Uncle Charlie Osborne
Encyclopedia
Charles Nelson Osborne, (December 26, 1890 – May 27, 1992), affectionately known as "Uncle Charlie," was a musician in the Appalachian Mountains
of southwest Virginia
. He was born in what is now known as Cowan Osborne Hollow, named for his father, in Copper Creek, Virginia
. He was regionally famous from the time he was about 15 until his death at age 101 in 1992.
Charlie had a unique style of playing the fiddle
with his left hand, on a right-handed fiddle. He and his brother, Emmett Osborne, played on WOPI
radio station in Bristol, Tennessee
, from the early 1920s until the early 1930s. They were contemporaries of country music founders Jimmie Rodgers
and the Carter Family
, and occasionally gave advice to Tennessee Ernie Ford
on his music.
Uncle Charlie was blinded in his left eye at age 21 when he was shot in the head with a pistol that had been stolen from him. Beginning in the 1930s, he cut back his music and farmed a large farm near the Osborne Family Homeplace in Copper Creek, Virginia
. In the mid-1970s, after the death of his wife, Clara, Charlie began to focus more on his music.
In 1985, in conjunction with East Tennessee State University
, Appalshop
's June Appal Recordings
recorded Uncle Charlie's first album, "Relics And Treasures". The album contained over a dozen traditional mountain songs, including "Ida Red
", "Brown's Dream", and "Old Joe Clark". Uncle Charlie recorded two more albums with the label; his final was 1991's "One Hundred Years Farther On", which included the powerful and mournful mountain gospel song "Farther On," which Uncle Charlie called "As We Travel Through The Desert". Also featured on the recordings were his son, Johnny C. Osborne, on clawhammer
banjo, and Tommy Bledsoe, on guitar and banjo. These recordings were reissued by June Appal Recordings as "Uncle Charlie Osborne: The June Appal Recordings."
In the 1980s, Governor Chuck Robb
came to his home and presented him with an award recognizing his contributions to Virginia life and culture. Also, in the mid eighties, he and his brother Emmett began playing heavily with their half-brother, George Osborne
, a former country & western singer. Their weekly or semi-weekly jam sessions became the stuff of legends.
Uncle Charlie played numerous shows at the Carter Family Fold in Scott County, Virginia
, a theatre showcasing traditional music ran by Janette Carter, one of the daughters of the original Carter Family
. On one occasion, Johnny Cash
was Uncle Charlie's "opening act". He was a regular performer at Mountain Empire Community College's annual Home Craft Days festivals from 1985 until his death. Other performances included the Brandywine Festival, Appalshop
's Seedtime on the Cumberland festival and a campaign rally for Jesse Jackson
in Hazard, KY.
Uncle Charlie walked three miles every day from his house in rural Tumbez, Virginia
, about two miles from Lick Skillet, Virginia, and three miles from Hansonville, Virginia, until just days before his death. Uncle Charlie Osborne died on May 27, 1992 after a brief illness.
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
of southwest Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He was born in what is now known as Cowan Osborne Hollow, named for his father, in Copper Creek, Virginia
Copper Creek, Virginia
Copper Creek is an unincorporated community located in Russell County, Virginia.-Notable residents:*Country music legend Sara Carter of the Carter Family was born there.*Appalachian music man Uncle Charlie Osborne lived there....
. He was regionally famous from the time he was about 15 until his death at age 101 in 1992.
Charlie had a unique style of playing the 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...
with his left hand, on a right-handed fiddle. He and his brother, Emmett Osborne, played on WOPI
WOPI (AM)
WOPI is a broadcast radio station licensed to serve Bristol, Virginia, USA. The station is owned and operated by Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation....
radio station in Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
, from the early 1920s until the early 1930s. They were contemporaries of country music founders Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)
James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...
and the Carter Family
Carter Family
The Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. They were the first vocal group to become country...
, and occasionally gave advice to Tennessee Ernie Ford
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Ernest Jennings Ford , better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres...
on his music.
Uncle Charlie was blinded in his left eye at age 21 when he was shot in the head with a pistol that had been stolen from him. Beginning in the 1930s, he cut back his music and farmed a large farm near the Osborne Family Homeplace in Copper Creek, Virginia
Copper Creek, Virginia
Copper Creek is an unincorporated community located in Russell County, Virginia.-Notable residents:*Country music legend Sara Carter of the Carter Family was born there.*Appalachian music man Uncle Charlie Osborne lived there....
. In the mid-1970s, after the death of his wife, Clara, Charlie began to focus more on his music.
In 1985, in conjunction with East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
, Appalshop
Appalshop
Appalshop is a media, arts, and education center located in Whitesburg, Kentucky, in the heart of the southern Appalachian region of the United States....
's June Appal Recordings
June Appal Recordings
June Appal Recordings was established by Appalshop to record and distribute music of and from Central Appalachia. Artists with June Appal releases include Buell Kazee, Morgan Sexton, Lee Sexton, Carla Gover, Nimrod Workman and others. Over the last thirty years, June Appal has released more than...
recorded Uncle Charlie's first album, "Relics And Treasures". The album contained over a dozen traditional mountain songs, including "Ida Red
Ida Red
"Ida Red" is an American traditional song of unknown origins. It is chiefly identified by variations of the chorus:Verses are unrelated, rather humorous, and free form, changing from performance to performance. Ida Red's identity is unknown, but is feminine in most uses.The earliest recording is a...
", "Brown's Dream", and "Old Joe Clark". Uncle Charlie recorded two more albums with the label; his final was 1991's "One Hundred Years Farther On", which included the powerful and mournful mountain gospel song "Farther On," which Uncle Charlie called "As We Travel Through The Desert". Also featured on the recordings were his son, Johnny C. Osborne, on clawhammer
Clawhammer
Clawhammer is a highly rhythmic banjo playing style and common component of American old-time music. The principal difference between clawhammer style and other styles is the picking direction...
banjo, and Tommy Bledsoe, on guitar and banjo. These recordings were reissued by June Appal Recordings as "Uncle Charlie Osborne: The June Appal Recordings."
In the 1980s, Governor Chuck Robb
Chuck Robb
Charles Spittal "Chuck" Robb is an American politician. He served as the 64th Governor of Virginia from 1982 to 1986, and as a United States senator from 1989 until 2001. In 2004, he chaired the Iraq Intelligence Commission.-Early life:...
came to his home and presented him with an award recognizing his contributions to Virginia life and culture. Also, in the mid eighties, he and his brother Emmett began playing heavily with their half-brother, George Osborne
George W. Osborne
George W. Osborne was an early band member and opening act for the bluegrass group the Stanley Brothers....
, a former country & western singer. Their weekly or semi-weekly jam sessions became the stuff of legends.
Uncle Charlie played numerous shows at the Carter Family Fold in Scott County, Virginia
Scott County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,403 people, 9,795 households, and 7,023 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 11,355 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
, a theatre showcasing traditional music ran by Janette Carter, one of the daughters of the original Carter Family
Carter Family
The Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. They were the first vocal group to become country...
. On one occasion, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
was Uncle Charlie's "opening act". He was a regular performer at Mountain Empire Community College's annual Home Craft Days festivals from 1985 until his death. Other performances included the Brandywine Festival, Appalshop
Appalshop
Appalshop is a media, arts, and education center located in Whitesburg, Kentucky, in the heart of the southern Appalachian region of the United States....
's Seedtime on the Cumberland festival and a campaign rally for Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
in Hazard, KY.
Uncle Charlie walked three miles every day from his house in rural Tumbez, Virginia
Tumbez, Virginia
Tumbez, Virginia, is a small cluster of homes and farms at a fork in the road in the southwestern edge of Russell County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It was the home of mountain music fiddler Uncle Charlie Osborne.Tumbez is located at ....
, about two miles from Lick Skillet, Virginia, and three miles from Hansonville, Virginia, until just days before his death. Uncle Charlie Osborne died on May 27, 1992 after a brief illness.