The Kentucky Arts
Council and the Kentucky Historical Society are
proud to present a special exhibit and companion website featuring the art and
tradition of Kentuckians who are considered masters in the making and repairing
of guitars, fiddles, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers and other original stringed
instruments. This collection of their work and their wisdom is the
result of years of field research conducted by the Kentucky Folklife
Program.
Made to be Played: Traditional Art of Kentucky
Luthiers is funded through a
National Endowment for the
Arts American Masterpieces grant and is dedicated to the memory of
master luthier, craftsman, instrument inventor and musician, Homer
Ledford.
Homer Ledford was born in the Alpine Hills of Tennessee where he made
his first fiddle out of matchsticks at the age of 12. He learned to play by
listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio. Homer later attended the John C.
Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. While there, he met Jean and Edna
Ritchie and started making dulcimers in 1945. After finishing school in North
Carolina he attended Berea College in Berea, Kentucky and began playing with
several student musicians.
He began making other stringed instruments in
1949. During his lifetime he created nearly 6,000 dulcimers, 474 banjos, 23
mandolins, 21 guitars, 18 ukuleles, 13 dulcitars (which he invented and
patented) 3 dulcijos, 4 violins and 2 bowed dulcimers. His work is in the
permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution with samples of an
Appalachian dulcimer, a fretless banjo and a dulcitar.
Homer Ledford
was also an accomplished musician in his own right. He played thirteen
different instruments, including fiddle, mountain dulcimer, autoharp, bowed
dulcimer, banjo, musical saw, mandolin, guitar, ukulele, dulcitar, and
dulcibro. He formed a five-piece traditional bluegrass and old time music band,
"Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band" that continues to perform as the
"Cabin Creek Band". Homer Ledford shared his musical talents throughout the
nation as well as goodwill tours to Japan, Ecuador and Ireland.
He was
the subject of R. Gerald Alvey’s book, The Dulcimer Maker: The
Craft of Homer Ledford published by University Press of Kentucky and
accompanied documentary film produced by Eastern Kentucky University. He also
wrote an autobiography in the storytelling form, See Ya’ Further Up the
Creek, which included a CD of performances, the Best of Homer
Ledford. Earlier recordings include Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek
Band and Homer Ledford.
A retired teacher from Winchester, he
was a Charter Member of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, a Lifetime
Member of the Southern Highland Guild and had Emeritus Status in the Kentucky
Craft Marketing Program. During his lifetime he received many awards of
distinction, including designation of Homer Ledford Weekend by Kentucky State
Parks, induction into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni by Eastern Kentucky
University, the naming of the Homer Ledford Bluegrass Festival in Winchester,
named as Kentucky Appalachian Treasure by Morehead State University, induction
into the String Music Hall of Fame in Georgetown, recipient of the Rude Osolnik
Award from the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program and the Kentucky Art and Craft
Foundation (now Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft). In 1996, he received the
most prestigious of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts, the Milner Award.
In 2002, he was commissioned by the Kentucky Arts Council to create dulcimers
as awards for the recipients of The Governor’s Awards in the Arts for the
25th Anniversary Celebration.
Homer Ledford devoted much of his life to
instrument building, repairing, inventing and performing with his band Cabin
Creek. Over the years he welcomed many visitors into his shop at his home in
Winchester and left them with fond memories. He passed away at age 79 on
December 11, 2006. Made to be Played: Traditional Art of Kentucky
Luthiers is dedicated to the memory of the beloved Homer Ledford, one
of Kentucky’s most respected luthiers.
Kentucky Arts
Council
500 Mero Street
21st Floor, Capital Plaza Tower
Frankfort,
KY 40601
502-564-3757
Toll Free: 888-833-2787
FAX:
502-564-2839
Page Updated: 07/05/2007
