I, along with Jackson Cunningham and Chris Testerman, traveled up to Arlington, VA to meet with Speedy Tolliver , a Green Cove native musician, to talk about the Whitetop Folk festival and music of the 20s and 30s. Living in the Whitetop area and playing music, we were always interested in the folk festival, and heard stories from family and friends about older musicians in the area. So, we were excited to get up to visit with Speedy since he grew up in those times and had attended the festival.
Roy Odell Tolliver, nicknamed “Speedy” was born in 1918 in Green Cove, VA. His family was musical and sang in church. His father played the clawhammer banjo and harmonica. His brother, Blaine, also played the banjo. Speedy first learned to the pick the clawhammer banjo from his family. He recalled that music was most folks’ form of entertainment back then, with house parties, dances and picking. A lot of folks didn’t have radios and most pickers around the area played the clawhammer style back then. Speedy’s family had a radio, and he would listen on it to learn new tunes and such from records and Nashville. He picked up the three finger style, and would swap between playing the two styles in tunes. Speedy having a natural talent and good ear for music, could pick up tunes rather fast.
Some good musicians he remembered in the area were Herman and Al Blevins, Oscar Roark, John Stringer, Howard Wyatt, GB Grayson, Harold Hensley and Frank Blevins and his brother, Edd. He first learned Ragtime Annie from Herman Blevins in Greencove. Some other tunes he remembered learning early on were Coming Round the Mountain, Hand me Down my Walking Cane, Cacklin’ Hen, Cripple Creek, Sourwood Mountain and Flop-eared Mule.
Speedy went up to the Whitetop Folk Festival back in the 1930s, he would walk there from his house. It was the big gig back in those days, with thousands of folks in attendance ran by Annabel Morris Buchanan, John Powell and John Blakemore. Musicians would come from several states over to compete in the fiddle, banjo, guitar, dance, or folk song. He recalls walking up the one way narrow road, most folks would walk or ride horses, although some had cars, it was tough to get them to the top. Eleanor Roosevelt even attended the festival in 1933, and was driven up the one lane road. Speedy recalled it being quite an exciting time. He played in the banjo contest; it was a feat to just get to perform at the festival in those times. There was a big dance hall and stage where folks played and dance. Speedy remembered my great grandpa, “Uncle” Bud Spencer being one of the best dancers in the country, who won the dance contest at the festival. Some musicians there included John Stringer, Frank Blevins, Harold Hensley, Albert Hash, Jack Reedy, Wade Ward, Emmet Lundy, Arthur Wooten and Howard Wyatt. He thought Frank Blevins was one of the best, a good showman that would dance and fiddle and sing at the same time. John Stringer and Howard Wyatt were two accomplished fiddlers there, Howard being a smooth, left-handed fiddler that played his fiddle strung up right-handed. He won either first or second place in the fiddle contest every year at the Whitetop Folk Festival. Howard played such numbers as Cumberland Gap, Salt River, and won competitions often with Train 45. Below is a clip from the Whitetop Folk Festival in 1930s with William "Bud" Spencer dancing to Arkansas Traveler played by Howard Wyatt on fiddle.
Roy Odell Tolliver, nicknamed “Speedy” was born in 1918 in Green Cove, VA. His family was musical and sang in church. His father played the clawhammer banjo and harmonica. His brother, Blaine, also played the banjo. Speedy first learned to the pick the clawhammer banjo from his family. He recalled that music was most folks’ form of entertainment back then, with house parties, dances and picking. A lot of folks didn’t have radios and most pickers around the area played the clawhammer style back then. Speedy’s family had a radio, and he would listen on it to learn new tunes and such from records and Nashville. He picked up the three finger style, and would swap between playing the two styles in tunes. Speedy having a natural talent and good ear for music, could pick up tunes rather fast.
Some good musicians he remembered in the area were Herman and Al Blevins, Oscar Roark, John Stringer, Howard Wyatt, GB Grayson, Harold Hensley and Frank Blevins and his brother, Edd. He first learned Ragtime Annie from Herman Blevins in Greencove. Some other tunes he remembered learning early on were Coming Round the Mountain, Hand me Down my Walking Cane, Cacklin’ Hen, Cripple Creek, Sourwood Mountain and Flop-eared Mule.
Speedy went up to the Whitetop Folk Festival back in the 1930s, he would walk there from his house. It was the big gig back in those days, with thousands of folks in attendance ran by Annabel Morris Buchanan, John Powell and John Blakemore. Musicians would come from several states over to compete in the fiddle, banjo, guitar, dance, or folk song. He recalls walking up the one way narrow road, most folks would walk or ride horses, although some had cars, it was tough to get them to the top. Eleanor Roosevelt even attended the festival in 1933, and was driven up the one lane road. Speedy recalled it being quite an exciting time. He played in the banjo contest; it was a feat to just get to perform at the festival in those times. There was a big dance hall and stage where folks played and dance. Speedy remembered my great grandpa, “Uncle” Bud Spencer being one of the best dancers in the country, who won the dance contest at the festival. Some musicians there included John Stringer, Frank Blevins, Harold Hensley, Albert Hash, Jack Reedy, Wade Ward, Emmet Lundy, Arthur Wooten and Howard Wyatt. He thought Frank Blevins was one of the best, a good showman that would dance and fiddle and sing at the same time. John Stringer and Howard Wyatt were two accomplished fiddlers there, Howard being a smooth, left-handed fiddler that played his fiddle strung up right-handed. He won either first or second place in the fiddle contest every year at the Whitetop Folk Festival. Howard played such numbers as Cumberland Gap, Salt River, and won competitions often with Train 45. Below is a clip from the Whitetop Folk Festival in 1930s with William "Bud" Spencer dancing to Arkansas Traveler played by Howard Wyatt on fiddle.
Harold Hensley and Speedy were neighbors, friends and played music together. When Speedy was 17, he and Harold set out for California. It was during the Depression, there were no jobs or money in the area; Harold had the idea of going to Hollywood to play music in the movies, Speedy wasn't as interested in the movies, but set out with him to play music. So, they went out with their thumbs, hitchhiking, playing music for a little money or food and a place to stay, going from town to town. They made it as far as Cincinnati, Ohio and Speedy got cold feet. They were out of money, and crossed back into Kentucky to work for a farmer, getting paid 15 cents an hour to cut corn for him. When Speedy had saved enough for a ticket home he headed back to the Whitetop area. He was glad to get home, and be off the road, it had been a bit of a hard experience, but didn’t discourage him from still trying to make a living with music. Soon after Speedy left, Harold returned to the Whitetop as well. Later on, though, Harold made it to Hollywood, playing the fiddle in movies, tv shows and recording studios.
John Stringer and Speedy grew up about a half mile from one another, and began playing together as teenagers. John was a high powered, and very good fiddler who won the Whitetop Folk Festival. Some of his showpiece tunes included the Flop-eared Mule in which Speedy took a break on the banjo, Cumberland Gap, and Arkansas Traveler. After Speedy returned home from his trip with Harold, he attended a Christian school in Grundy, VA where John Stringer was also enrolled. They played together in the school band, even going to Nashville to perform as advertisement for the school. After school, Speedy got a call from John who had moved to Fairfax, VA to perform in a band with him, the Melody Trail Boys. So, in 1939, Speedy moved up to Fairfax, living there for 5 years, before moving to Arlington. In the 40s, John and Speedy formed the Lee Highway Boys along with couple other musicians from Pennsylvania. They performed on radio, tv shows (one of the first live tv shows of that time), dances, and venues. They were one of the first country bands to arrive in the DC area at that time, as more southerners came into the area for work, the country music scene began to blossom. Speedy and John performed together for many years; Speedy picked up fiddle from John. After John passed away, Speedy began playing fiddle in the band.
Later Speedy played in a variety of bands, with Eddie Stoneman of the famous Stoneman family, and with Hoss Clark and his son, Roy. Speedy was a regular on WGAY radio's Rural Roundup, a weekly hillbilly music show and one of country music promoters, Connie B. Gay’s stable of musicians. Speedy also played with a number of local DC bands through the area. He played every week for a square dance at Glen Echo Park, with Sammy Farrow. Speedy played a mix of old time music, bluegrass, swing, Dixieland, and all sorts through the years.
Later Speedy played in a variety of bands, with Eddie Stoneman of the famous Stoneman family, and with Hoss Clark and his son, Roy. Speedy was a regular on WGAY radio's Rural Roundup, a weekly hillbilly music show and one of country music promoters, Connie B. Gay’s stable of musicians. Speedy also played with a number of local DC bands through the area. He played every week for a square dance at Glen Echo Park, with Sammy Farrow. Speedy played a mix of old time music, bluegrass, swing, Dixieland, and all sorts through the years.
In the 50s, Speedy got married to Beatrice Gala, and they had four children. Needing to support his family, Speedy slacked down on playing music and got a job at a naval propeller plant in Indian Head, Md. They were married for 61 years, until her passing on June 28, 2012.
In 1961, Speedy started playing music out again in the Arlington area. Through the years, he played with many groups, performed at the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian, folk festivals, was featured on European ambassador tours for Joe Wilson of the NCTA, and even played at the White House for Jimmy Carter. Speedy has received the Virginia Heritage Award and a Speedy Tolliver Fiddle and Banjo Contest is held each year in his name in Arlington, VA.
We had a great visit with Speedy, he was a very nice gentleman, and glad to catch up with some folks from back home. Speedy said his nickname came from a school classmate in Konnarock, he said Speedy always moved slow unless he was playing an instrument. Then, he could move right fast. Through the years, Speedy has came back to the Whitetop area to visit with old friends and family. He would visit Frank Blevins in later years, and they enjoyed playing together, both playing fast, uptempo style.
Now almost 95, Speedy has kept up his fiddling with great standard. He hadn't played the banjo in a while because it was quite heavy to haul around compared to the fiddle. We really enjoyed jamming and hearing some of his versions of tunes like Sally Gooden and Ragtime Annie that sound a lot like those of other Whitetop fiddlers. Below are some clips from our visit.
In 1961, Speedy started playing music out again in the Arlington area. Through the years, he played with many groups, performed at the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian, folk festivals, was featured on European ambassador tours for Joe Wilson of the NCTA, and even played at the White House for Jimmy Carter. Speedy has received the Virginia Heritage Award and a Speedy Tolliver Fiddle and Banjo Contest is held each year in his name in Arlington, VA.
We had a great visit with Speedy, he was a very nice gentleman, and glad to catch up with some folks from back home. Speedy said his nickname came from a school classmate in Konnarock, he said Speedy always moved slow unless he was playing an instrument. Then, he could move right fast. Through the years, Speedy has came back to the Whitetop area to visit with old friends and family. He would visit Frank Blevins in later years, and they enjoyed playing together, both playing fast, uptempo style.
Now almost 95, Speedy has kept up his fiddling with great standard. He hadn't played the banjo in a while because it was quite heavy to haul around compared to the fiddle. We really enjoyed jamming and hearing some of his versions of tunes like Sally Gooden and Ragtime Annie that sound a lot like those of other Whitetop fiddlers. Below are some clips from our visit.