Uncle Bunt Stephens
Encyclopedia
John L. "Bunt" Stephens (February 2, 1879 — May 25, 1951), known as Uncle Bunt, was an American Old-time
fiddle player. After rising from relative obscurity in 1926 to win a nationwide fiddle contest hosted by automobile magnate Henry Ford
, Stephens went on to record several tracks for Columbia Records
and made several guest appearances on what would later become the Grand Ole Opry
in Nashville
before retiring to his farm near Lynchburg, Tennessee
. His style of fiddle playing is believed to resemble a style that was popular before the American Civil War
.
. When he was 11, he bought a fiddle from a tramp
, and taught himself how to play. He began performing at local square dance
s in 1896, and played regularly at various events throughout the early 1900s.
Over the years, Stephens' repertoire grew to include folk tunes such as "Sail Away Lady", "The Arkansas Traveler
", and "Mississippi Sawyer." Others included "Candy Girl", "Left in the Dark Blues", and "Louisburg Blues", all of which he later recorded. His favorite tune was probably "Old Hen Cackled," which is believed to have won him the blue ribbon at the Ford fiddlers' contest in 1926.
generated considerable excitement among fiddle players, and fiddlers flooded Ford dealerships across the region in hopes of competing in the 1926 contest.
After capturing first prize at the Ford dealership in Lynchburg, Stephens proceeded to the Tennessee state-wide contest in Nashville, which began on the morning of January 19, 1926. Stephens survived the first round of the state contest, and with five other finalists, was selected to play at a sold-out Ryman Auditorium
that night to decide which three fiddlers the state would send to the Southeast regional contest. Stephens won third place behind Uncle Jimmy Thompson
and a one-armed fiddler from Hartsville
named Marshall Claiborne.
The southeast regional finals of the Ford contest took place at Brown Theatre
in Louisville, Kentucky
on January 20, 1926. The three finalists from Tennessee competed against three finalists from Kentucky and two from southern Indiana
. Stephens won second place behind Indiana fiddler W.H. Elmore, and, being in the top three, earned the right compete in the national finals in Detroit. At the national finals, Ford was most impressed by Stephens— perhaps because Stephens played an older style of music that Ford may have considered more authentic— and awarded Stephens the first prize and the title "World Champion Fiddler." Stephens was given $1000 in prize money, a new car, and a new suit.
Stephens died at his home near Lynchburg on July 25, 1951. He is buried at the Hurricane Church Cemetery just outside of Lynchburg. After his death, his recording of "Sail Away Lady" was analyzed by ethnomusicologist Harry Smith
, who believed it to be played in a style that pre-dated the American Civil War
.
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...
fiddle player. After rising from relative obscurity in 1926 to win a nationwide fiddle contest hosted by automobile magnate Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
, Stephens went on to record several tracks for 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...
and made several guest appearances on what would later become the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
in 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...
before retiring to his farm near Lynchburg, Tennessee
Lynchburg, Tennessee
Lynchburg is a city in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is governed by a consolidated city-county government unit whose boundaries coincide with those of Moore County. Lynchburg is best known as the location of the Jack Daniel's distillery, whose famous whiskey is...
. His style of fiddle playing is believed to resemble a style that was popular before the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
Stephens was born in Bedford County, Tennessee on February 2, 1879 (although some sources suggest he was older). He was orphaned at a young age and raised by his aunt in Flatcreek, a small community located about halfway between Lynchburg and ShelbyvilleShelbyville, Tennessee
Shelbyville is a city in Bedford County, Tennessee, United States. It had a local population of 16,105 residents at the 2000 census. Shelbyville, the county seat of Bedford County, was laid out in 1810 and incorporated in 1819...
. When he was 11, he bought a fiddle from a tramp
Tramp
A tramp is a long term homeless person who travels from place to place as a vagrant, traditionally walking or hiking all year round. In British English meanwhile a tramp simply refers to a homeless person, usually not a travelling one....
, and taught himself how to play. He began performing at local square dance
Square dance
Square dance is a folk dance with four couples arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going counter-clockwise until getting to Couple 4. Couples 1 and 3 are known as the head couples, while Couples 2 and 4 are the side couples...
s in 1896, and played regularly at various events throughout the early 1900s.
Over the years, Stephens' repertoire grew to include folk tunes such as "Sail Away Lady", "The Arkansas Traveler
The Arkansas Traveler (song)
"The Arkansas Traveler" was the state song of Arkansas from 1949 to 1963; it has been the state historical song since 1987. The music was composed in the 19th century by Colonel Sanford C...
", and "Mississippi Sawyer." Others included "Candy Girl", "Left in the Dark Blues", and "Louisburg Blues", all of which he later recorded. His favorite tune was probably "Old Hen Cackled," which is believed to have won him the blue ribbon at the Ford fiddlers' contest in 1926.
The Ford contest
In the mid-1920s, Henry Ford held a series of fiddle contests in an attempt to promote and revive Old-time music. The contests consisted of local, state, and regional competitions, with the top three performers at each event moving on to compete at the next level. The winners of the regional competitions were invited to Ford's home in Detroit to decide the national champion. The national fame gained by 1925 contest winner Mellie DunhamMellie Dunham
Mellie Dunham was an American fiddler during the early twentieth century. Dunham was born in Norway, Maine, the son of Alanson Mellen Dunham and Christiana Bent. He came to prominence after he was invited to play for Henry Ford at his house in Dearborn, Michigan...
generated considerable excitement among fiddle players, and fiddlers flooded Ford dealerships across the region in hopes of competing in the 1926 contest.
After capturing first prize at the Ford dealership in Lynchburg, Stephens proceeded to the Tennessee state-wide contest in Nashville, which began on the morning of January 19, 1926. Stephens survived the first round of the state contest, and with five other finalists, was selected to play at a sold-out Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
that night to decide which three fiddlers the state would send to the Southeast regional contest. Stephens won third place behind Uncle Jimmy Thompson
Uncle Jimmy Thompson
Jesse Donald "Uncle Jimmy" Thompson was an American old-time fiddle player. He is best remembered as the first performer to play on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry , appearing with founder and host George D. Hay on the evening of November 28, 1925...
and a one-armed fiddler from Hartsville
Hartsville, Tennessee
Hartsville is a town in Trousdale County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Trousdale County, with which it shares a consolidated city-county government...
named Marshall Claiborne.
The southeast regional finals of the Ford contest took place at Brown Theatre
Brown Theatre
The Brown Theatre is a restored theatre dating back to 1925 that seats approximately 1,400 patrons in Louisville, Kentucky. The theatre still stands today and remains a testament to the glory days of Louisville’s theatre district.-History:...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
on January 20, 1926. The three finalists from Tennessee competed against three finalists from Kentucky and two from southern Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Stephens won second place behind Indiana fiddler W.H. Elmore, and, being in the top three, earned the right compete in the national finals in Detroit. At the national finals, Ford was most impressed by Stephens— perhaps because Stephens played an older style of music that Ford may have considered more authentic— and awarded Stephens the first prize and the title "World Champion Fiddler." Stephens was given $1000 in prize money, a new car, and a new suit.
Recording and performing career
After his victory in Detroit, Ford sent Stephens on a brief tour. Stephens played at various venues across the Eastern United States, which included a radio guest spot in Chicago and several guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry (then called the WSM Barn Dance) in Nashville. In March 1926, Stephens traveled to New York to record several sides for Columbia Records. They remain his only known recordings.Stephens died at his home near Lynchburg on July 25, 1951. He is buried at the Hurricane Church Cemetery just outside of Lynchburg. After his death, his recording of "Sail Away Lady" was analyzed by ethnomusicologist Harry Smith
Harry Everett Smith
Harry Everett Smith was an American archivist, ethnomusicologist, student of anthropology, record collector, experimental filmmaker, artist, bohemian and mystic...
, who believed it to be played in a style that pre-dated the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Discography
- Nashville - The Early String Bands, Vol. 2 (CountyCounty RecordsCounty 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...
CO-3522, 2000) — contains the track "Candy Girl"
External links
- Juneberry78s.com — Uncle Bunt Stephens — mp3 recording of "Louisburg Blues"
- Smithsonian Folkways Anthology of American Folk Music— contains sample of "Sail Away Lady"