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Fred Cockerham
Roots Music / Country / Acoustic

A tribute to the master. Enjoy!...




United States

Profile Views:  12405




Last Login:  11/8/2009
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   Fred Cockerham: General Info
Member Since10/14/2006
Record LabelUnsigned


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   About Fred Cockerham
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.

   Fred Cockerham's Friend Space (Top 22)
Fred Cockerham has 677 friends.
 UncleDave 


 The Skillet Lickers 


 Dan Gellert 


 Dave Landreth 


 Joe Newberry 


 Bascom Lamar Lunsford 


 ezFolk 


 Sadie Compton 


 Rafe Stefanini 


 Diane Sanabria, BanjoQueen 


 Gus Cannon 


 Adam Hurt 


 David Holt 


 The TransFrontier Sound System & Ephraim McDowell 


 Dock Boggs 


 Red Clay River 


 Josh The Jug Blower Extraordinaire Orkin 


 Big Hungry Joe 


 John Balch 


 Lowe Stokes 


 Nancy Sluys 


 Sean and his banjo 





Fred Cockerham's Friends Comments
Displaying 24 of 24 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Violinatta

Violinatta



Nov 15 2009 2:31 PM

Thank you for giving us that precious music to remember.  Violinatta thanks you!



www.violinatta.com
 

Life of Brian

BRIAN ALLINGTON



Nov 12 2008 12:43 PM

Thank you for adding me as a friend and sharing the brilliant music of Fred Cockerham.
Best wishes!
Brian
Richard Galluzzi

Richard Galluzzi



Mar 29 2008 11:12 AM

Thanks - i like to come by and get that sound into me every so often.
Jesper Deleuran

Jesper Deleuran



Feb 5 2008 5:27 PM

Thanks for the add. It's a great honor to be in the company of the late great Fred Cockerham.

Jesper
"Toons & tunes"
margaret

margaret



Feb 3 2008 11:17 PM

Thanks For The Add!!
Anyone Who Has The Chance To
Hear Freds Playing Has To Be Impressed!!!
Love The Clawhammer!!!!
Mike

Mike



Dec 24 2007 11:07 PM

Hey, thanks very much for the add. Fred rules! Happy Holidays.
Mike
Sleepy Eyes Nelson

Sleepy Eyes Nelson



Dec 13 2007 5:21 PM

Hey thanks very much for having me, I love this music!

Cheers and all the best from Sleepy Eyes Nelson.
SHISH

SHIsh TOncar



Nov 25 2007 8:00 PM

thank's for add,
it's a pleasure to listen this music

salutations de France
SHISH
FullMoon

Linda Sampson-Johnson



Oct 22 2007 11:40 PM

Thanks for the add. We need to get back to the true roots of some good music! Thanks for making this page, it's awesome!
Light,
FullMoon
piobagusfidil

piobagusfidil



Oct 8 2007 7:53 PM

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!

Karen
Latitude

Latitude



Aug 23 2007 4:01 PM

Fred's music is like a kick in the guts and a shiver down the spine at the same time. there's something otherworldly about it. Thanks for adding us.
PrairieDawg

Ted Daly



Jul 25 2007 1:26 PM

Good Morning Fred - Dropped in for a refill. Your music makes for a great start to the day, Thanks!
pDawg
Big Hungry Joe

Big Hungry Joe



Jun 30 2007 12:48 PM

Hey Fred whereever you are. Old-time heaven I suppose.

We thought maybe you and your friends would like to hear the 4 new recordings on our MySpace page?

Jesper
Big Hungry Joe
Old-timers from Denmark
PrairieDawg

Ted Daly



May 5 2007 11:17 AM

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...
Karen Pendley and HeartStrings

Karen Pendley and HeartStrings



Feb 28 2007 4:53 AM

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
Whiskey Bucket Blues Review

Whiskey Bucket Blues Review



Feb 27 2007 6:28 AM

Thanks so much for the add and listen,
It is truly an honor to be here.

Henry & Charlie
B. B. Wolfe

B. B. Wolfe



Feb 9 2007 8:27 PM

hi fred,

you sure can rock that cradle. best wishes.

bb wolfe
www.bbwolfemusic.com
Sean and his banjo

Sean and his banjo



Jan 28 2007 9:45 PM

Have anything from the mythical "home recordings" for us to hear? PLLEEAASSE.....
Big Hungry Joe

Big Hungry Joe



Jan 24 2007 5:55 PM

Thanks for the add.
Fred Cockerham is one of our heroes. Happy to see you among our friends.

Best wishes
Big Hunry Joe.
Old Timers from Copenhagen Denmark.
Jim Arkus

Jim Arkus



Dec 3 2006 4:56 PM

Thanks for the add.. LOVE your music...
Sadie Compton

Sadie Compton



Nov 15 2006 2:28 AM

Here's to a feller who's given so much inspiration & enjoyment to so many Old Time music fiends like me!

Proud to be a friend of Fred.
Rebekah

Rebekah



Nov 3 2006 5:11 PM

All the way from Tennessee, a great big howdy to you from me. Thanks for the add. Banjo gal
The TransFrontier Sound System & Ephraim McDowell

The TransFrontier Sound System &  Ephraim McDowell



Nov 3 2006 2:05 AM

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Now there was a banjo man,

cheers, Ephraim
Dyad

Dyad



Oct 15 2006 6:17 PM

nice to see you back - let's have coffee sometime
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