Homer Ledford

Homer C. Ledford(September 26, 1927 – December 11, 2006) was an instrument maker andbluegrassmusicianfromKentuckywho specialized in makingdulcimers.

Born inAlpine,Tennessee,he started building instruments at an early age. When he was 18, Ledford was given a scholarship to attend theJohn C. Campbell Folk SchoolinBrasstown,North Carolina.He later attendedBerea College,where he met his wife Colista. Ledford eventually transferred and graduated from what is now theEastern Kentucky Universityin 1954. Ledford worked as a high schoolindustrial artsteacher at George Rogers Clark High School inWinchester, Kentuckybefore becoming a full-time instrument maker.

Musicians from all over the world have sought after his dulcimers,banjos,mandolins,guitarsandukuleles.Some of his works are on display in theSmithsonian Institution.

According to his website,he made over 5,776 dulcimers and over 475 banjos in his lifetime. He is also the inventor of thedulcitar,and also madedulcijosanddulcibros.

He was also an original inductee in theKentucky Stars,alongsideLoretta Lynn,Rosemary Clooney,Bobbie Ann Mason,andPatricia Neal.A sidewalk plaque honoring him is in front of theKentucky Theatreon Main Street inLexington, Kentucky.

He devoted his career to instrument-making and to playing with theCabin Creek Band.He also published a book of autobiographical stories and poems, entitledSee Ya Further Up the Creek.

Ledford died from astrokeat the age of 79 inWinchester, Kentucky.He was survived by his widow, Colista; they had four children. His great nephews Jason Eubanks, Phillip Eubanks, and Jonathan Armak are currently in theexperimentalgroup Unstable,and use many of the instruments he made on their records. Their mother, Melissa Armak (born Melissa Fraley) was the bass player in the Cabin Creek Band during the late 1970s.

He was posthumously given an honorary Doctorate of Humanities at the Fall 2006 commencement ceremonies atEastern 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

• Alvey, R. Gerald,Dulcimer Maker, The Craft of Homer Ledford,University Press of Kentucky, 1984
• The Mudcat CaféObituary
• Lexington Herald-Leader- Obituary & Photo

External links

• Homer Ledford Papers, 1952-2011,2.39 cubic feet (processed) Compiled by Margaret Foote,Eastern Kentucky University Special Collections and Archives