Traditional Drop Thumb Banjo Songs

Songs include: Little Joe, Ground Hog, Rabbit in the Log, Poor Ellen Smith, Wild Bill Jones, Little Birdie, When it’s time for the Whippoorwill to Sing, Get Along Down to Town, He’s Coming to us Dead, Handsome Molly, Death of John Henry, Cripple Creek, Matthew Twenty-Four, Going Down the Road Feeling Bad, John Hardy, Pretty Polly, Darling Nellie Gray, He’ll Will go With Me All the Way and Jesse James. All selections on this CD are arranged by Ray Slone.

RAY SLONE plays old time mountain music, a hobby which will, hopefully, help mountain music to survive in the future. He has enjoyed music from childhood. Several of his ancestors played banjo, fiddle or guitar.

“The folk music of Eastern Kentucky is near and dear to my heart. As a child I always enjoyed our mountain music. My musical heritage goes back to my great-great grandparents. I feel compelled to make an effort toward preserving our rich musical heritage.” - Ray Slone

A retired math teacher from Knott County, KY, Ray received his BS Degree in education after attending Alice Lloyd College, the University of KY and Defiance College (Ohio). He received his MA Degree from Morehead State University.

Ray and his wife Wevena, live in Hindman, KY. They have two daughters and seven grandchildren. After teaching 33 years, Ray retired from the public school system. However, he continues to give instructions on playing stringed instruments, including the fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin.