Homer C. Ledford (September 26 1927 –
December 11 2006)
was an instrument maker and bluegrass musician
from Kentucky
who
specialized in making dulcimer.
Born in
Alpine, Tennessee
, he started building instruments at an early
age. When he was 18, Ledford was given a
scholarship to attend the John C.
Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina
. He later attended Berea College
, where he met his wife Colista. Ledford eventually
transferred and graduated from what is now the Eastern Kentucky
University
in 1954. Ledford worked as a high school industrial arts teacher at George Rogers
Clark High School in Winchester, Kentucky
before becoming a full-time instrument
maker.
Musicians from all over the world have sought after his dulcimers,
banjos,
mandolins,
guitars and
ukeleles.
Some of
his works are on display in the Smithsonian Institution
.
According to his website (
[398820]), he made over 5,776 dulcimers and over 475
banjos in his lifetime. He is also the inventor of the
dulcitar, and also made
dulcijos and
dulcibros.
He was also an original inductee in the
Kentucky Stars, alongside
Loretta Lynn,
Rosemary Clooney,
Bobbie Ann Mason, and
Patricia Neal.
A sidewalk plaque honoring him is in front
of the Kentucky Theatre on Main
Street in Lexington,
Kentucky
.
He devoted his career to instrument-making and to playing with the
Cabin Creek Band. He also published
a book of autobiographical stories and poems, entitled
See Ya
Further Up the Creek.
Ledford
died from a stroke at the age of 79 in
Winchester,
Kentucky. He was survived by his widow, Colista; they
had four children.
He was
posthumously given an honorary Doctorate of Humanities at the Fall
2006 commencement ceremonies at Eastern
Kentucky University, December 16, 2006, and deemed one of Kentucky's
"Heroes, Saints and Legends" by Wesley Retirement Community in
recognition of his contributions to music.
Sources
Wikis
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