A masterful "Symphony from the Mountains" touching all the emotions from happy to devotional, with irresistible fiddle rhythms to raise your spirits and soothing acoustic melodies for the soul.

20 MP3 Songs
FOLK: String Band, COUNTRY: Traditional Bluegrass

Show all album songs: Hills & Heroes Songs


Details:
âHills & Heroesâ - - a title that conjures up scenes of rural, rugged Madison County in the westernmost part of North Carolinaâs high mountains, and home to native Roger Howell - - one of the most celebrated practitioners of the regionâs traditional music. An award-winning fiddler and multi-instrumentalist, Roger takes us back to his early days of musical upbringing, when almost every home in his community of Banjo Branch had some form of string music for entertainment. But, this cd offers a wider variety of styles and influences from his many friends over the years in other parts of the nation as well.

With his earliest influences being the ever-popular Saturday afternoon TV shows of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, The Wilburn Brothers, The Stoneman Family, and Porter Wagoner in the early 1960âs, his uncanny fascination with early bluegrass and old-time country began by teaching himself guitar at age 12. He learned clawhammer banjo from elderly neighbors only shortly thereafter, so began Rogerâs lifelong passion with traditional music. He became a âmusical spongeâ, and took in all the old tunes and songs of the region, and soon became fascinated with what would later become his main instrument, the fiddle. With some persistent observation and a lot of hard work, Roger began to pick up the unique bow styles and repertoire from local fiddle legends Tommy Hunter and Woodrow Boone, and began appearing at local festivals in the 1970âs. Since then, Roger has become one of the most respected fiddle players from this mountain region, and has the reputation of being an important preservationist and collector of fiddle tunes, which come from the areaâs rich Scotch-Irish tradition.

Roger started his own label Bearwallow Music and produced several cassette tapes of local fiddler Woodrow Boone, as well as one of his own, and soon began a working relationship with Ernest Smith, son of the early Grand Old Opry star âFiddlinâ Arthur Smithâ. This collaboration resulted in Roger cultivating friendships with many of the genreâs top fiddlers, including the legendary Benny Sims and John Hartford. Smith also passed along a vast amount of music via recordings of his famous Dad, and many of the other legendary figures of the early Grand Old Opry who he had worked with over the years. In 1991, a recording with Smith, Sims and with Roger on banjo entitled âTime Goes Onâ began Rogerâs proper recording career, and in the mid â90âs he joined the great âCarroll Best String Bandâ as fiddler. From there, as they say, the rest is history. Rogerâs many appearances at the regionâs top festivals and contests gained him dozens of championships in fiddle, banjo, and guitar, and later as leader of several top regional bands, including his "Carolina Old-Timers" and "Bailey Mountain Ramblers." He has become a very sought-after studio musician, and has to date appeared on over 35 recordings of other regional artists. In 1999, Roger was awarded the prestigious Bascom Lamar Lunsford Award for his many contributions to traditional music, has published several articles and written extensively about the regionâs musical heritage, and is still active in producing and promoting many of the areaâs major music festivals. Roger is also a well-known luthier, and when heâs not performing youâll find him in his shop repairing and restoring old fiddles, which are known for their remarkable tone.

(UPDATE: In 2007, Roger completed his âMemory Collectionâ of over 350 fiddle tunes (13 cds) , which have been donated to Mars Hill Collegeâs Lunsford Archives, as well as 8 other major universities in the US. Quite a resume for a mountain boy!)

âHills & Heroesâ samples the rich patchwork of Roger Howell's musical influences. Tunes like âChinky Pinâ came from his elderly banjo-picking neighbor Pearl Ball,(actually an old Robert Burns tune adapted to the fiddle), âRambling Hoboâ is an early solo banjo piece from Doc Watson, and âLady of the Lakeâ is a rousing fiddle tune from his early recollections of the Crook Brothers on the Grand Old Opry. For lovers of banjo-fiddle duets, Roger enlisted the help of his Scruggs-style banjo friend Tom McKinney on several numbers including Charlie Acuffâs âTwo Oâclockâ, Sam & Kirk McGeeâs âLafayetteâ, FiddlinâArthur Smithâs popular âBlackberry Blossomâ, and a classic two-style banjo duet on âSoldierâs Joyâ. For guitar enthusiasts, Rogerâs moving version of John Hartfordâs âPresbyterian Guitarâ is worth the price of admission, as is the early Thomas Moore piece âThe Minstrel Boy To War Has Goneâ, with Jim Taylorâs exquisite hammered dulcimer work. Of course, this album features plenty of old-time string band favorites, like âJimmy in the Swampâ and Rogerâs trademark âNew Five Centsâ, with banjo by friend & Grammy-winner David Holt. Even a couple of Rogerâs former bands make appearances here, including Danny Johnson String Bandâs luscious twin-guitar versions of âHog Trough Reelâ and âLittle Stream of Whiskeyâ, and Rogerâs own Bailey Mountain Ramblerâs onâFlop-Eared Muleâ, the smokinâ âPolecat Bluesâ, and the French-Canadian favorite âSt. Anneâs Reelâ. Friend and lap dulcimer-player extraordinaire Don Pedi even makes an appearance on a couple of tunes, including the rare âNewport Breakdownâ. And in a special moment, Rogerâs old friend Will Keys makes a cameo appearance here with his unique banjo style on the banjo duet âWreck of the Old â97â, and it stands as a poignant tribute to his late mentor. To round out the set, thereâs a lovely finger-picking guitar version of A.P.Carterâs âDiamonds in the Roughâ, with vocal by Carol Mallett, and Rogerâs fiddle on probably the most beautiful version of âAmazing Graceâ that youâll ever hear - - period! Wonderful bass accompaniment by friend Cathy Arrowood, and solid guitar licks courtesy of Leonard Hollifield make this project a great success, and the addition of informative liner notes and photos makes this cd an educational as well as a most pleasurable listening experience.

In short - - if youâre a fan of GREAT traditional fiddling, pristine guitar and banjo picking, or just fine traditional string music, youâll LOVE this recording! BUY IT, and find out why Roger Howell has been called the mountain's âBest Kept Secretâ. You simply canât go wrong!

â - - - Roger Howell has an ear for a great melody, and a sense of rhythm that is irresistible. You can hear his Blue Ridge Mountain roots echo through everything he plays!" - - - David Holt