Fred Coon
I learned my two-finger banjo style from my father who learned it from his Uncle, Otis Green, in 1930. This tradition goes back to the Civil War. My dad sang songs to me and that started me on my search for more.
In 1964, I was encouraged by the head of the English Department, to apply for a Benedum Foundation grant to collect tunes in Appalachia. They gave me enough money for a cheap reel-to-reel tape recorder and a little money for gas. Buddy, I was off and driving.
I am no scholar of ethnomusicology by any means. I was a college kid seeking more of what my father had sung and taught me. In my quest, I visited so many homes, ate well, made music, and most of all lifetime friends.
Three of my field collections were published by the Field Recorders’ Collective. There are two remaining collections yet to be moved from tape to files that can be heard beyond my living room. Those are Doc Boggs and Tab Ward, and I plan to release those in 2027.
I wish to thank all my friends, and the nameless people who took the time to make and send me the videos you will view on this website.