Celebration: 25 Years of The Charlotte Folk Society
Celebration: 25 Years of The Charlotte Folk Society

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Liner Notes
1. Listen The Ruffians: Airly Days (James Whitcomb Riley/Carl Jones: copyright controlled)/Scrannie in the Sock Drawer (Karen Singleton), Jon Singleton, Albert Dulin, former CFS President Karen Singleton, Henry Trexler and Buddy McManus have been mainstays of the CFS for years; this is the opening track of their CD A Rovin' from 1994. Based on a poem by Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb Riley, with music by Carl Jones.
2. Listen Fret Knot: Thomas Hardy Jigs. Mary Fluke and Dan Bright met at the Celtic Trader jam sessions, a years-long, Thursday-night tradition in Charlotte, and formed their duo in the early nineties. The two jigs here, favorites of English novelist Thomas Hardy, are The New Rigged Ship and The Tars of Victory with Dan on fiddle and guitar and Mary on concertina. From their self-titled CD.
3. Listen Kilocycle Kowboys: Old Folks at Home. The KKs have been together since about 1972, with their "new" fiddler Glen Alexander joining about fifteen years ago. These days, they play Bluegrass, old-time, folk and swing music, primarily at various private events. Jim Whitley, Joe Cline (two of the original members, along with founder Jim Scancarelli), Glen and Darrell Gray.
4. Listen Magpye: Barn Dance. Former CFS President Shirley Kohl, Marti Sams and John Trexler also came out of the Celtic Trader's jam sessions, and asked Joe Cline to join them. In addition to playing Celtic tunes, they also are a prize-winning old-time band. From their disk, Southern Celtic.
5. Listen Wayne Erbsen: Red Rocking Chair. Wayne has taught at CPCC and Warren Wilson College, and plays all of the Bluegrass and old-time instruments. He was the teacher who inspired Marilyn Price to found the Charlotte Folk Society. From his CD (with Laura Boosinger) Log Cabin Songs.
6. Carolina Gator Gumbo: Sugar Bee (Eddie Shuler Tek Publishing, BMI). Charlotte's best (and possibly only) Cajun band! Jean Prewitt, Beth Brown Al-Rawi, Carole Outwater, Don Cowan, John Bishop and Dave Conlin play from their disk Into the Bayou. Distinguished early childhood educator and musician Dr. Thomas Moore sits in on tenor sax.
7. Listen The Burford Brothers: Crow Black Chicken. Former CFS President Tom Estes, Charles Bradford, Debbie Gitlin, Don Murray and Harold Lynch (Buford, Booboo, Bertha Anne, Bubba and Barney Buford) play old-time music and steal jokes wherever they can find them. Originally recorded by the Leake County Revelers, this song was for many years a signature song of the New Lost City Ramblers; from the Burfords CD, Songs from the Outhouse.
8. Listen Susan Sherlock: Coleman's March. The founder of the Yorkville Music Weekend in York, SC, Susan has served on the CFS Board of Directors. She took up the hammered dulcimer in 1995 and has gone on to teach and perform in festivals and workshops from Ireland to Arizona. This is a tune from her first disk, Wateree.
9. Listen Joe Newberry: Resurrection Day (Joe Newberry)/The Dusty Miller. A prizewinning banjo player, guitarist, fiddler and singer, Joe is also a gifted songwriter. He has performed for CFS several times with Julee Glaub and as a member of the band Big Medicine. This song was penned by Joe and the tune blends versions from Kenny Jackson and Bob Herring; they come from Joe's release, Two Hands.
10. Listen Carole Outwater: Blind Mary. A winner at Pennsylvania's Mt. Laurel Autoharp Festival, Carole performs this O'Carolan tune with former Charlotte resident Lois Hornbostel on mountain dulcimer. From Faces.
11. Listen Maggie's Fancy: Nova Scotia Farewell/Highlander's Farewell. One of the first bands to form from Marilyn Price's "Jam" class at CPCC, Maggie's played around town for years, until founders Doug and Darcy Orr left when Doug became president of Warren Wilson College in Swanannoa. This is one of their most popular numbers, from their Celtic Trader CD, with Brian Schmiel, Pam Keen and the late Nancy Toner.
12. Listen The Mallard Creek String Band: Hangman's Reel. Tom and Mary Margaret Walsh started the MCSB in 1970; there have been a number of different members over the years. The band still makes occasional appearances, usually at the Fiddler's Grove Festival in Union Grove, NC. This tune is from Tom's personal archive, recorded live at UNCC's on-campus Rathskellar; performed by Tom and Mary Margaret, Bob and Brian Schmiel, and John Wofford.
13. Listen Marilyn Price: The Four Marys. OUR FOUNDER, here backed by Carole Outwater and friends (from Carole's CD Faces). Twenty-five years later, Marilyn is still active, still wonderful, and a much-appreciated influence within the Society! A long-time member recently remarked, with regard to the creation of CFS, that Marilyn was exactly the right person, at exactly the right time. We all second that!
14. Listen Clyde Williams: Possum Hunter's Step Dance. Clyde learned this from the Possum Hunters band on the Grand Ole Opry in the thirties; it's actually a middle Tennessee tune, "Billy Wilson," but Clyde couldn't remember the title, and Jim Scancarelli and Mark Wingate started calling it by this title. Recorded onstage at the Union Grove Fiddler's Convention in 1970, with Mark Wingate, Jim Scancarelli, Jim Whitley and Chuck Dunlop.
15. Listen Si Kahn: Aragon Mill (Si Kahn, Joe Hill Music, ASCAP). A longtime supporter of CFS, Si has been an inspirational figure, as folksinger, songwriter, and particularly as an activist and organizer. His music reflects his life work in the labor and social justice movements. Aragon Mill, built and chartered in 1898, was once one of the largest in the state; so large in fact, that in 1979, when it closed down, Si wrote the song "Aragon Mill" to mourn the loss of one of Georgia's main employers.
16. The Annabelles: Richmond Woman (Mississippi John Hurt; Wynwood Music, BMI). Vera Gamble, Carole Outwater, Martha Kiker, and singer Dot Stiles, with guest mandolinist Brian Schmiel. From their cassette, and Carole's Faces CD; an old song from Mississippi John Hurt.
17. Listen Little Windows (Julee Glaub & Mark Weems); Pretty Saro. A Charlotte native, Julee lived in Ireland for six years where she mastered the Irish singing tradition. She performed and taught in the Northeast for several years until returning to NC and settling in Durham. She and Mark, also a seasoned performer (Weems and Gerrard Band, Stillhouse Bottom Band), share a love of Celtic & Appalachian vocal harmonies. Julee has performed on CFS stages several times and was a popular teacher in our summer Folk Arts Camp.
18. Listen The Dawn Treaders: Ride the Wind (Jane McAllister Pope). Gary Pope and Jane McAllister met through the Society, and soon afterward married and started their band. Gary passed away in April 2007; he will be missed. This is the title track from their CD.
19. Listen Rhiannon Giddens: Didn't I Dance (Lori Holland). From Greensboro, Rhiannon comes from a musical family and has a degree in voice from Oberlin Conservatory. She has performed for the Society as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Sankofa Strings, and is an accomplished fiddler and banjo player. From her solo disk, Many Voices.
20. Listen Pat Talbert: The Peacock Follows the Hen/Doun the Rooth/Papa Stour Sword Dance. Dr. Talbert edited the Society newsletter for a number of years, co-ordinates the fiddle and harp competitions at the Loch Norman Highland Games, and has been a professional viola player. She performs these Scottish tunes with guitarist Joe Cline and bodhran player Luchi Aveleyra. From her CD Peacocks and Angels.
21. Listen Ray Owens & Marc Rudow: Been All Around This World. A charter member of CFS, Ray has performed and played music with most everyone. He and Marc began making music together during college. Marc sings lead, accompanied by Ray and Caleb Rudow. From their CD Over the Waterfall.