Uncle Charlie Osborne facts for kids

Charles Nelson Osborne, known as "Uncle Charlie," was a talented musician from the Appalachian Mountains in southwest Virginia. He was born in 1890 in a place called Cowan Osborne Hollow. Uncle Charlie became famous around age 15 and continued playing music until he was 101 years old in 1992.

He had a unique way of playing the fiddle. Even though he was left-handed, he played on a right-handed fiddle! Uncle Charlie and his brother, Emmett Osborne, played on the radio station WOPI in Bristol, Tennessee. This was from the early 1920s to the early 1930s. They were around at the same time as country music legends like Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. They even gave music advice to Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Life and Music

Uncle Charlie faced a challenge when he was 21 years old. He lost sight in his left eye. In the 1930s, he spent less time on music. Instead, he worked on a large farm near his family home in Copper Creek, Virginia. After his wife, Clara, passed away in the mid-1970s, Uncle Charlie started focusing more on his music again.

Music Career and Albums

In 1985, Uncle Charlie recorded his first album, "Relics And Treasures." He worked with East Tennessee State University and Appalshop's June Appal Recordings. The album featured many traditional mountain songs. Some of these were "Ida Red" and "Old Joe Clark."

He recorded two more albums with the same label. His last album, "One Hundred Years Farther On," came out in 1991. It included a powerful mountain gospel song called "Farther On." Uncle Charlie called it "As We Travel Through The Desert." His son, Johnny C. Osborne, played clawhammer banjo on these recordings. Tommy Bledsoe also played guitar and banjo. All these recordings were later re-released together as "Uncle Charlie Osborne: The June Appal Recordings."

Awards and Performances

In the 1980s, Governor Chuck Robb visited Uncle Charlie's home. He gave Uncle Charlie an award. This award recognized his important contributions to Virginia's culture and way of life. Around the same time, Uncle Charlie and his brother Emmett started playing music often with their half-brother, George Osborne. George was a former country & western singer. Their regular music sessions became very well-known.

Uncle Charlie performed many times at the Carter Family Fold in Scott County, Virginia. This is a special theater that showcases traditional music. It was run by Janette Carter, one of the daughters of the original Carter Family. Once, the famous singer Johnny Cash was Uncle Charlie's "opening act"! Uncle Charlie was also a regular performer at Mountain Empire Community College's yearly Home Craft Days festivals. He played there from 1985 until he passed away. He also performed at other events, like the Brandywine Festival and a campaign rally for Jesse Jackson.

Later Years and Passing

Uncle Charlie was very active. He walked three miles every day from his house in rural Tumbez, Virginia. He continued this routine until just a few days before he passed away. Charles Nelson Osborne died on May 27, 1992, after a short illness.

See also

• Carter Family Fold
• June Appal Recordings
• Old-time music