Clark Kessinger
Encyclopedia
Clark Kessinger was an influential American old-time
fiddler. Many of his fiddle tunes made their way to other fiddlers or into the bluegrass music
genre.
and was raised in nearby Lincoln County
. At least two of his relatives were fiddlers and he also listened to local fiddlers but his biggest influence was Ed Haley
. Kessinger began playing the banjo when he was five years old and two years later he performed at local saloons with his father. He switched to fiddle and began performing at country dances. In 1917, he joined the Navy serving in World War I
. Upon his discharge, his reputation as a fiddler had increased and he visited many local fiddling contests. He teamed up with his nephew Luches "Luke" Kessinger (1906–1944) performing at various locations. In 1927, Clark and Luches Kessinger had their own radio show at the newly opened station WOBU in Charleston, West Virginia
.
On February 11, 1928, the Kessingers travelled to Ashland, Kentucky
to audition for James O'Keefe, a talent agent for the Brunswick-Balke-Collender recording company. The Kessingers were hired and, calling themselves The Kessinger Brothers, they recorded twelve sides the same day, six of the sides together with the caller
Ernest Legg. Despite Clark Kessinger's increasing success as a fiddler and recording star, he had a regular job as a caretaker in Charleston
. In the late 1920s, the Kessinger Brothers' records were best-sellers on Brunswick Records
. During these recording sessions, the Kessinger Brothers recorded many classics such as "Wednesday Night Waltz", "Turkey In the Straw", "Hell Among the Yearlings", "Tugboat", and "Salt River."
Kessinger was also greatly influenced by classical violin players such as Fritz Kreisler
, Joseph Szigeti
and Jascha Heifetz
. Following his last recording session on September 20, 1930, Kessinger retired as a recording artist. He and Luke Kessinger continued to appear as a couple on radio shows, country dances and clubs. For the next 34 years, Clark Kessinger worked as a painter. Meanwhile he performed together with acts such as Natchee the Indian, the McGee Brothers
, the Delmore Brothers, and Clayton McMichen
. When Luke died in 1944, the story of the Kessinger Brothers came to an end.
In 1963, Kessinger was rediscovered by folk music promoter Ken Davidson. Davidson persuaded Kessinger to return to the music scene and soon he was competing at several fiddling contests. In August 1964, Kessinger formed a string band in Galax, Virginia
consisting of guitarist Gene Meade and banjoist Wayne Hauser. His string band participated at the old-time music contest in Galax winning first prize in the string band category. Kessinger and his string band recorded for Davidson's label Folk Promotions Records. The recordings were released as "The legend of Clark Kessinger." Clark Kessinger continued to win prizes at different fiddling contests. In April 1971, he won the World's Champion Fiddle Prize at the 47th Old-time Fiddler's Convention in Union Grove, North Carolina. Three more albums followed on Davidson's new label Kanawha Records. His albums were later reissued on Folkways
and County Records
.
In 1971, Kessinger recorded 12 tracks for the newly formed Rounder Records
. The record company had plans to record many albums with Kessinger but before they could initiate what they had planned, Kessinger had a stroke and collapsed on the scene at a fiddler's convention in Virginia. His left hand became numb and he was unable to play the fiddle for the rest of his life. Rounder released his recordings as "Clark Kessinger: Old-time Music With Fiddle and Guitar." He died in 1975. Kessinger is interred at the Cunningham Memorial Gardens in St. Albans, West Virginia
.
Old-time music
Old-time music is a genre of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland and countries in Africa. It developed along with various North American folk dances, such as square dance, buck dance, and clogging. The genre also...
fiddler. Many of his fiddle tunes made their way to other fiddlers or into the bluegrass music
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...
genre.
Biography
Kessinger was born in South Hills, Kanawha County, West VirginiaKanawha County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
and was raised in nearby Lincoln County
Lincoln County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,108 people, 8,664 households, and 6,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 9,846 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
. At least two of his relatives were fiddlers and he also listened to local fiddlers but his biggest influence was Ed Haley
Ed Haley
James Edward "Ed" Haley was a blind professional American musician and composer.- Biography :Ed Haley was born in August 18851 on the Trace Fork of Big Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia. His father, Thomas Milton Haley, was a well-known fiddler in the Guyandotte and Big Sandy Valleys. His...
. Kessinger began playing the banjo when he was five years old and two years later he performed at local saloons with his father. He switched to fiddle and began performing at country dances. In 1917, he joined the Navy serving in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Upon his discharge, his reputation as a fiddler had increased and he visited many local fiddling contests. He teamed up with his nephew Luches "Luke" Kessinger (1906–1944) performing at various locations. In 1927, Clark and Luches Kessinger had their own radio show at the newly opened station WOBU in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
.
On February 11, 1928, the Kessingers travelled to Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
to audition for James O'Keefe, a talent agent for the Brunswick-Balke-Collender recording company. The Kessingers were hired and, calling themselves The Kessinger Brothers, they recorded twelve sides the same day, six of the sides together with the caller
Caller (dancing)
A caller is a person who prompts dance figures in such dances as line dance, square dance, and contra dance. The caller might be one of the participating dancers, though in modern country dance this is rare....
Ernest Legg. Despite Clark Kessinger's increasing success as a fiddler and recording star, he had a regular job as a caretaker in Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
. In the late 1920s, the Kessinger Brothers' records were best-sellers on Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
. During these recording sessions, the Kessinger Brothers recorded many classics such as "Wednesday Night Waltz", "Turkey In the Straw", "Hell Among the Yearlings", "Tugboat", and "Salt River."
Kessinger was also greatly influenced by classical violin players such as Fritz Kreisler
Fritz Kreisler
Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler was an Austrian-born violinist and composer. One of the most famous violin masters of his or any other day, he was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing. Like many great violinists of his generation, he produced a characteristic sound which was immediately...
, Joseph Szigeti
Joseph Szigeti
Joseph Szigeti was a Hungarian violinist.Born into a musical family, he spent his early childhood in a small town in Transylvania. He quickly proved himself to be a child prodigy on the violin, and moved to Budapest with his father to study with the renowned pedagogue Jenő Hubay...
and Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
. Following his last recording session on September 20, 1930, Kessinger retired as a recording artist. He and Luke Kessinger continued to appear as a couple on radio shows, country dances and clubs. For the next 34 years, Clark Kessinger worked as a painter. Meanwhile he performed together with acts such as Natchee the Indian, the McGee Brothers
McGee Brothers
The McGee Brothers were an American old-time performing duo consisting of brothers Sam McGee and Kirk McGee . Sam typically played guitar and Kirk usually played banjo or fiddle, although they were both proficient in multiple string instruments...
, the Delmore Brothers, and Clayton McMichen
Clayton McMichen
Clayton McMichen was an American fiddler and country musician.-Biography:Born in Allatoona, Georgia, McMichen learned to play the fiddle from his father and uncle. He moved to Atlanta with his family in 1913, working as an automobile mechanic. While there, he entered and won several competitions...
. When Luke died in 1944, the story of the Kessinger Brothers came to an end.
In 1963, Kessinger was rediscovered by folk music promoter Ken Davidson. Davidson persuaded Kessinger to return to the music scene and soon he was competing at several fiddling contests. In August 1964, Kessinger formed a string band in Galax, Virginia
Galax, Virginia
Galax is an independent city in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is bounded to the northeast by Carroll County and to the southwest by Grayson County. The population was 7,042 as of 2010...
consisting of guitarist Gene Meade and banjoist Wayne Hauser. His string band participated at the old-time music contest in Galax winning first prize in the string band category. Kessinger and his string band recorded for Davidson's label Folk Promotions Records. The recordings were released as "The legend of Clark Kessinger." Clark Kessinger continued to win prizes at different fiddling contests. In April 1971, he won the World's Champion Fiddle Prize at the 47th Old-time Fiddler's Convention in Union Grove, North Carolina. Three more albums followed on Davidson's new label Kanawha Records. His albums were later reissued on Folkways
Folkways Records
Folkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways.-History:...
and County Records
County Records
County Records also expanded into the bluegrass music genre, although Freeman preferred those artists who stayed the closest to their old-time roots. The label's first bluegrass release was 1965's Blue Ridge Bluegrass featuring Larry Richardson and the Blue Ridge Boys.-Related businesses:Freeman...
.
In 1971, Kessinger recorded 12 tracks for the newly formed Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
. The record company had plans to record many albums with Kessinger but before they could initiate what they had planned, Kessinger had a stroke and collapsed on the scene at a fiddler's convention in Virginia. His left hand became numb and he was unable to play the fiddle for the rest of his life. Rounder released his recordings as "Clark Kessinger: Old-time Music With Fiddle and Guitar." He died in 1975. Kessinger is interred at the Cunningham Memorial Gardens in St. Albans, West Virginia
St. Albans, West Virginia
St. Albans is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Kanawha and Coal Rivers. The population was 11,044 at the 2010 census.St. Albans was laid out in 1816...
.