"Cindy" by Violet Hensley

Violet Hensley (1916- ) fiddles "Cindy" at her home in Yellville, Arkansas in 2002. Alice Gerrard on guitar and Tom Sauber on banjo.
My wife Linda Higginbotham and I have been friends with Violet Hensley, the "whittling fiddler of Yellville, Arkansas" since the early 1980s and have played music with her and made a number of recordings over the years. But some of the best recordings came from a visit Tom, Brad & Alice made when we had a couple of free days on a tour in Arkansas and Texas in 2002. Violet, as usual (even at the age of 86), was full of life and energy, completely unpretentious and open, and ready to play as much music as anyone wanted. What an inspiration!!
The photo, courtesy of Violet, is one of our favorites. It's from about 1945, and shows Violet on her beloved horse Tony. Violet made several fiddles where she carved Tony's head for the scroll.

[@marcoriva3606]

Thank you Brad!

[@hickoryjack55]

104 and going strong! Violet is amazing.