Bascom Lamar Lunsford

Bascom Lamar Lunsford, born March 21, 1882, in Mars Hill, North Carolina, was an American musician and lawyer known for his work in traditional Appalachian music. His father taught him the fiddle, and he began performing at local events. Lunsford's music career took off when he started collecting folk material across the Appalachian region. In 1928, he recorded "Jesse James" and "I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground" for Brunswick Records. His performance of "I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground" was included in Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music (1952). Lunsford organized the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, which started in 1928. ,He released several albums, including Smoky Mountain Ballads (1953) and died on September 4, 1973.

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