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Left to right: Wayne Litteral, Emily Spencer, Jim Gillespie, G.W. Litteral, Ruth Spencer, Wayde Litteral, Carrie Litteral and Everett Litteral at Roark Flats, Flemming County, Kentucky, 1933 This picture of my family was taken almost 70 years ago. My grandmother, Betty Garvin, was a Litteral and the musicians from left to right are Wayne, George, Wayde and Everett Litteral. Everett is my great-grandfather who danced and played music just like his two brothers Wayne and Wayde. They all played the fiddle, but I was told Wayne played really well. Now George Washington Litteral was their father, also a good fiddler, and I reckon my great-great-grandfather. Grandma's mother's father was even a fiddle player too! His name was Davy Crockett Fraley which I think is funny having relatives named George Washington & Davy Crockett that played fiddle. Davy Crockett Fraley and J.P. Fraley's father were first cousins, and if that is true I should be a sixth cousin to J.P. I was also told that I'm a sixth cousin to the late "Bigfoot" Keaton who was one of the best, but was more of a violinist from what I've heard. I think have such close ties to so many musicians is really interesting! My Grandfather, Bert Garvin, is a highly respect banjo player in eastern Kentucky. When he was close to my age he was asked to play several shows with Bill Monroe and was told if he ever wanted to make it in music he'd have a job waiting, but instead Bert decided to stay on with the railroad, which he started at the age of 16, and raise a family. I am currently writing some papers on my grandfathers past, but should also mention here how much I enjoy living here with my grandparents and my father and uncle too! When I fist started fiddling I soon learned Blind Ed Haley and Papaw told me he "got to play with Ed Haley" a couple times in the late 40's when he "first started really picking the banjo" and said they was going to play at the YMCA once, but that "fell thru". One thing that I really found interesting was that Ed told him "I can show you a lot of positions on the neck of that banjo". I guess they are no recording of Ed Playing the banjo, but I'm sure he could. I asked my grandma if her dad and his brothers new Ed Haley and she told me "they'd sometimes go get him and keep him all day and night sitting around drinking and playing music". So I found the Parkersburg Landing LP in the record player and became fascinated with his story. The recording of him and his family on rounder records are an absolute miracle to be heard today. No one who listens to them could possibly ignore the efforts of John Hartford for preserving and producing these fabulous performances of appalachia fiddle playing, but those recordings would still be a lost treasure if it wasn't for Annadeene Fraley bringing them to the attention of John. It is written that Ed played with his fiddle down on his chest, but I was told by Wayde Litteral (the only fellow pictured above still living) and a couple other reliable sources that "he held it just like everyone else", But I imagine when he was relaxed he'd often play like that. Bobby Taylor in West Virginia often plays like his dad, Lincoln Taylor, with the fiddle down on his chest, but still holds it under his chin when performing on stage. Bobby says "They haven't been holding it that way 400 years for no reason". Living here in Greenup County, Kentucky I'm right in the middle of Appalachia. here is a community of musicians in old time mountain music not often observed in any other genre. Whether it's the love of the fiddle and banjo or the nostalgic invitation the people present, I am certainly thankful to be so close to many authentic interpreters of Appalachian Arts such as J.P. Fraley, Paul Smith, Roger Cooper, John Harrod, Bobby Taylor and many others whom I have received and given much respect. With such constant encouragement from my peers, I've seemingly fell into a role of importance towards Kentucky's own musical longevity. Starting August 1st, 2004 I am currently under an apprenticeship through the Kentucky Arts Council studying "Lewis County Fiddle" with Roger Cooper. I met Roger at the Fraley Festival and a year later we have became good friends. I have already been working with him on his new cd to be released early next year on Rounder Records. I am learning about the fiddlers that surrounded him during his youth such as Buddy Thomas, George Hawkings, Bob Prater and many others. As anyone should imagine I am very excited about working to represent their fiddle music as traditional art form. Bert Garvin recorded with the Fraleys on Rounder Records "Kentucky Old-Time Banjo" a few years ago. He is really known as a Bluegrass banjo picker, but also has a foundation in the old ways and can back up a fiddle tune just right! Another friend of mine who's fiddle playing I admire is Paul Smith. He lives in Hardy, KY and learned a lot of tunes directly from Snake Chapman. Owen "Snake" Chapman was a great old-time fiddler here in eastern Kentucky. Snake passed away last year, but there are 2 great albums of him produced by Rounder in which Paul Smith plays banjo. Paul would learn these fiddle tunes on the banjo to play with Snake, but now he pretty much just plays the fiddle. Well, I hope the relations I'm making now will last a lifetime. If you are interested I've been playing fiddle tunes for about four years now and have even claimed a couple first and second place prizes! I also enjoy playing the guitar for anyone who wants to listen. When I get enough money saved I am going to buy recording equipment and began archiving and producing my own projects along with working on new projects with Roger Cooper. I have also became interested in violin repair. I'll appreciate any related stories you'd like to share. Hope to see you'all at the next pickin' party! -Michael Garvin 2004 
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