Kyle Creed (1912–1982) was an influential musician and banjo luthier of 20th century Appalachia.[1] Along with Tommy Jarrell, and Fred Cockerham, he was a central figure of the Roundpeak-style old-time music that began to find an outside audience in the 1960s, and his clawhammer banjo playing came to shape banjo practices in the Old-time music tradition.[2]
Kyle Creed | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Andy Kyle Creed |
| Born | September 20, 1912 Round Peak, North Carolina, U.S.A. |
| Died | November 22, 1982 (aged 70) |
| Genres | Old-time |
| Occupation(s) | Carpenter, Luthier |
| Instrument(s) | Banjo, fiddle |
| Labels | Mountain Records |
Biography edit
He was born in the Round Peak area of Surry County, North Carolina on September 20, 1912, becoming immersed in the traditional music of the region from an early age.[3] Creed was a multi-instrumentalist but concentrated on clawhammer banjo, playing in various groups such as the Camp Creek Boys[4] and winning the prestigious Galax, VA Old Fiddler's Convention banjo competition in multiple consecutive years[5] He also operated a music store and built banjos for other players of the style. His work as a luthier continues to influence preferences and standards in open back banjo construction and sound.[6]
Particularly influential was Creed's novel practice of executing the right hand playing motion over the highest frets of the banjo fretboard as opposed to the standard method of striking the strings directly above the banjo head.[7][8] Kyle Creed recorded individually and with the Camp Creek Boys and is included in the Library of Congress Archive of Folk Culture and the seminal County Records Clawhammer Banjo series.
He died November 26, 1982.[9]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Kyle Creed," Encyclopedia of Appalachia, 2011, Encyclopedia of Appalachia. 7 Jul 2011 <http://www.encyclopediaofappalachia.com/entry.php?rec=64 Archived 2018-10-08 at the Wayback Machine>
- ^ Carlin, Bob and Dan Levenson (2010). Kyle Creed: Clawhammer Banjo Master. Mel Bay. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-7866-8271-3.
- ^ Faurot, Charlie; Tom Mylet; Kirk Sutphin (December 2009). "Kyle Creed: A 1966 Interview". Old-Time Herald. 12 (2): 23–32.
- ^ "Kyle Creed," Encyclopedia of Appalachia, 2011, Encyclopedia of Appalachia. 7 Jul 2011 <http://www.encyclopediaofappalachia.com/entry.php?rec=64 Archived 2018-10-08 at the Wayback Machine>
- ^ "Winners". Old Fiddler's Convention, Galax, Virginia. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ Carlin, Bob and Dan Levenson (2010). Kyle Creed: Clawhammer Banjo Master. Mel Bay. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-7866-8271-3.
- ^ Faurot, Charlie; Tom Mylet; Kirk Sutphin (December 2009). "Kyle Creed: A 1966 Interview". Old-Time Herald. 12 (2): 23–32.
- ^ Burke, John (1968). John Burke's Book of Old Time Fiddle Tunes for Banjo. N.Y.: Amsco. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-8256-2801-6.
- ^ "Kyle Creed," Encyclopedia of Appalachia, 2011, Encyclopedia of Appalachia. 7 Jul 2011 <http://www.encyclopediaofappalachia.com/entry.php?rec=64 Archived 2018-10-08 at the Wayback Machine>