Charlie Poole & his North Carolina Ramblers were one of the most popular string bands of the 1920s and had a great influence on the development of bluegrass music. Poole is largely responsible for popularizing the banjo and creating a unique playing style involving a thumb and two fingers.
He was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, and spent much of his adult life working in textile mills. He learned banjo as a youth and also played baseball. (It is believed that his playing style stemmed from a baseball accident involving his thumb.) When not working in mills, he would travel from town to town across the country to play banjo and work.
He settled in Spray, North Carolina in 1918 and married two years later. His brother-in-law, fiddler Posey Rorer, would often play with other local musicians and together they became the North Carolina Ramblers. Poole and Rorer teamed up with guitarist Norm Woodlief in 1925 and began recording careers in New York for Columbia Records. There they cut four songs; all were successful, including the bluesy "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down," a country standard and Poole's signature song. The Ramblers were suddenly a popular stringband. Though the personnel changed frequently over the years, the band's unusual sound remained consistent. As the vocalist, Poole sang with a plain, uninflected style that complemented his complex banjo picking. The songs they sang were a mixture of minstrel songs, Victorian ballads, and humorous burlesques all delivered with Poole's straight-faced dry wit. Through the rest of the decade, the Ramblers released close to 60 singles for Columbia. Like many country performers to follow, Poole lived a fast life; he was a hard drinking man, rowdy and reckless.
When the Depression hit in 1930, Poole's career had peaked and his popularity began waning as did his self-confidence. As a result, he began drinking even more heavily. Scheduled to appear in a film in 1931, he unfortunately went on a bender and died of heart failure before he could get to Hollywood. After his death, Rorer (who had left the band in 1929) and guitarist Roy Harvey (who'd replaced Woodlief around the same time), began leading the North Carolina Ramblers. The group continued to record and perform for a quite a few years afterward.
Poole's music enjoyed renewed popularity during the folk revival of the '60s and in 1993, a CD of his best songs was released. Also, Kinney Rorrer wrote and published Ramblin' Blues, a biography of the great banjo player.
Thanks for all your supporting comments, i'm so glad you enjoyed my fathers music. Its always brought me alot of pleasure. Feel free to listen anytime!
Dear Mr. Poole, Thanks for showin' us how to do it. Thanks for keepin' it real! ...and thanks for being my friend, Tim PS:Roots, Rags and Blues IS OUT NOW...AT LAST! Order online at TrueFire
Thanks for all your supporting comments, i'm so glad you enjoyed my fathers music. Its always brought me alot of pleasure. Feel free to listen anytime!
Charlie Poole - stands as an institution of traditional music. May your memory and influences reach far and your tunes live forever!
Take Care CP and thanks for letting me be part of your circle of friends.
Prairie
HELP PUT THE STANLEY BROTHERS IN THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME!
Ralph Stanley has received many well-deserved honors in the last few years, yet one honor eludes him. While many of their fellow musicians and singers have been recognized by The Country Music Hall of Fame, THE STANLEY BROTHERS have been sadly -- some say criminally -- overlooked.
Jeanie Stanley, youngest daugher of Carter, and fan Kaye Hill have organized an on-going petition to change all that.
"The Country Music Hall of Fame recognizes those persons who have made a significant contribution to the country music field," says Hill. "The Stanley Brothers helped lay the foundation for what we have today. Their names deserve to be listed among greats like Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs, who have already be recognized."
You can join their efforts in one of the following ways:
Contact the CMHoF directly:
Mr. Kyle Young, President
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
222 Fifth Avenue South
Nashville TN 37203
Or, if you prefer, you can send a letter to Kaye Hill, who will forward them to the HoF.
D. Kaye Hill
PO Box 2553
Harrisonsonburg VA 22801
Kay says, "a simple one-line note is all that would be required, but please remember to supply your name and address, and an email address if applicable. I will be collecting all letters and forwarding them to the Country Music Hall of Fame."
To be honest...I had never heard of Charlie Poole until I came across this page.
Thanks for spreading the word!!! He's gained another Fan thanks to you!!
What's good Charlie Poole? Just stopping through as usual. Have a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Since it's a holiday I released 3 FREE T-Bro RINGTONES! If you want one... go to my website and help your self. Stay up, T-Bro.
The late jug master (1939-2005) plays some of the spookiest tones ever on the previously unreleased "Visiting Day." Recorded by the Jailhouse Jug Band, the tune is currently spotlighted on the Jug Bandolier player.
