In 1998, Matt began a field recording project on Sand Mtn. Alabama, to document the elder musicians living there. He recorded the likes of Jess Moore, Gene Ivey, Lloyd Heidt, Wayne Heard, Stanley Baker and Cast King. He is founder of the Chattanooga based old-time music collective 'Hill City String Band' and plays regularly with Chattanooga old-time groups Citico, the New Binkley Brothers and the Rivercity Roustabouts as well as solo on the streets of Chattanooga.
You can hear examples of his field recordings on Cast King's debut album "Saw Mill Man" - Locust Music (Cast released this at the age of 79). Also available are 2 collections produced and sold by Matt himself - "Walking up Sand Mountain" - which features the tunes and tales of fiddler Jess Moore (1911-2005) and "Gray Mule, Brown Mare" - featuring the music and memories of dobro wizard Wayne Heard (1925-present).
Matt began playing old-time banjo and fiddle in 2005, taking instruction from Cast King and Jess Moore of old Sand Mtn. and learning by osmosis from playing in Citico and studying the old-time fiddling of Ken Parr and clawhammer banjo playing of Ron Williams. Local tunes were studied and learned from old field recordings of Blaine Smith, Florrie Stewart, Eldia Barbee and Oscar Overturf. Today, Matt can be found carrying on the traditional and regional musical traditions of the Southeastern mountains on the streets of Chattanooga as well as at various venues in the surrounding hills and hollers. ----Leo Chancy-TN Dept. of Transformation
Thanks for the comment, Matt. We had a great time at JJ's...and it was really nice getting to listen to you play right before us. See you next time :D Wishing you all the best for 2008, Mo
crack the whip wear the wig count yer chips dance the jig Frost yer tips feed the pig string your banjer 'n book a gig! seriously, the kids'r pitchin' a big fat fit.
matt, happy new year to you and your family! i miss the shows in chattanooga, but at least i can listen to some songs here when i get nostalgic. hope everything is great in old chattanooga.
Hey Matt thanks for looking us up. The tunes on your page sound great. It's nice to hear people that don't play old-time a mile a minute. What I've heard of your field recording sound great. It must be a real enlightening project. I have some pictures of the banjo I just built posted on our page that might interest you. Well I hope you have a great day LPS
I have a groundhog family that lives in sight of my front porch. sometimes I'll be sitting out there playing banjo, and they'll come out to do forage. I can't help but think it's a bit ironic, all in all.
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Hi M D
It is rare to listen to this music of the beginning of the country, old time music, old time sounds, good impression . Thanks to invite Women folk duo français on your space
