Homer Ledford
Encyclopedia
Homer C. Ledford was an instrument maker and bluegrass
musician
from Kentucky
who specialized in making dulcimer
s.
Born in Alpine
, Tennessee
, he started building instruments at an early age. When he was 18, Ledford was given a scholarship to attend the John C. Campbell Folk School
in Brasstown, North Carolina
. He later attended Berea College
, where he met his wife Colista. Ledford eventually transferred and graduated from what is now the Eastern Kentucky University
in 1954. Ledford worked as a high school industrial arts
teacher at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, Kentucky
before becoming a full-time instrument maker.
Musicians from all over the world have sought after his dulcimers, banjo
s, mandolin
s, guitar
s and ukeleles. Some of his works are on display in the Smithsonian Institution
.
According to his website (http://www.backroombluegrassband.com/hlccbweb/hlhome.htm), he made over 5,776 dulcimers and over 475 banjos in his lifetime. He is also the inventor of the dulcitar
, and also made dulcijos and dulcibros.
He was also an original inductee in the Kentucky Stars, alongside Loretta Lynn
, Rosemary Clooney
, Bobbie Ann Mason
, and Patricia Neal
. A sidewalk plaque honoring him is in front of the Kentucky Theatre on Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky
.
He devoted his career to instrument-making and to playing with the Cabin Creek Band. He also published a book of autobiographical stories and poems, entitled See Ya Further Up the Creek.
Ledford died from a stroke
at the age of 79 in Winchester, Kentucky
. He was survived by his widow, Colista; they had four children.
He was posthumously given an honorary Doctorate of Humanities at the Fall 2006 commencement ceremonies at Eastern Kentucky University
, December 16, 2006, and deemed one of Kentucky's "Heroes, Saints and Legends" by Wesley Retirement Community in recognition of his contributions to 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...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
who specialized in making dulcimer
Appalachian dulcimer
The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
s.
Born in Alpine
Alpine, Tennessee
Alpine is a small unincorporated community in Overton County, Tennessee, United States. It is served by the ZIP Code of 38543, for which the ZCTA had a population of 497 at the 2000 census....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, he started building instruments at an early age. When he was 18, Ledford was given a scholarship to attend the John C. Campbell Folk School
John C. Campbell Folk School
John C. Campbell Folk School, also referred to as "The Folk School" is located in Brasstown, North Carolina. The School was founded to nurture and preserve the folk arts of the Appalachian Mountains, it is an non-profit adult educational organization based on non-competitive learning...
in Brasstown, North Carolina
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...
. He later attended Berea College
Berea College
Berea College is a liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky , founded in 1855. Current full-time enrollment is 1,514 students...
, where he met his wife Colista. Ledford eventually transferred and graduated from what is now the Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
in 1954. Ledford worked as a high school industrial arts
Industrial arts
Industrial Arts is an umbrella term originally conceived in the late 19th century to describe educational programs which featured fabrication of objects in wood and/or metal using a variety of hand, power, or machine tools...
teacher at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, Kentucky
Winchester, Kentucky
Winchester is a city in and the county seat of Clark County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
before becoming a full-time instrument maker.
Musicians from all over the world have sought after his dulcimers, 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...
s, 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...
s, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s and ukeleles. Some of his works are on display in the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.
According to his website (http://www.backroombluegrassband.com/hlccbweb/hlhome.htm), he made over 5,776 dulcimers and over 475 banjos in his lifetime. He is also the inventor of the dulcitar
Dulcitar
Dulcitar is one of a great many names used to describe a necked lute instrument with diatonic fretting, based on the Appalachian dulcimer.Other names used for this instrument include:*Walkabout dulcimer *Strumstick...
, and also made dulcijos and dulcibros.
He was also an original inductee in the Kentucky Stars, alongside Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
, Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
, Bobbie Ann Mason
Bobbie Ann Mason
Bobbie Ann Mason is an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and literary critic from Kentucky.With four siblings Mason grew up on her family's dairy farm outside of Mayfield, Kentucky. As a child she loved to read, so her parents, Wilburn and Christina Mason, always made sure she had...
, and Patricia Neal
Patricia Neal
Patricia Neal was an American actress of stage and screen. She was best known for her film roles as World War II widow Helen Benson in The Day the Earth Stood Still , wealthy matron Emily Eustace Failenson in Breakfast at Tiffany's , middle-aged housekeeper Alma Brown in Hud , for which she won...
. A sidewalk plaque honoring him is in front of the Kentucky Theatre on Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
He devoted his career to instrument-making and to playing with the Cabin Creek Band. He also published a book of autobiographical stories and poems, entitled See Ya Further Up the Creek.
Ledford died from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
at the age of 79 in Winchester, Kentucky
Winchester, Kentucky
Winchester is a city in and the county seat of Clark County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. He was survived by his widow, Colista; they had four children.
He was posthumously given an honorary Doctorate of Humanities at the Fall 2006 commencement ceremonies at Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
, December 16, 2006, and deemed one of Kentucky's "Heroes, Saints and Legends" by Wesley Retirement Community in recognition of his contributions to music.
Sources
- Alvey, R. Gerald, Dulcimer Maker, The Craft of Homer Ledford, University Press of Kentucky, 1984
- The Mudcat Café Obituary
- Lexington Herald-Leader - Obituary & Photo