All Winners: 1970-75 · Fiddler's Grove: Retrospective, 1970-2000

1970 Winners

Fiddler of the Festival: Lost John Ray

Category	Winner	Winner's Band	Home
Banjo
Champion	Eddie Hoyle	Hoyle Brothers	East Ellijay, GA
Second Place	A.L. Wood	Smokey Ridge Boys	Stony Point, NC
Third Place	Gary Williams	Bluegrass Gentlemen	Asheboro, NC

Fiddle
Champion	Lost John Ray	Brushy Mountain Boys	N. Wilkesboro, NC
Second Place	Terry Baucom	Smokey Ridge Boys	Stony Point, NC
Third Place	Joe Dreyer	Mountain Ramblers	Galax, VA

Guitar
Champion	Jack B. Dunivant	Dunivant Family	Hillsville, VA
Second Place	Michael Auman	Bluegrass Gentlemen	Asheboro, NC
Third Place	Nick Hollmann

Mandolin
Champion	Tony Williamson	Bluegrass Gentlemen	Asheboro, NC
Second Place	Bill Meacham	Bluegrass Tarheels	Carthage, NC
Third Place	Jim Ranson	Stony Creek Boys	Statesville, NC

Bluegrass Division
Champion	Smokey Ridge Boys		Stony Point, NC
Second Place	Mountain Ramblers		Galax, VA
Third Place	Bluegrass Gentlemen		Asheboro, NC

Old Time Division
Champion	Brushy Mountain Boys		N. Wilkesboro, NC
Second Place	Hoyle Brothers		East Ellijay, GA

1971 Winners

Fiddler of the Festival: Joel Little
Reserve: Russ Wilson

Category	Winner	Winner's Band	Home
Banjo
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	No entries
Second Place
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Eddie Hoyle		East Ellijay, GA
Second Place	Garry Wilson		Fries, VA
Third Place	Susan Taylor		Jonesboro, TN
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	Warren Wagner		Hamptonville, NC
Second Place	Earl Burris		Elk Creek, VA
Third Place	Ray Lunsford		Union Grove, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	L.W. Lambert		Union Grove, NC
Second Place	Garland Shuping	Bluegrass Gentlemen	Asheboro, NC
Third Place

Fiddle
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	Russ Wilson		Speedwell, TN
Second Place
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Joel Little		Claremont, NC
Second Place	Jimmy Edmonds		Galax, VA
Third Place
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	Watt Slone		Union Grove, NC
Second Place	Bruce Mastin		Elk Creek, VA
Third Place	Jerry Souther		Hamptonville, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion (Tie)	Junior Wooten		Galax, VA
Champion (Tie)	Buddy Pendleton		Sturat, VA
Second Place	Carl Joyner	Smokey Ridge Boys	Statesville, NC
Third Place	Marvin Frye	Bluegrass Tarheels
Old Time Fiddlers Over 50
Champion	Lost John Ray
Second Place	Sherill Harris
Third Place	Fonzy Kennemur


Guitar
Champion	Gregg Wilson	Wilson Brothers	Fries, VA
Second Place	Michael Alman	Bluegrass Gentlemen	Asheboro, NC
Third Place	Al Hoyle	Hoyle Brothers	East Ellijay, GA


Mandolin
Champion	Dewey Farmer	Smokey Ridge Boys	Statesville, NC
Second Place	Jerry Stuart	Bluegrass Gentlemen	Asheboro, NC
Third Place


Bluegrass Band
Junior Division
Champion	Wilson Brothers		Fries, VA
Second Place	Little Brothers		Claremont, NC
Third Place	Hoyle Brothers		East Ellijay, GA
Senior Division
Champion	Smokey Ridge Boys		Statesville, NC
Second Place	Brushy River Boys		Galax, VA
Third Place	Dixie Partners		Elk Creek, VA


Old Time Band
Junior Division
Champion	No Entries
Second Place
Third Place
Senior Division
Champion	Brushy Mountain Boys		Windy Gap, NC
Second Place	Spring Valley Boys		Mount Airy, NC
Third Place	Ray Lunsford Band		Union Grove, NC

Novelty Award
	Mike Johnson (Washboard)	Brushy Mountain Boys	Windy Gap, NC

1972 Winners

Fiddler of the Festival: J.B. Prince
Reserve: Charles Corns

Category	Winner	Winner's Band	Home
Banjo
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	None
Second Place
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Eddie Hoyle		East Ellijay, GA
Second Place	Steve Spence	The Spence Kids	Herndon, VA
Third Place	Walter Lee Compton	Teenage Travelers	Mooresville, NC
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	Sonny Funk	Spring Valley Boys	Elk Creek, VA
Second Place	Bill McElreath		Swannanoa, NC
Third Place	Glenn Davis		Asheboro, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	Bob Shue	Carolina Mountain Boys	Concord, NC
Second Place	Jimmy Lyler	Bluegrass Tarheels	Carthage, NC
Third Place	Jim Brooks	Tarheel Travelers	N. Wilkesboro, NC

Fiddle
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	Russ Wilson		Speedwell, TN
Second Place
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	J.B. Prince		High Point, NC
Second Place	Chris Sigmon	Sigmon Stringers	Newton, NC
Third Place
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	Charles Corns		Battleground, IN
Second Place
Third Place
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	Doyle Donahue	Carolina Mountain Boys	Concord, NC
Second Place	Tiny Pruitt	Tarheel Travelers	N. Wilkesboro, NC
Third Place	Billy Gosnell	Southern Mountain Boys	Arden, NC
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50
Champion	Charles Corns		Battleground, VA
Second Place	Fonzy Kennemer		Canton, GA
Third Place	Bruce Masten		Elk Creek, VA


Guitar
Champion	Ray Cline		Statesville, NC
Second Place	Al Hoyle		East Ellijay, GA
Third Place	Michael Wood	Teenage Travelers	Mooresville, NC


Mandolin
Champion	Randy Carrier	Bluegrass Partners	Lenoir, NC
Second Place	Raymond Pennington	High County Ramblers	Warrensville, NC
Third Place		Dominican Bluegrass Boys


Bluegrass Band
Junior Division
Champion	Hoyle Brothers		East Ellijay, GA
Second Place	Teenage Travelers		Mooresville, NC
Third Place	Spence Kids		Herndon, VA
Senior Division
Champion	Bluegrass Partners		Lenoir, NC
Second Place	High County Ramblers		Warrensville, NC
Third Place	Tarheel Travelers		N. Wilkesboro, NC


Old-Time Band
Junior Division
Champion	None
Second Place
Third Place
Senior Division
Champion	Spring Valley Boys		Elk Creek, VA
Second Place	Glenn Davis & His Buffalo Ford Boys		Asheboro, NC
Third Place	Yellow Mountain String Band		Greenwood, VA

Novelty Award
	Dan Lewis (Bass)	Southern Mountain Boys	Arden, NC

1973 Winners

Fiddler of the Festival: J.P. Fraley
Reserve: Tiny Pruitt

Category	Winner	Winner's Band	Home
Banjo
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	None
Second Place
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Eddie Hoyle	Hoyle Brothers	East Ellijay, GA
Second Place	Walter Compton	Teenage Travelers	Mooresville, NC
Third Place	Randy Sigmon	Sigmon Stringers	Canton, NC
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	Glenn Davis	Glenn Davis and His Buffalo Ford Boys	Asheboro, NC
Second Place	Lou Therrell	Interstate Old Timers	Marietta, GA
Third Place	Jake McKitchen	Tarheel Cornshuckers	Concord, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	Bob Shue
Second Place	Larry Pennington	High County Ramblers	Warrensville, NC
Third Place	Ronald Smith	Carolina Grass	Madison, NC

Fiddle
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	Elizabeth Smathers
Second Place
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Mark Sigmon	Sigmon Stringers	Canton, NC
Second Place	Chris Sigmon	Sigmon Stringers	Canton, NC
Third Place
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	Bill Russell
Second Place	Gus Meade	Rye Straw Band	Waldorf, MD
Third Place
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	Tiny Pruitt	Carolina Grass
Second Place	Johnny Miller	High County Ramblers
Third Place	Jerry Clawson		Speedwell, TN
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50
Champion	J.P. Fraley	The Fraleys	Rush, KY
Second Place	Bruce Mastin	Spring Valley Boys	Elk Creek, VA
Third Place	Joe Talbert		Advance, NC


Guitar
Champion	Jerry Turner	Sunshine Boys	Durham, NC
Second Place	Johnny Pennington
Third Place	Ronald Black


Mandolin
Champion	Gary Smith
Second Place	Raymond Pennington	High County Ramblers	Warrensville, NC
Third Place	Frank Watts

Autoharp
Champion	Richard Badu		Ridgewood, NJ
Second Place	Jim Matthews		Winston-Salem, NC
Third Place	Abigail Lawrence

Dulcimer
Champion	Dannielle Fraley	The Fraleys	Rush, KY
Second Place	Edith Card
Third Place	Maggie Lauterer		Bostic, NC

Harmonica
Champion	Steve Hickman	Rye Straw Band	Waldorf, MD
Second Place	Fredrick Park		Valpriso, FL
Third Place	Tex Burleson		Johnson City, TN


Bluegrass Band
Junior Division
Champion	Hoyle Brothers		East Ellijay, GA
Second Place	Sigmon Stringers		Newton, NC
Third Place	Down Home Girls		Winston-Salem, NC
Senior Division
Champion	Uptown Grass		Fletcher, NC
Second Place	Southbound Express		Lenoir, NC
Third Place	High County Ramblers		Warrensville, NC


Old-Time Band
Junior Division
Champion	No entries
Second Place
Third Place
Senior Division
Champion	Spring Valley Boys		Elk Creek, VA
Second Place	The Fraleys		Rush, KY
Third Place	Leake Caudle & the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys		East Bend, NC

Novelty Award
	Jimmy Poteat Silvers (Dobro)	Lynch Mountain Boys	Lynchburg, VA

1974 Winners

Fiddler of the Festival: Mack Snoderly
Reserve: Carl Joyner

Category	Winner	Winner's Band	Home
Banjo
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	June Smathers		Canton, NC
Second Place
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Walter Compton		Mooresville, NC
Second Place	Donnie Little		Claremont, NC
Third Place	Randy Sigmon		Newton, NC
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	David Holt		Raleigh, NC
Second Place	Lou Therell		Mars Hill, NC
Third Place	Tad Wright		Horse Shoe, NC
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	Bob Shue		Concord, NC
Second Place	Larry Pennington		Warrensville, NC
Third Place	Kent Dowell		Statesville, NC

Fiddle
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	Elizabeth Smathers		Canton, NC
Second Place	Russ Wilson		Speedwell, TN
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Joel Little		Claremont, NC
Second Place	Mark Sigmon		Newton, NC
Third Place	Karen Joyner		Asheboro, NC
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	Mack Snoderly		Clyde, NC
Second Place	Jim Collier		Raleigh, NC
Third Place	Bill Russell		Speedwell, TN
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	Carl Joyner		Winston-Salem, NC
Second Place	Jerry Clawson		Speedwell, TN
Third Place	Johnny Miller		Warrensville, NC
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50
Champion	Byard Ray		Mars Hill, NC
Second Place	Benton Flippen		Mt. Airy, NC
Third Place	John D. Kee		Concord, NC


Guitar
Junior Division
Champion
Second Place	Scott Auman		Asheboro, NC
Third Place
Senior Division
Champion	Joe Smith		Asheboro, NC
Second Place	Wayne Henderson		Warrensville, NC
Third Place	Clyde Little		Claremont, NC


Mandolin
Junior Division
Champion	Tim Perry		Mooresville, NC
Second Place	Arnie Solomon		New York, NY
Third Place	Gwen Auman		Asheboro, NC
Senior Division
Champion	Raymond Pennington		Warrensville, NC
Second Place	Reid Robertson		Elk Creek, VA
Third Place	Gary Smith		Mt. Pleasant, NC

Autoharp
Champion
Second Place	Jim Childers		Atlanta, GA
Third Place

Dulcimer
Champion	Don Petti		Horse Shoe, NC
Second Place	Diane Shaw		Blowing Rock, NC
Third Place	Roger Miller		Miami Beach, FL

Harmonica
Champion	Billy Stevens		Durham, NC
Second Place	Tex Burleson		Johnson City, TN
Third Place

Bass
Champion	Jane Little		Claremont, NC
Second Place	Terry Shue		Concord, NC
Third Place	Recor Haire		Winston-Salem, NC

Dobro
Champion	Butch Bobbitt		Lynchburg, VA
Second Place	Chris Sigmon		Newton, NC
Third Place	Mike Randleman		Elkin, NC


Bluegrass Band
Junior Division
Champion	Sigmon Stringers		Newton, NC
Second Place	Happy Hollow String Band		Asheboro, NC
Third Place
Senior Division
Champion	Southbound Express		Hudson, NC
Second Place	High County Ramblers		Warrensville, NC
Third Place	Country Comfort		Kingsport, TN


Old-Time Band
Junior Division
Champion
Second Place
Third Place
Senior Division
Champion	Appalachian Folks		Mars Hill, NC
Second Place	Tarheel Cornshuckers		Concord, NC
Third Place	Hogeyed String Band		Durham, NC

Novelty Award
	Vivian Hartsoe (Mouth Bow)		Mars Hill, NC

1975 Winners

Fiddler of the Festival: Mack Snoderly
Reserve: J.P. Fraley

Category	Winner	Winner's Band	Home
Banjo
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion	Doug Trantham
Second Place	June Smathers	Dutch Cove Old Time String Band
Third Place	Gary Webb	Brush Creek Cut-ups
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Donnie Little	Little Family
Second Place	Eric Ellis
Third Place	Larry Jurney
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	David Holt	Brand New Old Time String Band
Second Place	Sheila Rice	Lettuce Rock
Third Place	Lou Therrell	Appalachian Folks
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	Walter Compton
Second Place	Jim Brooks	Tarheel Travelers
Third Place	Darrell Bryant	Pea Ridge Ramblers

Fiddle
Old-Time Junior Division
Champion
Second Place	James Burris	Brush Creek Cut-ups
Third Place
Bluegrass Junior Division
Champion	Karen Joyner	Happy Hollow String Band
Second Place	Mark Sigmon	Sigmon Strings
Third Place	Billy Williams	The New Blades of Grass
Old-Time Senior Division
Champion	Mack Snoderly
Second Place	Henry the Fiddler
Third Place	Liz Smathers	Dutch Cove Old Time String Band
Bluegrass Senior Division
Champion	Dean Clawson	Tarheel Travelers
Second Place	David Johnson	Randy Mtn. Boys
Third Place	Joel Little	Little Family
Certified Old-Time Fiddlers Category - Over 50
Champion	J.P. Fraley	Fraley Family
Second Place	Corbett Bennett	Country Golds
Third Place	Byard Ray	Appalachian Folks


Guitar
Junior Division
Champion	Royce Kiser	Erect Cut-ups
Second Place	Scott Auman	Happy Hollow String Band
Third Place	Jeff Hayes	Erect Cut-ups
Senior Division
Champion	Don Mercz
Second Place	Ronnie Black	New Grass Edition
Third Place	Bill Helms	Glen Davis & the Buffalo Ford Boys

Mandolin
Junior Division
Champion	Arnie Solomon
Second Place	Tim Perry	New Grass Edition
Third Place	Jay Latta	Erect Cut-ups
Senior Division
Champion	Howard Green	Carolina Mountain Boys
Second Place	Terry Cheek	Pea Ridge Ramblers
Third Place	Jeff Claus	Larchwood String Band

Autoharp
Champion	John McCutcheon	Brand New Old Time String Band
Second Place	Curt Randleman
Third Place	Billy R. Johnson	Randy Mountain Boys

Dulcimer
Champion	Edith Card
Second Place	Jim Trantham
Third Place	Barbara Edwards

Harmonica
Champion	Billy Stevens	Sump Pump Boys
Second Place	Frederick Park
Third Place	Kyle Cole	Spring Valley Boys

Bass
Champion	Dan Lewis	Southern Mountain Boys
Second Place	Terry Shue	Carolina Mountain Boys
Third Place	Robin Auman	Happy Hollow String Band

Dobro
Champion	M.J. Holden	Carolina Mountain Boys
Second Place	Chris Sigmon	Sigmon Strings
Third Place


Bluegrass Band
Junior Division
Champion	Erect Cut-ups
Second Place	Happy Hollow String Band
Third Place	Sigmon Stringers
Senior Division
Champion
Second Place
Third Place


Old-Time Band
Junior Division
Champion	Brush Creek Cut-ups*
Second Place
Third Place
Senior Division
Champion	Country Golds
Second Place	Brand New Old Time String Band
Third Place	Appalachian Folks

Novelty Award
	John McCutcheon (Hammer Dulcimer)

* Judges special request for first place, even though only one band in competition.