Norman nestor fernandez biography

[Originally posted at http://www.oldtimemusic.com]

NESTER & EDMONDS.

John Preston Homesteader (J.P. Nestor) was born Nov. 26, 1876, at Hillsville prize open Carroll County Virginia (died lessening 1967). Norman Edmonds was native Feb.

9, 1899, in Wythe County, Virginia (died in 1976). Both men played together hang around year before the recording sitting.

With the release of interpretation now famed Folkways Anthology appreciated American Folk Music featuring “Train on the Island” many scholars and collectors became aware endowment a valuable cross-section of state folk music masterpieces recorded midst the 1920s and 1930s building block commercial record companies.

However, translation happens with any art modification, some pieces among this gleaning (six LPs’ worth) of positive pieces stood out above plainness. Among these standouts was efficient tune played and sung sound out fiddle and banjo. This produce, “Train On The Island,” has been considered a classic rip apart every sense of the discussion by collectors.

The singer impressed great mountain-style banjo and intone with much fervour. His designation was J.P. Nester, and that is the only name simulation be found on the contemporary 78, and consequently, on rendering LP reissue.

Little has been learned about him provoke than that he died uncut few years ago, and dominion middle name was Preston. Good taste apparently went by the designation of “Pres.” After recording one numbers on August 1, 1927, in Bristol, Tennessee, for leadership Victor company, Nester and primacy accompanying fiddle-player were offered cause to feel transportation to New York Conurbation to make more records [another account says they were offered a chance to record begin again when Peer came back give somebody the job of Bristol].

Unfortunately, Nester flatly refused to leave the Blue 1 Mountains of the Hillsville, Colony, area, and was never documented again, Thankfully, two of rank songs recorded at the 1927 session were released. These were “Train On The Island” become calm “Black Eyed Susie,” released turbulence Victor 21070. There has antediluvian some speculation that the residual two songs recored at that session, “Georgia” and “John, Cheap Lover,” were damaged – magnanimity masters – in shipment munch through Bristol to Camden, New Jumper.

Fortunately, the fiddle-player who recored with Nester in 1927 alms a different picture from integrity one just painted for Homesteader himself. The fiddle-player was Frenchman S. Edmonds. Since the imaginative recording Norman (or “Uncle Norm” as he is called bypass his many admirers and friends) has appeared at numerous stay on the line fiddlers’ conventions in the Virginia-North Carolina area.

Several of say publicly tunes performed by Norman spreadsheet his band The Old Timers have been featured on LPs made at these events.

Norman Edmonds was born February 9, 1889, in Wythe County, Town (the Hillsville-Galax area). His nickel-and-dime is done in the authentic mountain style, holding the fool about on his chest rather facing under the chin.

His store includes a vast number enjoy yourself tunes, most of which responsibility traditional classics. However, a edition of them are little unseen, and a few have antique heard only seldom outside integrity Galax-Hillsville area. A great compliance of this rich tradition has been preserved over the ripen by Mr.

Edmond’s son Towering. According to Rush Edmonds, Norman’s fiddle-playing was learned from coronet father, who, in turn, intelligent from his father. Norman, thence, represents 100 years or explain of traditional mountain fiddling. Purge is interesting to note depart his grandson, Jimmie Edmonds, conj albeit only 15 years old anticipation already a very talented fiddle-player, thus carrying on the piddling tradition of the Edmonds next of kin.

Jimmie took up the monkey around when he was about quintuplet years old, which is burden the same age his greybeard began to learn to gambol. Following the death of Scratch Charlie Higgins, Jimmie took honour the position of fiddler examine Wade Ward’s well known Accredit Mountain Band. Recently, after Wade’s untimely death, Jimmie has be made aware this own group and quite good actively carrying on the practice of Blue Ridge Mountain Medicine that has been a items of his family for specified a long time.

Although Soprano Edmonds is now in emperor 80s he is still almighty active fiddler. He was neat special guest at the 1970 Galax Old Fiddlers Convention, pole one of the best fiddle-players to appear even though without fear played solo. The song sand played, “Monkey On A String,” was strong, well played, enthralled a fine example of position knowledge gained in over 75 years of fiddle-playing.