grad school at Chapel Hill and it was then that they became interested in old time music and the Fuzzy Mountain String Band came into being.
After several years, the Owens (now three) moved to a mountain farm in Madison County, NC and, as we were still writing back and forth, it seemed a good idea to stop for a visit as we set out north to find a place to live back in '73.
We had meant to look at land in New York State, maybe even venture into Canada, but we found ourselves bewitched by the front porch music and the beauty of the land.
And here we settled. The Owens helped us find our farm and helped us in numerous ways. Their sons played with ours; we swapped work and meals--they were an integral part of our life for so many years. Indeed, the opening scene of Signs in the Blood is from an experience of Vicky's, and the entire Little Sylvie tale is based on a local legend Malcolm told me.
Time moves on. Vicky and Malcolm are both gone now. But their memories are, indeed, a blessing.
6 comments:
I am sure that band was delightful.
Such a sweet memory of your friends. Thanks for sharing about their lives, and your connections. Love the band's title.
Wonderful story! We've been old time music lovers since about 1960 when we first heard the New Lost City Ramblers and they said to listen to the traditional musicians. We've had the Fuzzy Mountain recordings and listened to them a lot. When My husband was in graduate school at Harvard, twice we made trips to NC for music festivals, considered moving there, but came back to the West coast instead. My husband played banjo in a few bands until a spinal stenosis damamged nerves in bands and feet. I'm a singer, know several hundred old traditional songs.
Enjoyed reading your reflection of time past. Sorry to read that both of those friends are gone now.
I became a fan of the mountain music when I moved to Clay County NC in1995. Barry and I were present at most of the events that featured old time music. The John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown still hosts concerts by these kinds of bands. Thanks for sharing your memories of friends that actually changed your lives.
Hopefully the music helps with the memories. Thanks for sharing. Pictures are such a plus!
Post a Comment