You may remember several months ago in the Bluegrass Trivia game there was a question “What was Carlton Haney MOST famous for?” The correct answer was — producing the first weekend-long multi-act camping bluegrass festival near Roanoke VA (Fincastle VA) in 1965. The several alternative answers were all also true. Carlton had a wide portfolio! But in bluegrass he is MOST famous for coming up with the bluegrass festival.
This week my FaceBook friend Mike Bub, Nashville bass fiddle player, posted a long (an hour and a half) video interview with Carlton Haney that was recorded in 2006. (Carlton passed away a few years later.) Mike posted the interview on FB for all to wallow in. It was original videoed for the International Bluegrass Music Musem’s Oral History project. It also got placed in the Governor Louie B Nunn Oral History archives for the Commonwealth of Kentucky,
I’ve watched videos of Carlton holding forth previously. He loved to spin a story! He had a good memory and loved to “instruct”. I learned a LOT more from watching this video. And he puts the kibosh on a few mistaken stories and rumors. Man, Carlton was DEEP!
Here’s one teaser to get you to watch this video. What’s the relationship of Thelonius Monk to bluegrass?
You’ll read about Malissa Monroe. Bill Monroe. Country music stars. Money. Philosophy. Pythagoras.
And finally, a very personal Carlton/Bill Monroe “sto-rey” that is pure Twilight Zone.
Enjoy!!
Here’s the 50th Anniversary of Carlton’s First Festival
http://frobbi.org/audio/fincastle65
FYI, the video of Carlton Haney being interviewed by Fred Bartenstein was recorded at the 2006 Bass Mountain Bluegrass by Clai Lashley and the late Marcus Smith.