Red Clay Ramblers
Encyclopedia
The Red Clay Ramblers are a North Carolina
-based band founded in Durham, North Carolina, performing continuously since their formation in 1972. The original members include Tommy Thompson (banjo
), Bill Hicks (fiddle
) and Jim Watson (mandolin
, bass). Mike Craver
joined the Red Clay Ramblers in 1973, and recorded with them on their first record, which was released by Folkways under the title "The Red Clay Ramblers with Fiddlin' Al McCanless." The quartet continued their recording career with "Stolen Love" on the Flying Fish
label, recorded in 1974 and released in 1975 during their successful run in "Diamond Studs." Jack Herrick joined the band in 1976 as a bass and trumpet player. The band recorded, concertized and performed in theatrical productions, most notably Diamond Studs (Bland Simpson/Jim Wann) off-Broadway in 1975. Their 1977 recording, Merchants Lunch, describes a trucker's disastrous visit to a Nashville
diner
. (The diner still exists at the same location, but has been renamed the "Merchant's Restaurant").
The recordings produced by the Red Clay Ramblers during their first decade include "Stolen Love," "Twisted Laurel," "Merchants Lunch," "Meeting in the Air," "Chuckin' the Frizz," and "Hard Times," all on the Flying Fish label, and all available as CDs through Rounder Records. The first decade of the Ramblers also produced album-collaborations with other musicians, including Debby McClatchy in 1976 and Si Kahn in 1981. "Chuckin' the Frizz" is noteworthy as a live album. "Meeting" is an album of all Carter Family songs featuring the singing of Tommy Thompson, Mike Craver, and Jim Watson. These early albums featured several writing collaborations by Mike Craver and Tommy Thompson, the most "famous" of which are "Merchants Lunch" and "The Ace." Debby McClatchy recorded Hicks' most infamous original composition, "You Were Only F**king, While I Was Making Love."
Fiddler Clay Buckner joined the band when fiddler Bill Hicks left the band in 1981. The Red Clay Ramblers continued to perform steadily, including an Off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard
's Lie of the Mind in 1985-86. Following that production the personnel of the group changed, with Shawn Colvin
and Bland Simpson
replacing Watson and Craver. Colvin left the band August 1987, replaced by Chris Frank on guitar-accordion-tuba.
The lineup of Thompson, Herrick, Buckner, Simpson and Frank toured internationally from 1987 through 1993, including scoring two Sam Shepard movies (Far North, 1988 and Silent Tongue,1994). They acted in Silent Tongue, appearing as an 1870's medicine show band, where they met clowns Bill Irwin
and David Shiner
and spawned the seeds of what became Fool Moon, which they first performed on Broadway Feb.-Sept. 1993. Fool Moon returned to Broadway twice more (1995, 1998) and won a Special Tony Award in June, 1999.
Founder Tommy Thompson, who retired from the band at the end of 1993, suffering from Alzheimers, died on January 24, 2003
The band continues to perform and record as a quartet and with banjoist Rick Good of Dayton, Ohio, including composed works for the Atlanta Ballet
(2003) and the Carolina Ballet
(2005), and the musical "Lone Star Love" off Broadway in 2004-2005
The Red Clay Ramblers' last series of CDs includes: YONDER (2002); KUDZU (2003); RAMBLESHOE (2005); LONE STAR LOVE (2006); FOOL MOON: The Music (2007); and OLD NORTH STATE (October 2009).
http://www.earlyblurs.com The Red Clay Ramblers First 10 Years
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
-based band founded in Durham, North Carolina, performing continuously since their formation in 1972. The original members include Tommy Thompson (banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
), Bill Hicks (fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
) and Jim Watson (mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, bass). Mike Craver
Mike Craver
Mike Craver is an American composer and lyricist. He was born in North Carolina.-Biography:Mike Craver graduated from the University of North Carolina. He was also, for 12 years, a member of the band, Red Clay Ramblers. He has appeared in Sam Shepard's "A Lie of the Mind". He has toured, with the...
joined the Red Clay Ramblers in 1973, and recorded with them on their first record, which was released by Folkways under the title "The Red Clay Ramblers with Fiddlin' Al McCanless." The quartet continued their recording career with "Stolen Love" on the Flying Fish
Flying Fish Records
Flying Fish Records was a Chicago-based eclectic blues and country record label. It was founded in 1974 by Bruce Kaplan, former president of the University of Chicago's Folklore Society....
label, recorded in 1974 and released in 1975 during their successful run in "Diamond Studs." Jack Herrick joined the band in 1976 as a bass and trumpet player. The band recorded, concertized and performed in theatrical productions, most notably Diamond Studs (Bland Simpson/Jim Wann) off-Broadway in 1975. Their 1977 recording, Merchants Lunch, describes a trucker's disastrous visit to a Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
diner
Diner
A diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...
. (The diner still exists at the same location, but has been renamed the "Merchant's Restaurant").
The recordings produced by the Red Clay Ramblers during their first decade include "Stolen Love," "Twisted Laurel," "Merchants Lunch," "Meeting in the Air," "Chuckin' the Frizz," and "Hard Times," all on the Flying Fish label, and all available as CDs through Rounder Records. The first decade of the Ramblers also produced album-collaborations with other musicians, including Debby McClatchy in 1976 and Si Kahn in 1981. "Chuckin' the Frizz" is noteworthy as a live album. "Meeting" is an album of all Carter Family songs featuring the singing of Tommy Thompson, Mike Craver, and Jim Watson. These early albums featured several writing collaborations by Mike Craver and Tommy Thompson, the most "famous" of which are "Merchants Lunch" and "The Ace." Debby McClatchy recorded Hicks' most infamous original composition, "You Were Only F**king, While I Was Making Love."
Fiddler Clay Buckner joined the band when fiddler Bill Hicks left the band in 1981. The Red Clay Ramblers continued to perform steadily, including an Off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard
Sam Shepard
Sam Shepard is an American playwright, actor, and television and film director. He is the author of several books of short stories, essays, and memoirs, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play Buried Child...
's Lie of the Mind in 1985-86. Following that production the personnel of the group changed, with Shawn Colvin
Shawn Colvin
Shawn Colvin is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Childhood and early career:Colvin was born in Vermillion, South Dakota. Her formative years were spent in the town of Carbondale, Illinois, where she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She learned to play guitar at the age...
and Bland Simpson
Bland Simpson
Bland Simpson is an American author and pianist from North Carolina. He grew up in Elizabeth City. He has written six books, two of which also feature photography by his wife, conservationist Ann Cary Simpson . Simpson has become an authority on Eastern North Carolina's mysteries, geography and...
replacing Watson and Craver. Colvin left the band August 1987, replaced by Chris Frank on guitar-accordion-tuba.
The lineup of Thompson, Herrick, Buckner, Simpson and Frank toured internationally from 1987 through 1993, including scoring two Sam Shepard movies (Far North, 1988 and Silent Tongue,1994). They acted in Silent Tongue, appearing as an 1870's medicine show band, where they met clowns Bill Irwin
Bill Irwin
William Mills "Bill" Irwin is an American actor and clown noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He is known for his vaudeville-style stage acts, but has made a number of appearances on film and television and won a Tony Award for a dramatic role on...
and David Shiner
David Shiner (clown)
David Shiner is an American actor, clown, playwright and theater director.Shiner was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Francis Shiner, a computer programmer, and a homemaker mother. The lanky Shiner, usually donning a small dunce cap, started as a street mime, first in Colorado, and later...
and spawned the seeds of what became Fool Moon, which they first performed on Broadway Feb.-Sept. 1993. Fool Moon returned to Broadway twice more (1995, 1998) and won a Special Tony Award in June, 1999.
Founder Tommy Thompson, who retired from the band at the end of 1993, suffering from Alzheimers, died on January 24, 2003
The band continues to perform and record as a quartet and with banjoist Rick Good of Dayton, Ohio, including composed works for the Atlanta Ballet
Atlanta Ballet
Atlanta Ballet is a ballet company, located in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the nation’s longest continuously performing ballet company and the State Ballet of Georgia.- History :...
(2003) and the Carolina Ballet
Carolina Ballet
Carolina Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1997 which performs primarily in Raleigh, North Carolina and throughout the state. It has toured to New York City, Hungary and China. Robert Weiss, the artistic director, danced for George Balanchine for sixteen years at New York City Ballet and...
(2005), and the musical "Lone Star Love" off Broadway in 2004-2005
The Red Clay Ramblers' last series of CDs includes: YONDER (2002); KUDZU (2003); RAMBLESHOE (2005); LONE STAR LOVE (2006); FOOL MOON: The Music (2007); and OLD NORTH STATE (October 2009).
External links
- Inventory of the Red Clay Ramblers Papers, 1970s-1990s, in the Southern Historical CollectionSouthern Historical CollectionThe Southern Historical Collection is a repository of distinct archival collections at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which document the culture and history of the American South...
, UNC-Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States... - The Red Clay Ramblers official website
http://www.earlyblurs.com The Red Clay Ramblers First 10 Years