I.D. Stamper - Red Wing (JA-010)
- Description
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Issac "I.D." "Ike" Stamper was born in Arkansas, but raised in Letcher County, Kentucky where he lived until his death in 1986. He worked nearly forty years in the mines until he left the “bad air” for a safer and better paying job as a maintenance man in a Louisville children’s hospital. The harmonica was I.D.’s first instrument, followed quickly by the banjo, guitar and fiddle. I.D. and his brothers had a band that played at many of the local dances. It was his contact with his mother’s relative, the legendary Uncle Ed Thomas, the roving dulcimer builder and player, that struck Ike’s fancy to the instrument that was to become his hallmark. It wasn’t until the 1940s that I.D. finally put together his first dulcimer – from a butternut log his father brought in for firewood. He fashioned his first instrument after his recollection of Uncle Ed’s design, but, by his own admission, “improved on it.” I.D. Stamper constructed over 500 instruments during his lifetime, with buyers from California to England. Following a brief career (in his retirement) of performing extensively at local festivals, colleges, and folklife events at national parks, Parkinson’s disease all but ended his ability to play.
Recordings were made for JA010, Red Wing, in 1977 as an Appalseed Field Recording Project for June Appal Recordings. It was recorded by John McCuuthcheon, Jack Wright and John Harrod with Nagra IV and Stellavox recorders using Beyer Dynamic and Neumann microphones. Red Wing was mixed and editd by John McCutcheon and Jack Wright. Musicians included I.D. Stamper on dulcimers, French harp, banjo and vocals, and John McCutcheon on fiddle, fretless banjo, guitar and dulcimers.
This audio collection consists of original 1/2-inch recordings, ¼-inch production masters, and ¼-inch preservation masters.
- Links
- Full Release on Bandcamp