Across the Blue Ridge #107 - New Year’s Welcome, and The Life of Curly Seckler

We enter 2018 with a satisfying selection of old-time, bluegrass, traditional country and gospel music – some standards you've heard, and some fascinating old songs and tunes that may be new to you.  The center of the show this week is an appreciation of Curly Seckler (1919-2017), the pioneering tenor harmony singer who, along with the rest of the Foggy Mountain Boys led by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, did as much as anyone to set the template for the classic bluegrass sound.  Curly Seckler was raised in China Grove, North Carolina and got his first big break with Charlie Monroe after Monroe heard him singing on a local radio station.  Our program segment features lots of Curly's music, plus some thoughts on his impact from his biographer Penny Parsons. Not only that, we get to hear Curly himself talking about singing high harmony to Lester Flatt.  Be sure to listen to this show, and share it with friends.  Happy New Year!

Playlist

1. Durham's Bull
   Steve Kilby
   A Century of Heritage Guitar Music
    
2. Fireball Mail
   The Brainstormers
   Never Gonna Rain
    
3. Beware Young Ladies
   Elizabeth LaPrelle
   Lizard In The Spring
    
4. Rattletrap
   Roan Mountain Hilltoppers
   Roan Mountain Hilltoppers In Concert
    
5. Possum Hollow
   Shenandoah Valley Boys
   Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys
    
6. I Cried Again
   Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys
   Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys
    
7. Shady Grove
   Wade Ward
   High Atmosphere
    
8. Break 1- Tee La Lollee
   Paul Brown & Mike Seeger
   Way Down In North Carolina
    
9. What's The Matter Now
   Curly Seckler
   That Old Book Of Mine
    
10. Are You Washed In The Blood
    Flatt & Scruggs
    The Best of Flatt & Scruggs TV Show
     
11. Interview - Penny Parsons
    Penny Parsons, author
    ATBR interview
     
12. New Mule Skinner Blues
    Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys
    In The Pines
     
13. Why Don't You Tell Me So
    Flatt & Scruggs
    1947-1959 Vol. 1
     
14. Why Don't You Tell Me So
    Flatt & Scruggs
    1947-1959 Vol. 1
     
15. Interview - Curly Seckler
    Penny Parsons & Curly Seckler
     
16. Please Help Me I'm Falling
    Curly Seckler
    The Best of Flatt & Scruggs TV Show
     
17. I'll Never Shed Another Tear
    Flatt & Scruggs
    1947-1959 Vol. 1
     
18. Break 2 - Foggy Mountain Breakdown
    Flatt & Scruggs
    1947-1959 Vol. 1
     
19. Here Am I, Oh Lord, Send Me
    Missisppi John Hurt
    Revisited
     
20. Warfare
    E.C. Ball
    High Atmosphere
     
21. Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down
    Frank Proffitt
    High Atmosphere
     
22. Dig A Little Deeper
    Fairfield Four
    Standing In The Safety Zone
     
23. Boat's Up The River
    John Jackson
    Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
     
24. Arkansas Traveler
    Fred Cockerham, Oscar Jenkins, Shag Stanley
    Down To The Cider Mill