Old-Time TOTW #29: Head of the Creek (1/13/19)

This week's tune is Head of the Creek, and comes from the playing of (James) Ward Jarvis (March 19,1894-September 18,1982) of Braxton County, WV. Jarvis moved to Athens County, Ohio in 1943 to work in the timber industry. He lived the rest of his life there and is buried in Stewart Cemetery. Jarvis' repertoire was typical of his West Virginia origin, with many archaic cross tuned pieces, as well as other, later tunes that were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Head of the Creek is an unusual crooked tune traditionally done in cross A tuning. I often like to do“A tunes” (which is how they are generally referred to nowadays) in lower tunings, such as GDGD or even FCFC, but we played Head of the Creek here in cross A (AEAE). I learned the tune in February 2018 at the Worley-Gardner Winter Music Festival from my friend Melinda Jamrom at a fun and spirited late night jam. I enjoyed it so much that I introduced it to my friends in Cleveland, OH. Joining me are friends Melanie Stratton on fiddle (Olmsted Falls, OH), Stephen Rapp on banjo (Kent, OH), Bill Braun on guitar (Cleveland, OH), and Corey Snipes on bass (Lakewood, OH). Sorry for cutting your top half off, Corey! Subscribe to my YouTube channel and Stay Tuned for the next Old-Time TOTW, a different tune airing each Sunday morning. Next week I will feature another John Salyer tune played on viola...see you then!