Virtuoso fiddler Vassar Clements was a true musician's musician. Vassar was born on April 25, 1928 in Kinard, Florida and grew up in Kissimmee, Florida. Clements taught himself how to play the fiddle at age seven. He started playing for bluegrass legend Bill Monroe when he was only fourteen and still in school. Vassar became a regular Bluegrass Boy...
August 16, 2005, Goodlettsville, Tennessee, United States
Place Of Birth
Kinard, Florida, USA
Profession
Music Department
Spouse
Millie Clements (m. 1964–1998)
Star Sign
Taurus
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Quote
1
I always loved rhythm so I guess in the back of my mind the swing and jazz subconsciously comes out when I play, because when I was learning I was always trying to emulate the big band sounds I heard on the fiddle.
2
[on how he started playing music at age seven] I picked up a guitar and fiddle and tried them both out. The guitar was easy, but I couldn't get nothing out of the fiddle. So every time I'd see those instruments sitting side by side, I'd grab that fiddle.
3
[on his musical talent] It was God's gift, something born in me. I was too dumb to learn it any other way. I listened to the Grand Ole Opry some. I'd pick it up one note at a time. I was young, with plenty of time and I didn't give up. You'd come home from school, do your lessons and that's it. No other distractions. I don't read music. I play what I hear.
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Fact
1
Released his last album "Livin' With the Blues" in 2004.
2
Played his last live performance in Jamestown, New York on February 4, 2005.
3
Recorded 27 solo albums and played on more than 200 albums as a studio musician.
4
Considered one of the best country fiddlers of all time, yet he never learned to read music.
5
He was an accomplished fiddle player in the Nashville country music scene. It is in this capacity that he appeared as "himself" in Robert Altman's movie "Nashville".
$300,000
