Fiddler show to feature Grammy winner Bobby Hicks

For two centuries, folks have been following the French Broad River to hear the finest in traditional music. Cecil Sharp found ballad singers in Hot Springs, North Carolina. Bascom Lamar Lunsford searched over the hills and hollers for banjo players and buck dancers, and anyone having a house party or a barn dance was hunting up a fiddler to liven up the festivities.

This tradition continues every spring in Madison County when the area’s finest fiddlers come together for a concert to benefit The Madison County Arts Council.

On March 10, old favorites and new faces join together in jam-packed performances of old-time tunes, Bluegrass classics, sweet harmonies and family togetherness at the 12th Annual The Fiddlers of Madison County show.

“This year we want to honor master musician, former Bluegrass Boy, N.C. Heritage Award recipient and Grammy Award winner Bobby Hicks,” said Laura Boosinger, executive director of The Madison County Arts Council in Marshall, North Carolina.

“Bobby started on his fiddle journey at the young age of nine. He already was playing banjo, guitar and mandolin when he daddy came home with a fiddle. The senior Hicks’ intention was to sell the instrument, but Bobby took a liking to it and at age 11 won the North Carolina Fiddling Championship playing ‘The Black Mountain Rag.’”

Bobby Hicks is a name synonymous with bluegrass fiddling. Over his 60-plus year career, Hicks worked with Jim Eanes, Bill Monroe, country singer Judy Lynn, and for over 20 years with Ricky Skaggs. “Bobby has played on a number of signature fiddle recordings, including Monroe’s ‘Wheel Hoss’ and Skaggs’ ‘Highway 40 Blues.’ His recordings earned him 10 Grammy awards. He’ll tell you they make good doorstops, but we know he is proud of them,” Boosinger said. 

Also on the show will be N.C. Heritage Award winner Arvil Freeman and Arvil’s protégé, Bryan McDowell.  Roger Howell, famous for his memory collection of over 500 fiddle tunes, will perform, as will The Junior Appalachian Musicians of the Madison County Arts Council. For the first time, The Sons of Ralph will perform without Ralph. “We are saddened by the passing of the legendary Ralph Lewis. We are honored that Marty and Don Lewis will continue their dad’s legacy at the Fiddlers of Madison County.”

The performance will be held on the Mars Hill University campus at Broyhill Chapel, beginning at 3 p.m. Unlike previous years, there is only one show this year, she said. ‘Folks start asking us in January about our Fiddlers show. Ticket sales are already brisk,” she said. 

Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 day of show.Tickets are available by calling (828) 649-1301 or at www.madisoncountyarts.com.