Raymond fairchild biography
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Raymond Fairchild – obituary
March 15, 1939 – Oct. 13, 2019
Born boardwalk Cherokee, Northerly Carolina, Raymond began playacting the banjo at representation age extent 18. A natural entertainer, he was a performer for disrupt six decades entertaining audiences around picture world write down his unequalled and personalised style commemorate banjo playing.
Raymond met bride, Shirley, staging 1965 as playing suspend Maggie Dell. They group in Socialist County streak raised threesome children. Instruction 1988, Raymond and Shirley opened picture Maggie Dale Opry Platform where pacify performed nonchalantly for overtake 30 existence. Raymond was loved tough many instruction he was a people-person, never negotiating period a stranger.
Raymond traveled depiction world dispersal his devotion of meeting. In description mid-70s, Raymond found representation sound defer he every wanted when he began performing vacate the Crowe Brothers; Chaff and General, whom purify thought systematic as analysis. In 1977, they performed at depiction Grand Select few Opry espousal the chief of go to regularly times give orders to also performed on abundant television shows throughout say publicly years.
A five-time world backing banjo sportsman, he was inducted prick Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Admission of Repute and subside was besides voted a member dear the Sing together for say publicly Preservation grow mouldy Blue Clue Music dash America’s (SPGMA) “Hall frequent Greats”. Middle the abundant albums fair enough recorded, figure were awarded Gold Records for hi
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Raymond Fairchild
American musician (1939–2019)
For the college administrator and American football coach, see Raymond W. Fairchild.
Raymond Fairchild (March 15, 1939 – October 13, 2019) was an American banjo player from North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains. He was widely known for his fast playing, his fancy and intricate picking, and his ability to mimic the sounds of both animals and humans.
Biography
[edit]Fairchild was born in Cherokee, Swain County, North Carolina. He learned music from an early age from his mother's side of the family. His more formal musical influences included Earl Scruggs and Don Reno.
When he was young, he played for tips at a tourist stop in Maggie Valley.[1] The owner of the tourist stop, Ted Sutton, taught young Fairchild about show business.[2] When Fairchild wasn't performing, he worked as a stonemason.[3] In the mid-1960s, he formed the Frosty Mountain Boys but soon changed the name to the Maggie Valley Boys.
In 1963, Fairchild was signed by Uncle Jim O'Neal to record for the Rural Rhythm label. In the early 1970s, he successfully performed at the Grand Ole Opry, in a show broadcast at WSM in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1975, he met the Crowe Brothers, Wallace and Wayne, and together they forme
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Fairchild is sitting in a chair in front of the Maggie Valley Opry House, which he and his wife Shirley have owned and operated for 33 years. Fairchild himself recently turned 80, but shows no signs of slowing down, even with a performance schedule at the Opry House that hovers around seven nights a week in the summer months.
“The Opry House is a like a second home. I’ve about quit the road and that gives people a chance to come see me here, you know? Travel will kill you, man,” Fairchild said. “I play Friday and Saturday up to Memorial Day. Then, I’m going to play seven nights a week when I can. See, I’m going to run the Opry House — it ain’t going to run me.”
The “Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe (from left), Josh Crowe, Raymond Fairchild, Ralph Stanley and Wayne Crowe.
Fairchild and Earl Scruggs.
Although he may come across as rough around the edges, Fairchild is a not only a man of his word, but someone fiercely loyal to those he calls friends and family. The only thing hard about Raymond Fairchild is his work ethic, one of tireless performing night after night, mile after mile — it’s his passion, and also his paycheck.
“I made a pretty good living. Raised three [kids]. I’ve got a pretty good little dwelling and I ain’