#billy faier

"It is hard to see how some people can sing folk songs and ballads without becoming interested in the stories told by the ballads and the history of the songs themselves. Even the authentic folk singer, that small, fast dying remnant of a culture that developed their musical tradition without the benefit of radio, television, or phonograph records, will usually have a story or some sort of historical background, sometimes quite fanciful, to tell along with the singing of their songs. 'Pop' Fred Green.... of Modesto, California, when introducing his fiddle piece 'Bonaparte's Retreat,' loved to tell of the time when 'Napoleon Bonypart, who was the great gen'ral of the War Department of France, got sick during his great retreat out of Russie and his wife had to take over. Now this tune is a musical representation of that time and listen for the part where his wife took over.' Then he would play the tune and after a while would suddenly shout, 'Now, here's where his wife's takin' over.' Then, with a sly smile on his face, his fiddle would give out a with a sound that perfectly imitated a scolding hen." - Billy Faier, liner notes to Travelin' Man

"It is hard to see how some people can sing folk songs and ballads without becoming interested in the stories told by the ballads and the hisotry of the songs themselves. Even the authentic folk singer, that small, fast dying remnant of a culture that developed their musical tradition without the benefit of radio, television, or phonograph records, will usually have a story or some sort of historical background, sometimes quite fanciful, to tell along with the singing of their songs. 'Pop' Fred Green.... of Modesto, California, when introducing his fiddle piece 'Bonaparte's Retreat,' loved to tell of the time when 'Napoleon Bonypart, who was the great gen'ral of the War Department of France, got sick during his great retreat out of Russie and his wife had to take over. Now this tune is a musical representation of tha ttime and listen for the part where his wife took over.' Then he would play the tune and after a while would suddenly shout, 'Now, here's where his wife's takin' over.' Then, with a sly smile on his face, his fiddle would give out a with a sound that perfectly imitated a scolding hen." - Billy Faier, liner notes to Travelin' Man