Been researching this clip, I can't find it available or even mentioned on Mel Bay's site, but it is listed as an item that ONCE was available from Vestapol Videos just search Billy in the Lowgrounds and Vestapol Videos). We have an article on Clark on the West Virginia Encyclopedia site.
Play it sweet boy ! Man .. that's real fiddlin ! You won't get it any better than this, folks. This is fiddle music played in the good old way .. the right way. Mr Kissinger is more sprightly at 71 yrs of age than most boys half his age. Boy don't he enjoy his music, what with his body-language & all. Looks like Mr Kissinger has done some mean dancin in his time, too .. a back-up money-earner, maybe, from them Great Depression Days. Now, dagetage & meanfidler below, they there speak the truth !
..............it proves that musicians such as Clark Kessinger, Gene Meade, and Wayne Hauser, ( Gene and Wayne are from NC), were burning it up even back then.................peace
This made me cry. :) Clark was my cousin, and I dearly wish that I could have met him before he died. I am a violinist, but a classical one. I could never hope to play like that, although I did get the chance to play that very violin once - a sort of family perk. It's really an amazing instrument, but it was graced with an even more amazing player.
Man .. it's a wonder Clark don't burn up that fiddle .. the way he saws is simply amazing. This footage is just so, so good, and very precious !! Clark has got to be amongst the very best of the old-time fiddlers !! Great to see him in action here, thank you so much !
It's great to see Clark again after all these many years. And nice to see notes from Gene's wife and Clark's great grandson. We at Rounder Records were pleased to make an album of Clark and Gene in April 1971.
I've bought Rounder's original release of Clrk Kessinger & Gene Meade on vinyl when it first came out and played it til I just about wore it out. Thank goodness it was re-issued on CD. Really GREAT engineering on both LP & CD that matches the truly awsome talent of both Clark and Gene! Gee, I wish there had been much more before Clark had his stroke. What a fine gentleman, stupendous fiddler, and exciting showman!
Clark kessinger and Gene Meade were the very best,they really enjoyed playing together.they both died prematurely,Gene was just 56. they are both sadly missed. Gene was my husband.
Gene was absolutely awesome! I've never heard anyone before or since thay executed a moving bass line like him! I have both of the LP vinyl albums on which he and Clark played together. I also recently picked up their re-issue on CD. I play both fiddle and guitar...but not like that Dynamic Duo!
Born in Kanawha Co WV, Clark Kessinger was one of the greatest old time fiddlers ever. In the late 20s he & his nephew Luches recorded for Brunswick as the Kessinger Brothers. Rediscovered in the early 60s, his brilliant version of "Sally Ann Johnson was filmed at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival. He later won the National Old Time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, ID and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1971 he won 1st place at the Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers Contest in his mid-80s.
I've got agree Clark was one of the VERY best. After first hearing his LPs in the late-1970s, he still inspires me and countless others with a passion for "old-timey" music. Its hard to beleive he was painting houses when he was "re-discovered" after a 30 year absence from recording. As great as his fast-paced pieces are, his waltzes are even better! Its a real tragedy and loss to posterity that a stroke prematurely ended his second recording and performing career.
I was lucky enough to hear Clark Kessinger play live on several occasions. His playing was absolutely brilliant, and his back up musicians were also wonderful. Ken Davidson of Kanawha Records did fiddle music lovers a great service when he recorded Kessinger and gave him a new career in the mid 60s. Alan Lomax deserves a lot of credit for filming him at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival. I wish more of Kessinger's fiddling was available on the internet today. He was unbeatable!
Gene Meade has one of the best moving bass-lines that I've ever heard. It's a real joy and wonder to listen to him. How can anyone move their fingers so fast and completely stay in beat?
Fantastic! I have been a Clark Kessinger fan since I bought his "Legends" LP back in around 1973. I never did get to see the man but seeing this video now is pure joy thanks what a fiddler -- greased lightning!
Clark Kessinger has been my all-time fiddlin' hero ever since I first got into what is now called Old Timey music back in SE Missouri in 1975. I have two LPs of his from that era and a re-issue from when he was first active with Lucas Kessinger back in the 1930s. They just don't get any better than Clark! It is a real privelege to get to watch him on video. I never realized he was such a fine showman as well as perhaps the most talented traditional fiddler of all time!
cakman11, you can order this video with More of Clarks fiddling from Mel Bay publications. The name of the video is "Billy in the Lowgrounds" I think these were recorded at the Philadelphia Folk festival from the 60s (kind of like a hillbilly version of Woodstock lol)This is only a small sample of "Uncle Clark". Thanks for posting the video!
I am 70 years old now and this man played the fiddle on our front porch when I was just a little girl and He was always entertaining and soooo talented.
NO.... Ok, that's really something, REALLY cool. Thank you so much for sharing, it's REALLY nice to be able to be in touch with culture that we don't get a chance to enjoy and experience. We are in a class that explains the sources of this music, and ain't it cool...? Related to so much more American music, yet we have lost touch, haven't we...? Bless your heart. By the way, good to see you on the internet... lol
He is my 2nd cousin on my dads side. At 71 he had more energy than I do at 43!
lvnthebvi 1 day ago
ahh :) i love my Kessinger family :)
emokittenroxx 1 week ago
Comment removed
emokittenroxx 1 week ago
@abmanc98 me too :)
emokittenroxx 1 week ago
This guy was great! You can tell he really enjoyed his music, and that what it is all really about, isn't it?
WmHildy 1 week ago
He's my ancestor!!!!
abmanc98 2 months ago
Perfect music for a good clog dance.
warehambr 7 months ago
Best on Here for that tune My opinion!!!!!!
bluegrasslives60 11 months ago
Been researching this clip, I can't find it available or even mentioned on Mel Bay's site, but it is listed as an item that ONCE was available from Vestapol Videos just search Billy in the Lowgrounds and Vestapol Videos). We have an article on Clark on the West Virginia Encyclopedia site.
Realitytourist 1 year ago
now thats how its done very good
rufusvanrugburn 1 year ago
Play it sweet boy ! Man .. that's real fiddlin ! You won't get it any better than this, folks. This is fiddle music played in the good old way .. the right way. Mr Kissinger is more sprightly at 71 yrs of age than most boys half his age. Boy don't he enjoy his music, what with his body-language & all. Looks like Mr Kissinger has done some mean dancin in his time, too .. a back-up money-earner, maybe, from them Great Depression Days. Now, dagetage & meanfidler below, they there speak the truth !
colindominy 1 year ago
clark was a great fiddle player he was way ahead of his time
FliddlinNate 2 years ago
Just to dhow you once you have it ,it never leaves ,What fine music coming off that thar bow
bluegrassplayer101 2 years ago
Oh look! Real music!
Bit of a character was Mr Kessinger by the looks of it!
Thanks for the upload. Great music.
Mouldytone 2 years ago
That is what old time fiddle should sound like...Kessingers rhythmic sense is second to none....THanks for the upload...
dagetage 2 years ago
I could not agree more with this comment. Sweet Lord i hope he won.
wolfieboyer 2 years ago
..............it proves that musicians such as Clark Kessinger, Gene Meade, and Wayne Hauser, ( Gene and Wayne are from NC), were burning it up even back then.................peace
flange5st 2 years ago
Very good stuff...post more!!
grinch08 2 years ago
There was three vinyl albums made of Gene and Clark and Gene had two albums with a fiddler from Blountville,Tenn. name Edd Justus.
mmw453 2 years ago
Gene and Clark were the absolute best i,ve ever heard Gene loved playing behind a good fiddle player,
mmw453 2 years ago
Thank you!!! I love Clark Kessinger's laying--from the rounder record in '70's I have admired nis stuff--what bowing!!
Gus Meade turned me on to him, as well as to Buddy Thomas
foxx2222 2 years ago
This made me cry. :) Clark was my cousin, and I dearly wish that I could have met him before he died. I am a violinist, but a classical one. I could never hope to play like that, although I did get the chance to play that very violin once - a sort of family perk. It's really an amazing instrument, but it was graced with an even more amazing player.
vulcanmuse7715 2 years ago
Comment removed
Cenzontle7 2 years ago
July 27th is Clark Kessinger's birthday. He is one of the greatest fiddlers ever!
rblaustein 2 years ago 2
Man .. it's a wonder Clark don't burn up that fiddle .. the way he saws is simply amazing. This footage is just so, so good, and very precious !! Clark has got to be amongst the very best of the old-time fiddlers !! Great to see him in action here, thank you so much !
colindominy 2 years ago
Clark Kessinger was my great uncle. I am proud that we have a family rich in bluegrass history.
Krog432 2 years ago
I would like to thank everyone at rounder records for making that great album, i still have it.
mmw453 3 years ago
It's great to see Clark again after all these many years. And nice to see notes from Gene's wife and Clark's great grandson. We at Rounder Records were pleased to make an album of Clark and Gene in April 1971.
garble70726 3 years ago
I've bought Rounder's original release of Clrk Kessinger & Gene Meade on vinyl when it first came out and played it til I just about wore it out. Thank goodness it was re-issued on CD. Really GREAT engineering on both LP & CD that matches the truly awsome talent of both Clark and Gene! Gee, I wish there had been much more before Clark had his stroke. What a fine gentleman, stupendous fiddler, and exciting showman!
TennesseeShine 2 years ago
yo garrett thats insane.
kartdriver719 3 years ago
I'm clark kessinger's great grand son. Check out pirate hq-carol of the bells to hear me play( im the one in the vest with shecter
gkessbball11 3 years ago
Clark kessinger and Gene Meade were the very best,they really enjoyed playing together.they both died prematurely,Gene was just 56. they are both sadly missed. Gene was my husband.
mmw453 3 years ago
Gene was absolutely awesome! I've never heard anyone before or since thay executed a moving bass line like him! I have both of the LP vinyl albums on which he and Clark played together. I also recently picked up their re-issue on CD. I play both fiddle and guitar...but not like that Dynamic Duo!
TennesseeShine 2 years ago
hes great in this but just think of how good he was in his younger days, he was one of the best ever!
fiddlenut24 3 years ago
thanks for posting this this is really great! before the mark o'connor craze that's still going on lol! wish people played like this still!
trawickjtt 3 years ago
Born in Kanawha Co WV, Clark Kessinger was one of the greatest old time fiddlers ever. In the late 20s he & his nephew Luches recorded for Brunswick as the Kessinger Brothers. Rediscovered in the early 60s, his brilliant version of "Sally Ann Johnson was filmed at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival. He later won the National Old Time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, ID and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1971 he won 1st place at the Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers Contest in his mid-80s.
rblaustein 3 years ago
I've got agree Clark was one of the VERY best. After first hearing his LPs in the late-1970s, he still inspires me and countless others with a passion for "old-timey" music. Its hard to beleive he was painting houses when he was "re-discovered" after a 30 year absence from recording. As great as his fast-paced pieces are, his waltzes are even better! Its a real tragedy and loss to posterity that a stroke prematurely ended his second recording and performing career.
TennesseeShine 3 years ago
I was lucky enough to hear Clark Kessinger play live on several occasions. His playing was absolutely brilliant, and his back up musicians were also wonderful. Ken Davidson of Kanawha Records did fiddle music lovers a great service when he recorded Kessinger and gave him a new career in the mid 60s. Alan Lomax deserves a lot of credit for filming him at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival. I wish more of Kessinger's fiddling was available on the internet today. He was unbeatable!
rblaustein 3 years ago
Wow!! You can't beat that fiddle or that guitar! That's my stepdad Gene Meade playing that guitar. Love you forever Gene!!!
lsgrbarrow 3 years ago
Gene Meade has one of the best moving bass-lines that I've ever heard. It's a real joy and wonder to listen to him. How can anyone move their fingers so fast and completely stay in beat?
TennesseeShine 3 years ago
Great video of 1st cousin Clark, Gene Meade and Wayne Hauser! Thank you for sharing.
samridgebag 3 years ago
Fantastic! I have been a Clark Kessinger fan since I bought his "Legends" LP back in around 1973. I never did get to see the man but seeing this video now is pure joy thanks what a fiddler -- greased lightning!
Mandolin1944 3 years ago
I remember my Grandmother telling me stories of her father getting wild on the fiddle...this is him alright. Thanks for posting this!
markmulville 3 years ago
Clark Kessinger has been my all-time fiddlin' hero ever since I first got into what is now called Old Timey music back in SE Missouri in 1975. I have two LPs of his from that era and a re-issue from when he was first active with Lucas Kessinger back in the 1930s. They just don't get any better than Clark! It is a real privelege to get to watch him on video. I never realized he was such a fine showman as well as perhaps the most talented traditional fiddler of all time!
TennesseeShine 4 years ago
correction....Newport festival! Description at the top! sorry about that!
robinkess 4 years ago
cakman11, you can order this video with More of Clarks fiddling from Mel Bay publications. The name of the video is "Billy in the Lowgrounds" I think these were recorded at the Philadelphia Folk festival from the 60s (kind of like a hillbilly version of Woodstock lol)This is only a small sample of "Uncle Clark". Thanks for posting the video!
robinkess 4 years ago
Incredible fiddler. The best of the best in my book. I think Elvis got some of his moves from Clark.
kabur 4 years ago
wow. great video, i've heard of him alot but never got to see him till now, thx
fiddlenut24 4 years ago
That is a great clip to be sure. It is nice to hear and see someone who you have always heard was a great fiddler.
vithefiddler 4 years ago
WOW! The fiddles fantastic, but those Elvis moves are something else. I'll have to consider giving that a try!
lovinBG 4 years ago
No way! How did you get this video? I'm a Kessinger from West Virginia
dancekira 5 years ago
So did he win?
UncleMacJug 5 years ago
yes
mmw453 4 years ago
I am 70 years old now and this man played the fiddle on our front porch when I was just a little girl and He was always entertaining and soooo talented.
mgrose713 5 years ago
NO.... Ok, that's really something, REALLY cool. Thank you so much for sharing, it's REALLY nice to be able to be in touch with culture that we don't get a chance to enjoy and experience. We are in a class that explains the sources of this music, and ain't it cool...? Related to so much more American music, yet we have lost touch, haven't we...? Bless your heart. By the way, good to see you on the internet... lol
blurexwagon 5 years ago
This video has almost inspired me to stary playing fiddle. This man is rocking!
Jorsh123 5 years ago
Terrific! Thanks for sharing.
whipsnade13 5 years ago
Fantastic to actually see Clark Kessinger play!! Thank you for sharing this great clip!
ec00028 5 years ago