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Vassar Clements

From: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | Date: 2008

Vassar Clements 1928-2005, American virtuoso fiddle player, b. Kinards, S.C. Self-taught, he played with Bill Monroe 's Blue Grass Boys from 1949 to 1956. Though his roots were in country and western music and he began his career playing bluegrass, Clements was accomplished in many genres, including jazz, pop, rock, and swing. Known for his innovative style and technical prowess, he played or recorded with such diverse performers as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Paul McCartney, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Garcia, Earl Scruggs, John Hartford, and Dave Holland. Clements, who made more than 25 solo albums, also played the viola, cello, bass, mandolin, guitar, and banjo.

Author not available, CLEMENTS, VASSAR., The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press

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	VASSAR CLEMENTS: THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN EAR.(CITY LIFE) The News & Record (Piedmont Triad, NC); 3/6/2003; Kritzer, Jamie; 546 words; ... strictly from what I hear, Clements says. Sometimes it's real ... In his fiddle playing, Clements' 74-year-old ears have ... John Cowans. Cowans and Clements started playing together ... group New Grass Revival. Clements was a veteran fiddler ... like that, Cowans says of Clements' fiddle playing ... .
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	Interview: David Grisman remembers Vassar Clements, bluegrass virtuoso Weekend Edition - Saturday (NPR); 8/20/2005; SCOTT SIMON; 358 words; ... Interview: David Grisman remembers Vassar Clements, bluegrass virtuoso Host: SCOTT ... 00-2:00 PM SCOTT SIMON, host: Vassar Clements died this week at the age of ... David Grisman performed with Vassar Clements in the all-star bluegrass group ...
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	COMMENTARY; Vassar Clements could play it all - jazz, rock, folk The Patriot Ledger Quincy, MA; 8/24/2005; Stephen A. Ide; 839 words; ... extraordinary fiddler Vassar Clements, 77, a Tennessee ... impeccably dressed, Clements played from the ... play what I hear," Clements once said. Clements recorded live with ... Armerding remembers Clements fondly: "He was ... jamming with you." Clements, a five-time Grammy ... During ...
	VASSAR CLEMENTS 1928-2005 Virtuoso never learned to read music, he was just born to play Chicago Sun-Times; 8/17/2005; JOHN GEROME; 373 words; NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Vassar Clements, a fiddle virtuoso and A-list studio ... battle with lung cancer. He was 77. Clements was hospitalized for 18 days earlier ... had spread to his liver and brain. Clements -- whose wife, Millie, died in 1998 ...
	AT 70, VASSAR CLEMENTS IS AS FIT AS A FIDDLER.(What's Happening)(Review) Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle, WA); 11/6/1998; Blackstock, Peter; 663 words; Both Vassar Clements and Lisa Germano are appearing in Seattle ... hoedowns it's most often associated with. Clements, who turned 70 ((age)) earlier this ... and in the Way during the mid-1970s. Clements also played an integral role in the ...
	OBITUARY: VASSAR CLEMENTS.(Obituaries) The Independent (London, England); 8/20/2005; Wadey, Paul; 504 words; ... creator of 'hillbilly jazz' The master fiddle player Vassar Clements effortlessly fused country, bluegrass, jazz and swing ... fascinating blues-based disc, Livin' With the Blues. Vassar Clements, fiddle player: born Kinard, Florida 25 April 1928 ...
	VASSAR CLEMENTS ONCE IN A WHILE FLYING FISH The Boston Globe; 3/25/1993; Craig Harris; 165 words; Vassar Clements is a musical chamaleon. In the past, he ... albums that he's recorded as a bandleader, Clements' fiddle can be heard on albums by such ... arrangements into syncopated overdrive. Clements and Abercrombie alternate between heartfelt ...
	VASSAR CLEMENTS LIVIN' WITH THE BLUES ACOUSTIC DISC The Boston Globe; 9/10/2004; JAMES REED; 188 words; ... bluegrass fiddler and session musician, Vassar Clements has turned his attention to another ... solo artist in the '70s. At times Clements is so confident and convincing ... other than old-time rural blues. Clements's long-bow technique, in which ...
	VASSAR CLEMENTS REMEMBERED Strings; 11/1/2005; Cahill, Greg; 183 words; ... instrument," recalls newgrass mandolinist Mike Marshall, "then VASSAR CLEMENTS was the epitome of that goat." The music world mourned ... the landmark 1972 album Will the Cirle Be Unbroken. "Vassar was the fiddler who awoke me to the possibility that ...
	Sounds from the heart; Clements, Carters join unique styles.(WASHINGTON WEEKEND)(RIFFS) The Washington Times; 7/3/2003; 837 words; ... they do. Fiddler Vassar Clements, coming to the State ... playing with Mr. Clements this way: He's such ... creativity, Mr. Clements has performed on ... Williams Jr. Mr. Clements' personal breakthrough ... country music. Mr. Clements' fiddle was featured ... Way, featuring Mr ... .
	Clements, Others Fiddling Eclectically The Washington Post; 1/3/1992; Mike Joyce; 331 words; FIDDLER Vassar Clements has a way of keeping good company, whether ... ways this is a sentimental journey for Clements, a chance to reunite with McReynolds ... Chubby Wise. From the start, though, when Clements's spry, singing fiddle is contrasted ...
	Fiddler Clements mastered by ear.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary) Variety; 8/22/2005; 222 words; Fiddle virtuoso Vassar Clements, an A-list studio musician who played ... battle with lung cancer. He was 77. Clements last performed Feb. 4 in Jamestown ... Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, featuring Clements, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs and Jerry ...
	Clements' Reined-In Fiddling The Washington Post; 1/7/1988; Mike Joyce; 157 words; Seventeen years ago, fiddler Vassar Clements released an album called "Hillbilly ... blend of country and swing music. Clements played a similar blend last night ... It's just that nearly everything Clements and his trio played seemed just ...