Fred Cockerham, one of the seven children of Elias and Betty Jane Cockerham, was born on November 3, 1905. Commonly thought of as the banjo accompanist to Tommy Jarrell, Fred was one of the most accomplished of all the Round Peak, North Carolina musicians. He played the fiddle in a more modern style than Tommy Jarrell, but played the fretless banjo in an old clawhammer style much like that of his old mentor, Charley Lowe. Fred was the only one from the Round Peak community to attempt the difficult life of a professional rural musician.
There were two people whose playing so impressed Fred that he felt: "If I couldn't learn to mock them, why I'd just as soon quit." Charlie Lowe's banjo playing was so impressive to Fred that he worked hard to change his "framming" style to be more like the complex double note technique which Charlie used. The other main influence came from the airwaves, from far outside the community. This was the fiddling of Arthur Smith, who was heard over WSM's "Grand Old Opry" show, broadcast from Nashville, Tennessee. Smith, born in Tennessee in 1898, began to play on the "Opry" in 1927. He used a smooth low bow style that was quite different from the older style in which Tommy Jarrell played called "rocking the bow" .
Fred died four months short of his 75th birthday, on July 8, 1980. Fred's banjo was donated, along with Tommy Jarrell's fiddle, to the Smithsonian Institute.
Thanks for the add! My grandfather, Augustus Smith, played the banjo back in the 20s-50s back in NC and I am going to look into who he might have played with!
Thanks for the add FC - Your, 'Logan County Blues'and your versions of 'Pretty Polly' and 'John Henry' are still the best of them all! I continue enjoying your Kicking Mule tunes with Bob Carlin and Sue Cahill - Oppps, I guess that dates me! Take care and thanks for keep tradition alive...
Thanks for adding me.....I'm an NC native and familiar with Tommy Jarrell fiddling.....My dad actually knew Tommy......It was very cool to find a site about Fred.....and his music....
and to hear those great old time sounds.....
All The Best To You!
Karen Pendley
www.karenpendley.com
