Back-Step

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Old Time John Henry

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Released: Jun 8, 2006

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Old Time John Henry
3:27
6,731 plays
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Wildwood Flower
1:46
1,998 plays
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Susananna Gal
3:01
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Reuben's Train
2:37
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Forked Deer
2:07
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Total Plays: 14,281 / Plays Today: 2See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Americana / Folk / Roots Music
Location Mount airy, Un
Profile Views: 36269
Last Login: 10/17/2012
Member Since 6/5/2006
Type of Label Major
Bio
Back-Step is a trio, playing old-time dance music in the Roundpeak Style. Roundpeak is a driving, rhythmic dance music native to a section in Surry County, NC where it has remained an ongoing tradition for hundreds of years. With Nick McMillian on fiddle, Kelley Breiding on Banjo, and Chester McMillian on guitar, Back-Step lends the audience a real connection to American music traditions. Eighth generation roundpeak musician, Nick McMillian has a combination of a deeply rooted traditional style and his own infectious fiddling sound, haunted by the legendary roundpeakers he knew so well as a child. Chester McMillian, Nick's father, played with Tommy Jarrell both at home and in venues all over the country. Tommy favored his innovative style of guitar picking, and he recorded the albums "Picking on Tommy's Porch" and "Joke on The Puppy" with Chester. Chester was Tommy's official guitar player up until Jarrell passed away in 1985. In 1986, Back-Step was formed by Chester, fiddler Greg Hooven (1969-2005), and banjo player Bill Mansfield; the band became an instant success at square dances and the local fiddler's conventions. In 1988, the talents of Marvin Cockerham, Ray Chatfield, and an already quite skilled 8yr.old Nick McMillian on Mandolin, were added to the roster, leading to shows all over the country, including venues such as Merlefest, The National Folk Festival, Black Mountain Festival, and Brandywine Music Festival, all while still upholding the tradition of attending local fiddler's conventions. In 1990, Back-Step recorded an album titled "Old Sport" which is available on the Heritage label. Back-Step enjoyed sharing the stage with musicians like Kevin Wimmer, Riley Baugus, Kirk Sutphin, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brian, and many others through the years. After much success, the band experienced many changes in the line-up and by 1993, found themselves slowing down. Chester and Nick continued to play music at home, where Nick began developing his fiddling talents through the mentoring of his banjo and fiddle-playing Grandfather, on his mother's side, Dix Freeman (1908-1995). Dix, a 6th generation native of the Roundpeak area, kept a careful watch over Nick as he helped him learn to play fiddle and banjo, always making sure it was played in the traditional way. These talents eventually led Nick and Chester to appear on The New Pilot Mountaineers recording "Down The Road" in 1998. By 2000, Nick had developed a roundpeak fiddling style of his own, and became the official leader of Back-Step, 12 years after joining the group as a child. At this same time, fellow NC native, Kelley Breiding, joined the McMillians carefully learning to play banjo in the roundpeak style and they began playing frequently, resulting in first place finishes at fiddler's conventions and warm receptions at local dances. The band has continued to play both at home and all over the United States at festivals, camps, dances, house concerts, instrument work-shops, and doing presentations on the history of Roundpeak Music. Back-Step released their CD "Rise and Bloom Again" in 2008, a great collection of Roundpeak tunes that you will find are evidence that the tradition continues. Please send an e-mail to roundpeakers@surry.net if you are interested in ordering a copy! __________________________________________________ --------------------------------------------------------------Here is a link to a you-tube video of Tommy Jarrell Talking about playing his first square dance at Dix Freeman's House, where we are pictured on our album cover. He also mentions playing music at the Freeman House with Nick's Grandfather Dix Freeman and Great -Grandfather Ben Alex Freeman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urB_EuOb2rY
Members
Chester McMillian on guitar,Nick McMillian on fiddle, and Kelley Breiding on Clawhammer Banjo.
Influences
Dix Freeman, Earnest East and the Pine Ridge Boys, The Shady Mountain Ramblers, Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham, Kyle Creed, Charlie and Tony Lowe, Mother Maybelle Carter, Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters, B.F. Jarrell
Sounds Like
Authentic Roundpeak Dance Music! .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..