Carl Story
Encyclopedia
Carl Story was an influential bluegrass music
ian and leader of his band the "Rambling Mountaineers". He was dubbed "The Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music" by the governor of Oklahoma.
into a musically inclined family. His father played the fiddle and his mother played the guitar and Story learned to master both fiddle, guitar and clawhammer banjo. In the early 1930s, after winning a fiddle contest, he joined "J. E. Clark and the Lonesome Mountaineers" performing at WLVA
in Lynchburg, Virginia
. In 1934, he formed the "Rambling Mountaineers" together with banjo player Johnny Whisnant and guitarists Dudley Watson and Ed McMahan. Within a year they played over radio station WHKY in Hickory, North Carolina
. It later led to performances at WSPA
in Spartanburg, South Carolina
and WWNC
in Asheville, North Carolina
. They recorded for ARC
in 1939 and Okeh Records
in 1940; however, these recordings were never issued. Story played with Bill Monroe
in 1942 as a fiddler - replacing Howdy Forrester
who had been drafted - but eventually he was drafted too in October 1943.
After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, he began performing with his "Rambling Mountaineers" on the "Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round" show at KNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee
. In 1947, he recorded for the Mercury
label. At the recording sessions of 1947, Story temporarily labelled his band the "Melody Four Quartet". During the 1950s, Carl Story's "Rambling Mountaineers" performed on the "Farm and Fun Time Show" at WCYB
in Bristol, Virginia
and on the "Cas Walker Show" over WBIR-TV
in Knoxville, Tennessee. His "Mountaineers" also appeared on radio stations WAYS in Charlotte, North Carolina
, WEAS in Decatur, Georgia
, and WLOS
in Asheville, North Carolina. He had a new recording contract on Columbia Records
in 1953. Two years later he was back to Mercury Records. In 1957, he switched label to Starday Records where he stayed for eighteen years. In 1960, Story began working as a deejay
for WFLW
in Monticello, Kentucky
. Beginning in the 1960s, and for the next twenty years, Story toured extensively throughout the USA and Europe. He signed another recording contract with CMH Records
in the mid-1970s. He settled down in Greer, South Carolina
working as a deejay over WCKI
in Greer. He died in 1995.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
ian and leader of his band the "Rambling Mountaineers". He was dubbed "The Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music" by the governor of Oklahoma.
Biography
Story was born in Lenoir, North CarolinaLenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
into a musically inclined family. His father played the fiddle and his mother played the guitar and Story learned to master both fiddle, guitar and clawhammer banjo. In the early 1930s, after winning a fiddle contest, he joined "J. E. Clark and the Lonesome Mountaineers" performing at WLVA
WLVA
WLVA is a Religious formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, serving Lynchburg, Roanoke and Bedford. WLVA is owned and operated by Truth Broadcasting Corporation.-History:...
in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. In 1934, he formed the "Rambling Mountaineers" together with banjo player Johnny Whisnant and guitarists Dudley Watson and Ed McMahan. Within a year they played over radio station WHKY in Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
. It later led to performances at WSPA
WSPA-FM
WSPA-FM is an Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Spartanburg, South Carolina and serves the Upstate region, including Greenville and Spartanburg. The Entercom Communications outlet is licensed to the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 98.9 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW...
in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
and WWNC
WWNC
WWNC is a radio station in Asheville, North Carolina. It transmits at 5000 Watts of power. It currently has a News/Talk format and is affiliated with Fox News Radio...
in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. They recorded for ARC
American Record Corporation
ARC, the American Record Company, also referred to as American Record Corporation, or as ARC Records, was a United States based record company...
in 1939 and Okeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
in 1940; however, these recordings were never issued. Story played with Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
in 1942 as a fiddler - replacing Howdy Forrester
Howdy Forrester
Howdy Forrester , born Howard Wilson Forrester, was an American bluegrass fiddler and a popularizer and practiser of the "Texas" or "show fiddle" style...
who had been drafted - but eventually he was drafted too in October 1943.
After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, he began performing with his "Rambling Mountaineers" on the "Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round" show at KNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. In 1947, he recorded for the Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
label. At the recording sessions of 1947, Story temporarily labelled his band the "Melody Four Quartet". During the 1950s, Carl Story's "Rambling Mountaineers" performed on the "Farm and Fun Time Show" at WCYB
WZAP
WZAP is a Religious and Southern Gospel formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Bristol, Virginia. The station serves the Tennessee Tri-Cities area with an AM signal at 690 kilohertz. WZAP is owned and operated by RAM Communications, Inc.-History:...
in Bristol, Virginia
Bristol, Virginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Washington County, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, and Sullivan County, Tennessee....
and on the "Cas Walker Show" over WBIR-TV
WBIR-TV
WBIR-TV, channel 10, is the NBC affiliate television station in Knoxville, Tennessee. The station is licensed to the Gannett Pacific Corporation, a subsidiary of the Gannett Company...
in Knoxville, Tennessee. His "Mountaineers" also appeared on radio stations WAYS in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, WEAS in Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, and WLOS
WLOS
WLOS is the ABC-affiliated television station for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina licensed to Asheville, North Carolina. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter on Mount Pisgah in North Carolina. The station can also be seen on Charter...
in Asheville, North Carolina. He had a new recording contract on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1953. Two years later he was back to Mercury Records. In 1957, he switched label to Starday Records where he stayed for eighteen years. In 1960, Story began working as a deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
for WFLW
WFLW
WFLW is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Monticello, Kentucky, USA. The station is currently owned by Stephen W. Staples, Jr.....
in Monticello, Kentucky
Monticello, Kentucky
Monticello is a city in Wayne County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,981 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County. It advertises itself as "The Houseboat Capital of the World" due to the large number of houseboat manufacturers in the city...
. Beginning in the 1960s, and for the next twenty years, Story toured extensively throughout the USA and Europe. He signed another recording contract with CMH Records
CMH Records
Founded in 1975, CMH Records is a Los Angeles based independent country and bluegrass label with several subsidiary labels, including Vitamin Records, Crosscheck, Dwell, and Rockabye Baby!, which release diverse styles of music including string quartet tributes, punk, metal, and lullabies,...
in the mid-1970s. He settled down in Greer, South Carolina
Greer, South Carolina
Greer is a city in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, between the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg. The population was 25,515 at the 2010 census. It is projected to hit 30,000 within 4 years. Each day, more than three times that number of people pass...
working as a deejay over WCKI
WCKI
WCKI is a radio station operating on 1300 kHz in Greer, South Carolina. Broadcasting Catholic programming, WCKI is owned and operated by Mediatrix Radio....
in Greer. He died in 1995.