Songs of Appalachia: Fiddler Charlie Acuff

Eighty-eight-year-old Charlie Acuff is the elder statesman of Knoxville's old-time music scene. He was 12 years old when he learned to play the fiddle, and by the 1930's, he was performing regularly on the radio with his brother, Gayle, as well as at schools, square dances and social events. (Lauren Spuhler / News Sentinel)

[@jimsmith5756]

This old Gentleman is part of a generation than needs to be preserved and honored.

[@tonyb7395]

National treasure

[@oldfart5937]

If there were more people like this the world would be a much better place

[@stacyblue1980]

Indeed.

[@Imabeatyouman]

Old Fart Opinion

[@michaelstallings5824]

@@Imabeatyouman young fart...fact.

[@darrelldurham6297]

@@Imabeatyouman g

[@jeffgoffard7894]

Some years ago I had the pleasure of meeting this man at the Appalachian Museum.While walking around the grounds I could hear his wonderful fiddle ringing through the air. Finally there he was sitting between two old buildings in the shade. We visited while he played . He started playing Redwing and I whistled along, Charlie said that the Indian maiden jumped in from the Wisconsin side and swam to Mississippi. He told me he was Roy Acuff’s brother. It was a true pleasure to meet him

[@LeakyBellows]

It's so important to keep this music alive... A lot of that "old-time" music only survives in the memory of our old folks. If we don't learn it and pass it on, it'll be lost to history, and there's nothing in the world more sad than a song that everyone has forgot.

[@stacyblue1980]

He was 88 years old and playing this well. Love his spirit. Bless him.

[@jttansin]

Some of the greatest American music has been played on front porches and living rooms. No pretense at all, families and friends playing music passed down from generation to generation. Your a treasure Charlie, keep playing!

[@darlenehoover6577]

A passtime that should have never ended.

[@hellfeather2011]

Exactly. I grew up playing violin. Same instrument but entirely different style and way of learning it. I have so much respect for this man.

[@secularhumanistfrontroyal2230]

It's more than American music. It's Appalachian music.

[@st.apollonius5758]

The old fella hadn't lost any of his skills. I can listen to that music all day and night.

[@boygood3141]

Til tok me too!!

[@trevorgwelch7412]

St. Apollonius Gets me up at night so I can do the old girl . 😸

[@boygood3141]

@@trevorgwelch7412 well at least u happy lol not to late hopefully

[@ginnigurl]

So happy to have Charlie's picture hanging in the Jig and Reel in Knoxville.

[@longjohnsilver7986]

Guys like Charlie Acuff will make America great again

[@joeandrosahopkins]

Love this authentic country music. I think this is making a comeback; Americans are reaching for their roots. I pray this continues and we embrace this beautiful music once more :)

[@secularhumanistfrontroyal2230]

*Appalachians

[@SgtBerryhill]

Reminds me of the movie “The Song Catchers”. Its a true story of a lady that carried a heavy phonograph and blank wax cylinders into Appalachia. She would win over their trust and they would sing and play into her horn and she recorded it. When she recorded it she had it preserved for all time, Then she sat there in her cabin and transcribed the music so others could learn to play it also. She was a very brave woman to have done this and the movie is well worth watching.

[@kimberlyparrish7522]

SgtBerryhill Thats a great movie and Ive recommend that movie to many a person. I was raised in the Blue ridge mountains I knew a many of those songs gifted to me from my grandparents . My granny McClellan sang wish I was a single girl again working in the garden. Good memories!

[@lee0den145]

Thanks for the recommendation, Didn’t Pleasant Carter do something similar? .. except I think he wrote down the old songs...what a treasure! I will def watch that movie...

[@saraenneking4652]

Yes more people like this would make the world 🌎 better... God love ❤️ him

[@robkunkel8833]

Loved how the banjo played so soft and smooth to accompany him in the first song.

[@scallyco]

The young man accompanying the Fiddler is exceptional playing several instruments all by ear.

[@richardkelley8292]

I love this guy. I could listen all day.

[@christopherreilly9715]

Bless this man and his music.

[@davewilliams4869]

I'm from the mountains of West Virginia and proud to be a hillbilly

[@freaknwv7975]

Dave Williams Yes sir!!!!!

[@MommaBearCrystal2011]

Same!! mountain momma💚 born n raised!

[@jamespass4337]

I’m from the North Shore of Nassau County, Long Island NY, and Bluegrass has always been my favorite music.

[@anthonybarrow1142]

The most people I've ever met and I've been in many countries and most of the USA l love the deep South. People in the South were the most living and the most generous people I have ever met.

[@melodyjordan6052]

Anthony Barrow: Thank you for your kind words about the south!!

[@5050TM]

Thank you kindly ☺️

[@jeremyreagan9085]

My grandfather was a folksinger 1912 to 2002 and so am I carry it on folks or it will die.

[@hellfeather2011]

Please do

[@Xx-xd3zo]

Jeremy - Record. Record, record, record, Sir...:)

[@jonilmclark]

I most graciously thank you Sir!!❤

[@jeremyreagan9085]

@@jonilmclark Why thank me?

[@coffeedrinkinwoman]

Mr. Charlie, you're amazing!!! Enjoyed your fiddle playing!

[@samaustin3974]

My daddy and I used to go up into Bledsoe county, TN. around Mt. Airy to Billy Standefer's house and listen to this kind of music on the back porch around 1948-1950. Mr. Standefer was a fiddler, and was nicknamed " Big Eared Billy" because he had a birthmark on his right ear which caused him to have one ear that was much larger than the other one, and was a purple color. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful fiddler. We lived north of Dunlap in an area called "The switch" because the R.R. had a siding to pick up loaded coal cars. This was a wonderful time in my otherwise boring life there just below Brush Creek.

[@thatguyonabicycleofconsurv3908]

Wonderful story.... somebody artist died a group with all these kinds of different stories they could tell it would be a great success I think

[@karrenpopovics2780]

My daddy was from W VA. He used to dance to this!!! I still 😅 when I think of him. Thanks daddy for some wonderful memories!!!💝

[@zachb8012]

Ain't that wild how music seems to strike the elderly and like a lightning bolt they're suddenly 50 years younger with their whole life ahead of them? I don't reckon Charlie Acuff is with us anymore but he's still there in that music, where he'll always be.

[@marvinostman522]

I really enjoyed that. My Grandfather played several instruments, the fiddle, mouth organ, concertina, and guitar. He was also left handed. I was told that a lot of lefthanders would restring their instruments. Grandpa just learned to play them the way they. He just played his guitar upside-down. This brought back a lot of fond memories.

[@514CHanger]

Some of my family was from the Appalachians and they couldn't read or write but they could play some good music. Bless them all

[@Lgtg1947]

75 yrs old🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿here who can’t help stomping to this stuff. Yahoo you guys n gals 😀💃🏻💃🏻😀 👍👍👍

[@jiveAt5]

Lady in Red is havin time of her life with her grandpappy, :) bless this Family.

[@MelodyVillaMusic]

This is incredible. Love Charlie Acuff!❤

[@devakikaren]

Acuff is a name that originated in Yorkshire and near the Scottish border. We are so grateful for all the Scot, English, Irish immigrants who gave us Bluegrass music in our mountain regions.

[@gabriellemueske4626]

My grandfather told me about this man when I was a kid! I love his music!

[@235buz]

priceless!

[@williecunnings3759]

My grandma lived out in the country in south Georgia. In the middle of peanut fields. They did not belong to her. They rented the old shack of a house they lived in. On saturday we would pull peanuts and boil them in a wash pot in the sandy yard. All of the aunts and uncles and cousins would come over about dark and bring thier musical instruments. We always had a very good time. Most of them are gone now but I still have those beautiful memories. They are still here.

[@joseph2832]

[@luizmaster1995]

Gosto muito desse gênero de música!

[@canvids1]

You bring me back to my very young days growing up in Ontario Canada love all your music breaks my heart to hear it I am 75 thanks.

[@peterbetts858]

wayne Maritimer here groovin to these old mountain tunes on the fiddle ,we got some fiddlers down here n they make me cry , dance n laugh all the time ! Giver some Charlie !

[@joshacuff302]

So great to see this preserved. Thank you for sharing.

[@MartyMartin87]

music is a good thing for your brain, keeps it fit

[@northcut8012]

May God bless our history and God bless our family traditions.

[@j.w.mcfarland1882]

had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Acuff and picking with him enjoyed visiting with him

[@johnmckay9581]

Lovely old music kept simple just great

[@sheilabarron4526]

Love ya Charlie ❤❤❤ your fiddling Dang Thank ya Charlie 4the Hill Music it takes me back to Grandma+ Grandfather✌💙

[@willnot5687]

Grandpas are great be it yours or others take time to listen to them

[@chuckmayes234]

Go get em charlie !!!! Your music will touch the soul !!!!!

[@cynthiawilkins9672]

This makes me smile

[@bones987123]

reminds me of my great grandfather, being a kid sittin on the porch while he was inside playin for my great grandmother who was paralyzed

[@odin240270]

the good old boys... i like them

[@danzigvi]

God Bless this man for giving the world such beautiful music!!!!

[@michaelwhisman]

I was a kid watching my grandfather (born in 1889) playing his father's violin. When he finished he asked if I would like to try. He handed it to me and I ran th ebow over the strings a few times and then startged to play GO TELL AUNT RHODIE. I recently gave that violin to one of his brother's decendents, 10 years old, who plays. She is very proud of it and is now 11.

[@Stormbringer505]

A true American I love his music and his ways

[@jeanniedalton5562]

I love you !!! So happy I found your page. New music is never this good !! Old Music and old Cars they will never be that good again !

[@sandraoss326]

I love it great music foot tapping makes you feel good

[@xxlaciebrookexx]

what a sweet old soul! I LOVE older people like this precious man! I feel great respect for people like him... He is part of the people that this country was built by. I hope Mr. Acuff is doing well! Bless him!

[@bjoe74fm]

Hey, how can you not like this story and contents, a look at better times, way cool, thanks

[@hoperules8874]

❤️My Grampa played fiddle & his dad & Grandad made them! Thanks for the sounds! Very happy memories.

[@coandog1]

Music never dies

[@artnouveau4332]

This man is a national treasure I love the old time fiddle tunes and the stories about the music rich history of the people and the time's

[@manymoonstraveled]

It's great music..thanks Charlie

[@markmathews6876]

thanks old mate , don't know why but brings a tear to my eye ,thinking of my grandad

[@garygriffin8469]

True born pioneer... and classic musician ... good job

[@wanderingsemantics7266]

god bless this man and America rip sir you are a legend and will live forever how nice thanks Charlie

[@akon1965]

What a great man he is, a wonderful guy. Hugely enjoyed listing and watching this.

[@jeffery6560]

I have say thank you for helping Charlie continue to do what he love. I'm been in nursing 27 yrs so what I'm saying is what I know to be true. We all lose memories and thougts. Some more quickly then others. Some say its the Food or whats arounds us this may be true but Genetics pay a big part.

[@InsignificantReally]

True Americana music.

[@patriciacannon3793]

they were second cousins and both learned from charlie's grandfather. we played music with charlie for years and he and his wife dorothy were the most hospitable and sweet people you could know. dorothy died several years ago and charlie is in a nursing home in newport. his hands are very twisted and he is unable to play anymore. i miss thoose times in their living room-trish cannon

[@ragtimeannie33]

this is a great fiddler and singer and those who hasn.t seen him sure missed out.he allways played ragtimeannie and sally ann for us and the last time we saw him he played and sang cindy

[@FredFukkinBear]

Stuff like this invokes some great memories of my Grandpa playing fiddle for all of his grandkids and playing in the Old Settler's Reunion fiddlers contests. It was 1967 and I was a mere 5 years old, but I was mesmerized every time he played for us. If you ever get the chance to hear an old timer play, you better jump at the chance.

[@felipemontoya4188]

Un colombiano que admira la buena música. un ejemplo, bella música!

[@midninteranger4315]

Guys like him are surely a treasure, I enjoyed it so much... and it's sad when they're gone so is that good old mountain music.

[@dorthonian]

Brilliant old timer. Thank you

[@SteveGoldfield]

The tune Charlie is playing is "Two O'Clock in the Morning," one of his grandfather's tunes. Charlie may have been 88 when this video was made, but he was born in December 1919 so he is currently 92 and living in a nursing home.

[@antisha76]

Great person! Awesome Music!!

[@h.aritchie7717]

Happy he got to share few. Tunes hope this brings big smile to see him self play for you..like what was KZbin cell phones web 25 or short 30 years ago he still playing his grandfather music

[@lindareese4579]

Thank you for the heavenly music that comes from the gods!!! It has so much soul and is so much fun!!!

[@chipsemple7705]

What a gentleman. Treasure that will be missed when the time calls.

[@margarett.newman7574]

Really endearing. Thank you . x

[@dianeovercash6739]

What a great old gentleman. I had never heard Two O'clock. I'd like to learn that one.

[@reidhb1]

When a kid in 1950's I was shown 'hillbilly' as seen by Hollyweird on T.V.. The only resource was Disney's spin. But that Hill Folks Music is one of the dearest in the world to me. It is the biled down cabbage of the Phenomenology of the Spirit. It Rocks!

[@johnnybx3254]

GREAT Charlie

[@richardkelley8292]

OMG He's good. Much better than good. I could listen to him all day. If you have any more of him playing I love to hear it!!!

[@IvesMarcelin]

That give me the most grand training for play when we seing this old men with his great talent and nice voice rustless !!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Gimmer3]

Gives a person hope.

[@lewis1936]

Amazing. What a guy.

[@dwayneconaway1733]

Love it!

[@calamitybabs162]

Great music!

[@sarahs5340]

Sounds perfect. Makes my brain, heart and soul happy.

[@erroleabrown4317]

Now that warms a persons heart

[@sanibelcaptivarealestatesa5236]

sharing this wonderful video with my grandson who is 2... he is loving it.. thank you for sharing.

[@MainManGeoff]

This is one of the main reasons southern heritage and culture must be preserved.

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

It would be easier to respect southern culture if southerners weren't so deeply invested in their racism. Also, Appalachia, while technically part of the south, isn't truly southern.

[@MainManGeoff]

Sunshine fuck off. You know nothing about the south and base your opinion on southerners off exaggerated stereotypes you see on tv. And most of Appalachian culture is Southern culture. And Appalachian will tell you the same. Including myself.

[@bobwerber2984]

Nothing like playin music at home with friends and family

[@MRFUNNYGAMING1990]

they say our most important resource is Our people, God Bless Charlie Acuff!

[@puttentanesame6687]

Mighty fine, Charlie...mighty fine...

[@jimh3500]

I loved it

[@richardkelley8292]

Great fiddling. Thanks for sharing!!!!

[@MartinD28V1]

Amazeing Mr. Acuff & So Beautiful. Wish you had been my GrandPaw.

[@93Jubilee]

Bravo! I love this music -- and fine musicians!

[@hellfeather2011]

I love him.

[@mikefox2379]

Great respect for this gentleman. Amazing.

[@keithharvey7478]

This is amazing

[@robertfournier947]

Can't beat a fiddle

[@douglasadams9016]

NEVER let this music die!

[@thepincushionman7063]

Sounds just like heaven to me