Raymond Fairchild facts for kids
Raymond Fairchild (born March 15, 1939 – died October 13, 2019) was a famous American banjo player. He came from the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. People knew him for his super-fast playing. He also played fancy and tricky notes. He could even make sounds like animals and people with his banjo!
Contents
His Life Story
Early Life and Learning Music
Raymond Fairchild was born in a town called Cherokee, North Carolina. This was in Swain County. He started learning music when he was very young. His mother's family taught him a lot. He also learned from famous banjo players like Earl Scruggs and Don Reno.
Playing for Audiences
When Raymond was young, he played his banjo for tips. He performed at a place for tourists in Maggie Valley. The owner, Ted Sutton, taught him about show business. This means how to entertain people. When Raymond wasn't playing music, he worked as a stonemason.
In the mid-1960s, he started a band called the Frosty Mountain Boys. Soon after, he changed the band's name to the Maggie Valley Boys.
Recording and Success
In 1963, Raymond signed with Uncle Jim O'Neal. He began recording music for the Rural Rhythm record label. In the early 1970s, he played at the famous Grand Ole Opry. This show was broadcast on WSM radio from Nashville.
In 1975, he met the Crowe Brothers, Wallace and Wayne. They formed a musical group together. This bluegrass trio played music until 1991. Then, Raymond started a new band called the New Maggie Valley Boys. His son, Zane Fairchild, was in this new band.
Raymond Fairchild won five awards as a champion banjo player. He also earned two gold records for selling lots of music! He even sold his own special banjos, called the Cox/Fairchild banjo. Raymond loved his home area. So, he mostly performed at the Maggie Valley Opry House near his home.
His Passing
Raymond Fairchild passed away on October 13, 2019. He died from a heart attack.
His Music Recordings
Raymond Fairchild recorded many albums during his career. These recordings helped share his amazing banjo playing with people everywhere.
LPs (Long Play Records)
He released many LPs, which are like big vinyl records. Some of his famous ones include:
- King of the Smokey Mountain 5-String Banjo Players (1963)
- Mama Likes Bluegrass Music (1967)
- Raymond Fairchild & the Maggie Valley Boys (1967)
- Honky Tonkin' Country Blues (1971)
CDs (Compact Discs)
Later, many of his recordings were also released on CDs. Some of these were new albums, and others were reissues of his older LP music.
- Mama Likes Bluegrass Music
- Raymond Fairchild & The Maggie Valley Boys
- 31 Banjo Favorites
- Smoky Mountain Christmas
- The Bluegrass Banjo Collection
- Little Zane
