For a biography and additional information on Ernest Stoneman see Track 64. This song is taken from the same recording session as the previous one.
The Stoneman Family originally consisted of Ernest Stoneman and his wife, Hattie. By 1928, cousins Willie and George were also playing with them. The family continued to grow, and by 1938 Ernest and Hattie had eleven mouths to feed -- well on their way to an eventual total of thirteen children. Each child grew up playing an instrument and "Pop" Stoneman found himself with a built-in backup band.
The Stoneman Family continued to play engagements and radio programs until the 1950s, when various members of the family split off to become part of the Washington, D.C. bluegrass music scene. In the late 1950s, they embarked on a second recording career as a family -- one later album jacket shows 17 family members (CMH Records 9029). During the 1960's they had a syndicated television program, and daughter Roni became a regular on the popular country music and comedy show "Hee Haw." After Pop's death in 1968, the group continued to play, but left "Pop's" vacant chair on stage as an act of respect to their leader (notes to CMH 9029.)
Two family members deserve further mention. First, the aforementioned Roni Stoneman, who is a fine Scruggs-style banjo player and country music personality. Secondly, fiddler Scotty Stoneman, who was one of the most innovative bluegrass fiddlers ever. The fiddler with the legendary California bluegrass group, The Kentucky Colonels, Scotty was a master of long improvisational solos. Young musicians such as Ry Cooder and Jerry Garcia could often be spotted at Kentucky Colonels concerts. Guitarist Garcia credited Stoneman's playing as an inspiration for his own improvisational style with The Grateful Dead (Garcia interviewed at the Smithsonian by Nick Spitzer, July 11, 1989 (SF archive ape 1989-CT-0333). Scotty Stoneman died in 1973.
