Description

Dean Sturgill was born in 1934 in the Spencer Branch section of Ashe County, North Carolina, where he still lives today. His father played clawhammer banjo, autoharp, and organ. His primary musical influences were his older brother Breece, cousin Paul Spencer, Esker Hutchins, Kenny Baker, and Albert Hash. Dean played with the Grayson Highlands Band for many years, frequently winning ribbons at local contests and entertaining dancers throughout the Blue Ridge. Dean is also a writer, poet, and storyteller. He has published three books of his poems about hunting, fiddling, and life in the mountains of Western North Carolina (available as PDFs here). – Kilby Spencer

Tracks 1-24: Dean Sturgill-fiddle, Dee Dee Price-banjo, Jerry Smith-guitar, Max Henderson-mandolin, Jo Ann Reed-autoharp, Freel Taylor-bass, recorded by Jerry Smith in the early 1990s. Track 25: Dean Sturgill-fiddle with unknown musicians, recorded in the 1970s. Tracks 26-29: Dean Sturgill-fiddle/poems, Jeremy Stephens-banjo, Kilby Spencer-guitar, recorded 2006.

Additional Notes: Poems by Dean Sturgill (incuding a video of Dean reading).