This DVD presents poignant and exciting musical performances by four highly expressive and individualistic makers of traditional old time country music. There is a strong blues flavor throughout. Although Kilby Snow, Dock Boggs, Tommy Jarrell, and Roscoe Holcomb played vernacular music that in some ways was typical of the regions in which they spent their whole lives, they also were at times astonishingly inventive. Their influence has been very far reaching, extending far beyond their communities, and affecting the minds and works of the makers of mainstream popular music, as well as the playing of far-flung old time music practitioners.

Here is the only known footage of Dock Boggs singing his classic mountain blues and playing his signature banjo style; the intense and original "high lonesome" singing of Roscoe Holcomb, playing both banjo and guitar; Kilby Snow's moving vocals and brilliant autoharp playing and the legendary fiddle and banjo of Tommy Jarrell, solo and accompanied by Mike Seeger and Blanton Owen. Each song and tune represents the creative recasting of familiar elements into master-fully crafted handmade music that accords with their respective temperaments.

Titles include: KILBY SNOW Troubles, Cindy, Shady Grove, Raggedy Ann, Two-Timing Blues & You Are My Flower DOCK BOGGS Country Blues, Pretty Polly & I Hope I Live TOMMY JARRELL Bonaparte's Retreat, Cumberland Gap, The Boll Weavil, Old Jimmie Sutton, Forked Deer, Sail Away Ladies, Cripple Creek, Breaking Up Christmas & John Brown's Dream ROSCOE HOLCOMB Black-Eyed Susie, Pretty Polly & Old Smokey

Running time: 60 minutes

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