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All Winners: 1970-75

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.