Greg Hooven

1969 ~ 2005

Old Time Fiddle Master

".....with us just a moment ago, never to be forgotten".

The late Joe Wilson, Director (retired), NCTA

Greg Hooven Archives
Galax, VA 24333
ph: 540-793-1695
greghoovenarchives@yahoo.com

Audio Archives - NEW TUNES -

"Bravest Cowboy" just added to the Archives page!

Lead vocals by Dale Morris, this is a version that appeared on The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters' album, "Hot To Trot" on Heritage Records

SCROLL DOWN ON THIS PAGE TO LISTEN TO RECORDINGS:

The purpose of this page is to post field recordings, live recordings, and anything not currently available on CD or from the Smithsonian Folkways website. If you have anything to add, please email it to me at greghoovenarchives@yahoo.com or if you prefer mailing it, to Greg Hooven Archives Project, c/o 215 Walnut Lane Charlottesville VA 22911.

The songs below include 5 songs from the October 2000 program at Sweetbriar College with Greg Hooven and The Galax Way (Greg Hooven, Jamie Loudermilk, Karin Morra Barnhill, Judy Chaudet). Included are the tradional tunes Texas Quick Step, Fisher's Hornpipe, Dixie's Hornpipe, Sally Goodin, and one original song by one of the students titled A Night in the Mountains.

Also included in this paragraph are links to 30 second snippets on three songs from the Smithsonian Folkways recordings from the October 1997 program recorded at The Barns at Wolf Trap, Vienna, Virginia with The Greg Hooven String Band (Greg Hooven, Bill Giltinan, Judy Chaudet, Heidi Sanders-Hooven). They are Darling Cora, A Lazy Farmer Boy, and Won't Come Unitl Morning. These songs may be purchased individually or as entire CDs from Smithsonian Folksways. These three songs are on two separate CDs.

There is a complete audio recording of a June 15, 1989 show of the Greg Hooven and the Back Step Band recorded at the Neptune Plaza in front of the Library of Congress. The official LOC record has pictures, interviews, signed programs, etc. from that event. This iteration of Back Step featured Riley Baugus (guitar), Ray Chatfield (banjo), Verlin Clifton (mandolin), Barbara Poole (bass), and Greg Hooven (fiddle). It is in the Smithsonian Archives, at the American Heritage Museum, viewable by appointment only. To schedule an appointment call 1 202 633 3270. A summary of that Neptune Plaza show can be found at the following: http://www.loc.gov/folklife/guides/neptune89.html . The archives record can be found at

http://memory.loc.gov/service/afc/eadxmlafc/eadpdfafc/2011/af011016.pdf

We just received 21 cassette tapes with numerous field recordings of Greg Hooven playing music with his friends at Galax, Elk Creek, Sparta, Mount Airy, and other places. We hope to convert them to digital format and upload. This is going to take several weeks. We're currently getting estimates on the cost of restoring and reformatting these cassettes by professionals as it's important to get the best end results from what may be one-of-a-kind music. Stay tuned!! The first five tunes from that effort are now posted below, thanks to the digital genius of Robert Neil Gabb. They are Liberty, My God Delivers Again, Hangman's Reel, I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow, and one Hooven original called Fiddlehead.

Ride Old Buck To Water
Recorded with unknown musicians in camp, Galax Fiddlers Convention, August, 1992
Bravest Cowboy
Recorded at Heritage Records, Woodlawn, VA (right next to Galax), lead vocals by Dale Morris and music by The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters. I'm working on getting the date it was recorded but guess somewhere in the early 90's. Digital conversion courtesy of Robert Gabb.
Citico
Recorded with unknown musicians in camp, Galax Fiddlers Convention, August, 1992
Paddy on the Turnpike
Recorded with unknown musicians in camp, Galax Fiddlers Convention, August, 1992
Benton's Dream, Field Recording from Galax Fiddler's, Aug. '95.
Another great tune from the late-night jam with Jacki Spector on banjo and Rick Davidson on guitar.
All Young: Field Recording from Galax Fiddler's, Aug. '95.
Greg on fiddle, Jacki Spector on banjo and Rick Davidson on Guitar. You can hear dialogue with Greg's voice before and after the tune. Also obvious is their camp's location - 'up against the fence' - which is why you can hear the traffic coming and going.
John Brown's Dream: Bobville Brunch, 2001
Another great tune from the Bobville Brunch, 2001, session. These brunches are are graciously hosted by Nancy and Bill Sluys at their Westfield, NC home and traditionally are on Sunday following the Mt. Airy Fiddler's Convention.
Ship in the Clouds, Bobville Brunch, 2001
For years, Bill & Nancy Sluys have welcomed post-Mt. Airy folks into their home for "The Bobville Brunch". This has produced some incredible configurations of musicians who rarely get to enjoy each other's jamming. This version of "Ship In The Clouds" is from one such occassion, June, 2001, and features Greg Hooven on fiddle, Bill Sluys on bass, Nancy Sluys on banjo, Tina Liza Jones on guitar, and perhaps others. Any additional input is welcome. Enjoy the banter as well!
Walkin' In The Parlor, Bobville Brunch, 2001
Another "Bobville Brunch, 2001" gem, with vocals by Tina Liza Jones. Greg Hooven on fiddle. Many others.
Old Jimmie Sutton, Bobville Brunch, 2001
Another great tune from the June, 2001, 'Bobville Brunch' sessions. Greg Hooven on fiddle. Many others.
Liberty
Recently acquired audio - details to come. Year - appx early 1990's. Much thanks to Robert Neil Gabb of The Prairie Belt Boys and the Brynmor bands for generously giving his time and energy towards the cleanup and digital conversion of this music.
My God Delivers Again
Great, raw emotion flows through both the fiddle and Greg's vocals on this tune. More detail on the year/players to follow. Much thanks to Robert Neil Gabb of The Prairie Belt Boys and the Brynmor bands for generously giving his time and energy towards the cleanup and digital conversion of this music.
Hangman's Reel
Details to follow, but for now, just enjoy! Much thanks to Robert Neil Gabb of The Prairie Belt Boys and the Brynmor bands for generously giving his time and energy towards the cleanup and digital conversion of this music.
I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Detailed information to follow. Much thanks to Robert Neil Gabb of The Prairie Belt Boys and the Brynmor bands for generously giving his time and energy towards the cleanup and digital conversion of this music.
Fiddlehead
I've been told that this is an original tune written by Greg. I'm not sure of the year and any of the details of this recording, but it smokes as usual! Again, much thanks to Robert Neil Gabb of The Prairie Belt Boys and the Brynmor bands for generously giving his time and energy towards the cleanup and digital conversion of this music.
Texas Quick Step - Traditional Tune played for Opening Number
In October of 2000, Greg and The Galax Way (which consisted of Greg on fiddle, Karin Morra Barnhill, guitar, Judy Chaudet, banjo, and Jamie Loudermilk, bass) participated in an NEA sponsored program called 'Blue Ridge Bridge', put on by the music department at Sweetbriar College, Amherst, VA. Also recorded that night were the traditional tunes Fisher's Hornpipe, Dixie's Hornpipe, and Sally Gooden. A special treat was Greg's interpretation of an original song written by one of the music students at an NEA summer program held at their facility in Amherst called Night in the Mountains which you can hear as well on this page.
Fisher's Hornpipe - Traditional Tune
Another tune played at the Blue Ridge Bridge performance, October, 2000, with Greg Hooven and the Galax Way. Greg was a big 'toe tapper' and you can hear his boot going on this tune.
Dixie's Hornpipe - Traditional Tune
The third tune played that night by Greg Hooven & The Galax Way. Greg really takes things to a new level at about 1:05 into the tape. The sustained applause by the audience at the end along with the announcer's comments show how well this Hooven twist on a traditional tune was received.
Sally Goodin - Traditional Tune
This well known traditional tune was added to the show to offer comparison with the student compositions. It was not a well known tune to this audience, but you can hear how much they enjoyed it by their applause at the end.
Night In The Mountains - Original Tune by a Sweetbriar Music Student
We were given these student composed songs and asked to make them authentic, as if they were traditional Appalachian tunes. This one song was selected. It was written by one of the students there. The finished product was a collaboration of the Galax Way members, but mostly it was Greg's interpretation of the original score. I recall he came up with it and taught it to the rest of us in about 15 minutes one night at practice.