WElcome to the wonderful world of Sam Stone Dulcimer.
Who is Sam Stone? "Sam was born and grew up in the environs of Jeffersonville, Indiana. His parents were from Borden Valley of Clark County, and most of his relatives were still there. The valley was 'out home.' "He showed an early interest in poetry and music. For a few years he studied classical piano, but was discouraged from serious pursuit in this field by his teacher (Mr. Thomas Stradling) who said, "You only want to play for your own amazement!" Sam wasn't much interested in playing for anybody but himself. "Fortunately, for our 'amazement,' this did not end his musical career. While he was recovering from a debilitating illness, he began playing a lap dulcimer that his wife, Daisy, had given him. As he again 'amazed' himself, other patients in the rehabilitation center began to request that he play for them. "As interest grew in the lap dulcimer, it became clear that his hobby was competing with his regular employment for time and energy. He made the only sensible decision! He retired! "Now, as
the 'Bard of Henryville,' he devotes all his energies to playing, composing and
performing at festivals." |
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 Just a guy who makes music. That's who he is."Sam was the son of a mixed marriage. His mom's family were musically oriented, while his dad's family managed somehow without music. Sam told me, 'Mom could play pump organ and piano by ear, and was a good singer. Dad couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. He (dad) grew up without a radio or Victrola; nobody in his family could sing or play an instrument and they didn't go to church, so how would he ever hear music?' "Nonetheless, Sam's primary musical influence was his family. He tells of how his mother sang constantly while she cleaned house, cooked for her large family, and did the laundry (in the early days on a washboard.) She always harbored the dream that one of her eight children would become a 'great musician.' 'That never happened!' Sam said. "Weekends found Sam at his grandfather's farm listening to front porch music. His grandfather played fiddle and his uncles played guitar and mandolin. Sam wanted to play along with the other musicians. Sometimes an uncle would cut some reed whistles for the children to play on. Sam received a harmonica for Christmas when he was about six or seven, and he recalls making his 'first store bought music.' He laments the late date the tape recorder was invented. 'What a wonderful thing it would be to listen to that music again,' Sam remarked. He has only his memories of those early musical pleasures. "The radio was Sam's second music influence. He wasn't particular in music listening. On Saturday afternoons he would tune in to the Grand Opera. While waiting for his turn for the Saturday night washtub bath, Sam listened to the Grand Ole Opry. The Hit Parade was a Saturday night favorite, too. "His third influence was church. Those old-time gospel melodies which were imprinted on his mind never left him. On occasion, he and his brother, Paul, would sing duets in church. Sam now leads gospel sings at many festivals. . . . . .
. . . . ."In 1982, Sam acquired his first mountain dulcimer from
Jean Schilling. He started playing and then writing his own
music on the dulcimer. He has fans of his songs all over the
country now." SAM
STONE DULCIMER . 808 Castetter Road . Henryville . IN |
