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All Winners: 1976-80

1976 Winners

Fiddler of the Festival: J.P. Fraley (Rush, KY)
Reserve: David Johnson (Millers Creek, NC)

Category   Winner Winner's Band Home
Banjo        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
  Doug Trantham    
Third Place
       
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
  Chris Bryant Yadkin Valley Partners Jonesville, NC
Second Place
  Donnie Little   Claremont, NC
Third Place
  Randy Sigmon   Newton, NC
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  William Omer Forster   McEwen, TN
Second Place
  Tad Wright    
Third Place
  Lou Therrell   Mars Hill, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  Darrell Bryant Wandering Grass Hamptonville, NC
Second Place
  Furman Whitmire Uptown Grass Asheville, NC
Third Place
  Bob Shue   Concord, NC
         
Fiddle        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
  Jeffrey Lefevre   Knoxville, TN
Third Place
  Steven Stringer   Tuscumbia, AL
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
  Mark Sigmon Sigmon Stringers Newton, NC
Third Place
  Karen Joyner Happy Hollow Jonesville, NC
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  J.P. Fraley   Rush, KY
Second Place
  Henry the Fiddler   Evanston, IL
Third Place
  Lynn Shaw   Canton, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  David Johnson Randy Mountain Boys Miller's Creek, NC
Second Place
  Bill Gosnell Uptown Grass Asheville, NC
Third Place
  Wally Bryson Wally Bryson & the Blaylocks Soddy, TN
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50      
Champion
  Byard Ray   Mars Hill, NC
Second Place
  Earnest East   Mt. Airy, NC
Third Place
  Newt Smeltzer   Mohawk, TN
         
         
Guitar        
Junior Division        
Champion
       
Second Place
  Scott Auman Erect Cut-ups Asheboro, NC
Third Place
  Sonia Hughes Happy Hollow Asheboro, NC
Senior Division        
Champion
  Jim Haley   Harmony, NC
Second Place
  Don Mercz   Chapel Hill, NC
Third Place
  Terry Wishon   Jonesville, NC
         
         
Mandolin        
Junior Division        
Champion
       
Second Place
       
Third Place
       
Senior Division        
Champion
  Jeff Hooker   Harmony, NC
Second Place
  Ray Pennington    
Third Place
  Reid Robertson Spring Valley Boys Elk Creek, VA
         
Autoharp        
Champion
  Richard Badu   Jamaica Plain, MA
Second Place
  Kirk Randleman Bear Walow Gap Raleigh, NC
Third Place
  David Kelley Wayside Strings Kernsville, NC
         
Dulcimer        
Champion
  Nick Hallman Reedy Creek Ramblers Greenville, SC
Second Place
  Jim Trantham   Canton, NC
Third Place
  Bonnie Pennington High County Ramblers Warrensville, NC
         
Harmonica        
Champion
  Billy Stevens Sump Pump Boys Durham, NC
Second Place
  Frederick Park   Berea, KY
Third Place
  J.E. Anderson Stone Mountain Boys Decatur, GA
         
Bass        
Champion
  Steve Kinsley Sump Pump Boys Durham, NC
Second Place
  Ben Brunst    
Third Place
  Robin Auman Happy Hollow Asheboro, NC
         
Dobro        
Champion
       
Second Place
  Chris Sigmon   Newton, NC
Third Place
       
         
         
Bluegrass Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
  Sigmon Stringers   Newton, NC
Third Place
       
Senior Division      
Champion
  South Bound   Harmony, NC
Second Place
  New Dixie Grass   Statesville, NC
Third Place
  High County Ramblers   Warrensville, NC
         
         
Old-Time Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
  Lefevre Family   Knoxville, TN
Third Place
       
Senior Division      
Champion
  Appalachian Folk   Mars Hill, NC
Second Place
  Wild Turkey Old Time String Band   Yarmouthport, MA
Third Place
  Fraley Family Band   Rush, KY
         
Twin Fiddlers        
Champion
  Liz Smathers/Lynn Shaw   Canton, NC
Second Place
  Byard Ray/J.P. Fraley    
Third Place
  Larry Harrison/Lynn Smith   Charleston, IL
         
Novelty Award
    Uptown Grass   Asheville, NC

1977 Winners

Fiddler of the Festival: Robin Pedi (Union Grove, NC)
Reserve: Mary Henigbaun (Swannanoa, NC)

Category   Winner Winner's Band Home
Banjo        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
       
Third Place
       
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
  Randy Sigmon Sigmon Stringers Newton, NC
Second Place
  Rickey Cathey Carolina Cut-ups Weaverville, NC
Third Place
  Alan Wood   Waynesville, NC
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  Lou Therrell   Mars Hill, NC
Second Place
  David Holt   Swannanoa, NC
Third Place
  Tim Currin   Henderson, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  Bob Shue   Concord, NC
Second Place
  Darrell Bryant   Jonesville, NC
Third Place
  Furman Whitmire   Asheville, NC
         
Fiddle        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
       
Third Place
       
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
  Mark Sigmon Sigmon Stringers  
Second Place
  David Pugh   Raleigh, NC
Third Place
  Glenn Roseman Sigmon Stringers  
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  Robin Pedi   Union Grove, NC
Second Place
  Liz Shaw   Canton, NC
Third Place
  Ron Siegel   Yarmouthport, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  Tiny Pruitt   Wilkes, NC
Second Place
  Gordon Freeman   Alexander, NC
Third Place
  David Johnson   Miller's Creek, NC
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50      
Champion
  Mary Henigbaun Mountain Women's Cooperative Band Swannanoa, NC
Second Place
  Byard Ray   Marshall, NC
Third Place
  Luke Smathers Smothers String Band Canton, NC
         
         
Guitar        
Junior Division        
Champion
  Shane Penland Carolina Cut-ups Weaverville, NC
Second Place
  Richard Penland Carolina Cut-ups Weaverville, NC
Third Place
  Randy Cheek New Sounds of Grass Jonesville, NC
Senior Division        
Champion
  Don Mercz   Chapel Hill, NC
Second Place
  Drew Paton   Yarmouthport, NC
Third Place
  Laura Dean Dirt Creek Band Charlotte, NC
         
         
Mandolin        
Junior Division        
Champion
  Dennis Cheek   Jonesville, NC
Second Place
  Andrew Penland   Weaverville, NC
Third Place
  Scott Morris   Wyncote, PA
Senior Division        
Champion
  Howard Green Carolina Mountain Boys Concord, NC
Second Place
  Tom Isenhour Country Playboys Salisbury, NC
Third Place
  Terry Anderson   Asheville, NC
         
Autoharp        
Champion
  Kirk Randleman Bear Wallow Gap Raleigh, NC
Second Place
  Diana Elena Miller Mountain Women's Cooperative Band Swannanoa, NC
Third Place
  Betty Waldron Red Wings Orchard Grass Band Rocky Mt., VA
         
Dulcimer        
Champion
  Nick Hallman Reedy River Ramblers Greenville, SC
Second Place
  Nancy Sultan Mountain Women's Cooperative Band Swannanoa, NC
Third Place
  Linda W. Cathey   Canton, NC
         
Harmonica        
Champion
  Don Gehrman Uncle John's Band Columbia, SC
Second Place
  Kyle Cole   Independence, VA
Third Place
  Frederick Park   Berea, KY
         
Bass        
Champion
  Stephen Knisely Sump Pump Boys Durham, NC
Second Place
  Terry Shue Carolina Mountain Boys Concord, NC
Third Place
  Mark Canter Carolina Cut-ups Weaverville, NC
         
Dobro        
Champion
  Butch Babbitt   Lynchburg, VA
Second Place
  Ben Boatwright, Jr.   Key West, FL
Third Place
  Charles Pugh   Raleigh, NC
         
         
Bluegrass Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
  Carolina Cut-ups   Weaverville, NC
Third Place
       
Senior Division      
Champion
  Carolina Mountain Boys   Concord, NC
Second Place
  Dirt Creek Band   Charlotte, NC
Third Place
  Southern Bred   Asheville, NC
         
         
Old-Time Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
       
Third Place
       
Senior Division      
Champion
  Mountain Women's Cooperative Band   Swannanoa, NC
Second Place
  Dutch Cove Old Time String Band    
Third Place
  Glen Davis and His Buffalo Ford Boys    
         
Twin Fiddlers        
Champion
  J.P. Fraley & Byard Ray   Rush, KY & Marshall, NC
Second Place
  Newton Smeltzer & Laughlin Shaw   Mohawk, TN
Third Place
  Lynn & Liz Shaw   Canton, NC
     
Novelty Award        
 Uncle John's Band (Unusual Style)

1978

Fiddler of the Festival: Bill Gosnell
Reserves: Clyde Hartman and Mark Sigmon

Category   Winner Winner's Band Home
Banjo        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
  David Burnette    
Third Place
       
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
  Ricky Cathey    
Second Place
  Shane Ball    
Third Place
  Mark Cheen    
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  Edwin Lacy    
Second Place
  David Holt    
Third Place
  Bill Hudson    
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  Pat Wingo    
Second Place
  Randy Sigmon    
Third Place
  Danny Bowers    
         
Fiddle        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
  Susie Gott    
Second Place
  Mike Lawing    
Third Place
  David Pugh    
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
  Mark Sigmon    
Second Place
  Shane Penland    
Third Place
  Paulette Penland    
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  Clyde Hartman    
Second Place
  Mack Snoderly    
Third Place
  J.P. Fraley    
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  Bill Gosnell    
Second Place
  Freed Minor    
Third Place
  Debra Deese    
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50      
Champion
  Laughlin Shaw    
Second Place
  Byard Ray    
Third Place
  Newt Smeltzer    
         
         
Guitar        
Junior Division        
Champion
  Darien Ball    
Second Place
  Steve Ledford    
Third Place
  Randy Cheek    
Senior Division        
Champion
  Doug Hill    
Second Place
  Dan Mercz    
Third Place
  Drew Paton    
         
         
Mandolin        
Junior Division        
Champion
  Dennis Cheek    
Second Place
  Andrew Penland    
Third Place
  David J. O'Brien    
Senior Division        
Champion
  Howard Green    
Second Place
  Paul McKnight    
Third Place
  Terry Anderson    
         
Autoharp        
Champion
  Richard Badu    
Second Place
  Betty Waldron    
Third Place
  Sadie Faircloth    
         
Dulcimer        
Champion
  Craig Dubose    
Second Place
  Bill Wilkes    
Third Place
  Alan Darveaux    
         
Harmonica        
Champion
  Frederick Park    
Second Place
  Billy Stevens    
Third Place
  John Anderson    
         
Bass        
Champion
  John Whitley    
Second Place
  Terry Shue    
Third Place
  Mark Carter    
         
Dobro        
Champion
       
Second Place
  Charles Pugh    
Third Place
       
         
         
Bluegrass Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
  Carolina Cut-ups    
Second Place
  Haywood New Grass    
Third Place
  Bluegrass Anonymous    
Senior Division      
Champion
  Wandering Grass    
Second Place
  Uptown Grass    
Third Place
  Dirt Creek    
         
         
Old-Time Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
       
Second Place
       
Third Place
       
Senior Division      
Champion
  Spring Valley Boys    
Second Place
  Dutch Cove Old Time String Band    
Third Place
  Luke Smathers Band    
         
Twin Fiddlers        
Champion
  Mack Snoderly & Tommy Hunter    
Second Place
  Palmer Turnburke & Nick Hallman    
Third Place
  Newt Smeltzer & Laughlin Shaw  

1979

Fiddler of the Festival: Liz Shaw (Canton, NC)
First Runner-Up: Albert Hash (Mouth of Wilson, VA)
Second Runner-Up: Henry Mabe (Winston-Salem, NC)

Category   Winner Winner's Band Home
Banjo        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
       
1st Runner-Up
  David Burchette   Canton, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  John Daniel Pot Licker Pickers Stone Mountain, GA
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
  Shane Ball Grass Folk Flat Rock, NC
1st Runner-Up
  John Leatherman Sigmon Stringers Newton, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Mark Cheek New Sounds of Grass Jonesville, NC
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  Lou Therrell Appalachian Folk Mars Hill, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Wayne Erbsen Possum Leg String Band Swannanoa, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  John Daigle Hats Off String Band Columbia, SC
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  Chris Bryant Bluegrass Anonymous Rhonda, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Bob Shue Carolina Mountain Boys Concord, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Pat Wingo Dirt Creek Band Charlotte, NC
         
Fiddle        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
  Mike Lawing Pot Licker Pickers Atlanta, GA
1st Runner-Up
  Chris Briles Pot Licker Pickers Atlanta, GA
2nd Runner-Up
       
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
       
1st Runner-Up
       
2nd Runner-Up
       
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  Liz Shaw Dutch Cove Old Time String Band Canton, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Dana Cavanaugh Uncle Henry's Favorites Earlysville, VA
2nd Runner-Up
  Lynn Shaw Dutch Cove Old Time String Band Canton, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  Henry Mabe Carolina Travelers Winston-Salem, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Gordon Myers Yadkin Valley Partners Jonesville, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Danny Bowers   Lewisville, NC
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50      
Champion
  Albert Hash White Top Mountain Boys Wilson, VA
1st Runner-Up
  J.P. Fraley Fraley Family Band Rush, KY
2nd Runner-Up
  Clyde Hartman   Columbia, TN
         
         
Guitar        
Junior Division        
Champion
  Steve Ledford   Waynesville, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Bonnie Hermann Keowee Ramblers Charlotte, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  David Pugh Music from the Hills Raleigh, NC
Senior Division        
Champion
  Darien Ball Grassfolk Flat Rock, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Doug Hill Snapper Creek Hillsborough, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Tom White Reedy River Ramblers Marietta, GA
         
         
Mandolin        
Junior Division        
Champion
       
1st Runner-Up
  Dennis Cheek   Jonesville, NC
2nd Runner-Up
       
Senior Division        
Champion
  Howard Green Carolina Mountain Boys  
1st Runner-Up
  Opie Poindexter Bluegrass Anonymous Rhonda, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Terry Cheek New Sounds of Grass Jonesville, NC
         
Autoharp        
Champion
  Richard Badu   Jamaica Plain, MA
1st Runner-Up
  Betty Walden   Copper Hill, VA
2nd Runner-Up
  Kirk Randleman Bear Wallow Gap Raleigh, NC
         
Dulcimer        
Champion
  Don Pedi Carolina Cardinals  
1st Runner-Up
  Alan Darveau   Morganton, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Bill Wilkes   Sullivan's Island, SC
         
Harmonica        
Champion
  Kyle Cole Spring Valley Boys Elk Creek, VA
1st Runner-Up
  John Anderson Stone Mountain Country Band Norcross, GA
2nd Runner-Up
  Jim Jenkins   Duluth, MN
         
Bass        
Champion
  John Whitley Dirt Creek Band Charlotte, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Randy Cheek    
2nd Runner-Up
  Terry Shue Carolina Mountain Boys Concord, NC
         
Dobro        
Champion
  Chris Sigmon Sigmon Stringers Newton, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Bernie Daniels    
2nd Runner-Up
  Charles Pugh    
         
         
Bluegrass Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
  Sigmon Stringers   Newton, NC
1st Runner-Up
  One Hundred Proof Grass   Jonesville, NC
2nd Runner-Up
       
Senior Division      
Champion
       
1st Runner-Up
       
2nd Runner-Up
       
         
         
Old-Time Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
  Pot Licker Pickers   Atlanta, GA
1st Runner-Up
       
2nd Runner-Up
       
Senior Division      
Champion
  White Top Mountain Boys   Mouth of Wilson, VA
1st Runner-Up
  Dutch Cove Old Time String Band   Canton, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Spring Valley Boys   Elk Creek, VA
         
Twin Fiddlers        
Champion
  Ron Seigle & Freyda Epstein   Cambridge, MA
1st Runner-Up
  Byard Ray & Palmer Turnburke   Marshall, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Liz & Lynn Shaw Dutch Cove Old Time String Band Canton, NC
         
Heritage Tune        
Champion
  Albert Hash White Top Mountain Boys Mouth of Wilson, VA
1st Runner-Up
  J.P. Fraley Fraley Family Band Rush, KY
2nd Runner-Up
  Wayne Erbsen Possum Leg String Band Swannanoa, NC
         
Novelty Award
  Gena Britt (5-yr-old clog dancer)      

1980

Fiddler of the Festival: Robin Warren
First Runner-Up: J.P. Fraley
Second Runner-Up: Mike Lawing

Category   Winner Winner's Band Home
Banjo        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
       
1st Runner-Up
  Tracy Best   Canton, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Ronnie Hill    
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
  Mark Thomas High Lonesome Ramblers Ellison, NC
1st Runner-Up
  David McEntire    
2nd Runner-Up
  Mark Cheek    
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  David Holt Luke Smathers Old Time String Band  
1st Runner-Up
  Laura Boosinger    
2nd Runner-Up
  Edwin Lacy    
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  Pat Wingo Dirt Creek Band Charlotte, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Chris Bryant    
2nd Runner-Up
  Bob Shue    
         
Fiddle        
Old-Time Junior Division      
Champion
  Mike Lawing Pot Licker Pickers Atlanta, GA
1st Runner-Up
  John Daniel    
2nd Runner-Up
  Chris Briles    
Bluegrass Junior Division      
Champion
  Mark Sigmon Sigmon Stringers Newton, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Quinn Slawter    
2nd Runner-Up
       
Old-Time Senior Division      
Champion
  Robin Warren Carolina Cardinals New Boston, NH
1st Runner-Up
  Lynn Shaw    
2nd Runner-Up
  Ken Powers Grayson Highlands String Band Whitetop, VA
Bluegrass Senior Division      
Champion
  David Whittington Dirt Creek Band Charlotte, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Henry Mabe    
2nd Runner-Up
  Gordon Myers    
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50      
Champion
  J.P. Fraley Fraley Family Band Rush, KY
1st Runner-Up
  Albert Hash    
2nd Runner-Up
  Luke Smathers    
         
         
Guitar        
Junior Division        
Champion
  Shane Ball Flint Hill Special Rutherfordton, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Steve Ledford    
2nd Runner-Up
  Randy Greer    
Senior Division        
Champion
  Darien Ball Flint Hill Special Rutherfordton, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Randy Carter    
2nd Runner-Up
  Keith Guille    
         
         
Mandolin        
Junior Division        
Champion
       
1st Runner-Up
  Todd Pasley Timberline Crumpler, NC
2nd Runner-Up
       
Senior Division        
Champion
  Ralph Pennington Carolina Gentlemen Gold Hill, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Opie Poindexter    
2nd Runner-Up
  Kenneth Daniels    
         
Autoharp        
Champion
  Betty Waldron Original Orchard Grass Copper Hill, VA
1st Runner-Up
  Kirk Randleman    
2nd Runner-Up
  Lois Hensley    
         
Dulcimer        
Champion
  Don Pedi Carolina Cardinals New Boston, NH
1st Runner-Up
  Craig Dubose    
2nd Runner-Up
  Phyllis Gaskins    
         
Harmonica        
Champion
  Kyle Cole Spring Valley Boys Elk Creek, VA
1st Runner-Up
  John Anderson    
2nd Runner-Up
  Shae Avery    
         
Bass        
Champion
  Terry Shue Carolina Mountain Boys Concord, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Randy Cheek    
2nd Runner-Up
  John Whitley    
         
Dobro        
Champion
       
1st Runner-Up
  Bernie Daniels Sugar Loaf Ramblers Taylorsville, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Charles Pugh    
         
         
Bluegrass Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
  Timberline   Crumpler, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Sassafras    
2nd Runner-Up
  High Lonesome Ramblers   Elkin, NC
Senior Division      
Champion
  Bluegrass Anonymous   Rhonda, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Flint Hill Special   Rutherfordton, NC
2nd Runner-Up
  Sugarloaf Ramblers   Taylorsville, NC
         
         
Old-Time Band      
Junior Division      
Champion
  Potlicker Pickers   Atlanta, GA
1st Runner-Up
  Ashley Osment Band   Sylva, NC
2nd Runner-Up
       
Senior Division      
Champion
  Smoky Valley Boys   Mt. Airy, NC
1st Runner-Up
  Whitetop Mountain Band   Mouth of Wilson, VA
2nd Runner-Up
  Grayson Highlands String Band   White Top Mountain, VA
         
Twin Fiddlers        
Champion
  Palmer Turnburket & George Huhn   Berwyn, PA
1st Runner-Up
  Barbara Taylor & Mike Lawing    
2nd Runner-Up
  Wayne Erbsen & Martin Fox    
         
Heritage Tune        
Champion
  J.P. Fraley Fraley Family Band Rush, KY
1st Runner-Up
  Emily Spencer    
2nd Runner-Up
  Joe Talbert    
         
Novelty Award
    Bernie Daniels (dobro) Sugarloaf Ramblers Taylorsville, NC