John Coffey Collection

I met John Coffey and his wife, Betsy Rutherford Coffey, sometime in the early to mid-1970s shortly after they moved to Baltimore from the Boston area. I was just getting into old-time music and John was the first fiddler I had ever met. He played left-handed on a reworked and restrung fiddle. He played with the fiddle against his chest and employed a very distinctive, often syncopated, bowing style. And he collected 78s. Betsy was from the Galax area and was kin to the Wards (Fields and Wade). Between them they knew everyone in the early revival scene.  

For someone who was new to the music (me), their arrival in Baltimore seemed like an act of providence. I soon began making music with them and my nascent banjo playing became more fully formed as I accompanied John’s fiddling. Their influence was seminal, and I would not be the musician I am today had they not landed in Baltimore when they did. They left Baltimore for Galax sometime in the late 70s or early 80s, if I’m remembering correctly. 

In 1993 John began sending recordings to friends every Christmas, first on cassette, then starting in 2001, on CD. These compilations were drawn from his 78s (with the occasional inclusion from someone else’s collection). Each was a diverse sampling of a broad range of traditional music, both familiar and obscure. They included old-time tunes and songs, blues, gospel, early bluegrass, and early jazz. Cajun, French-Canadian, and Irish music made occasional appearances as well. Each collection came with wonderful and informative notes on each selection. He sent these out every Christmas for 18 years, stopping in 2011, when health issues made it hard for him to continue. John passed away in 2016 after suffering several strokes. 

These recordings are an absolute treasure trove and are a testament to John’s vast knowledge and deep love of traditional music. I’m thrilled that Slippery-Hill is making these available and thereby keeping John’s legacy alive. - Bill Schmidt

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