Saturday, July 2nd, 2016, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert by the Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, children 6 to 11 $1, under age 6 free. There will be a film crew from a TV pilot entitled “Where I’m From” that focuses on Appalachia and small town America at the Fold that night doing interviews and filming the show. In addition, Appalachian Trail will be special guests performing during part of the show.
Twelve-year old Carson Peters, or “Fiddlin’ Carson Peters,” as he is becoming known, is a true musical prodigy. He is quickly making a name for himself with his fiddle by winning competitions and entertaining audiences across the region. Carson’s family lives in Piney Flats, Tennessee. They noticed at a very early age that he could keep time with any tune being played by clapping his hands or tapping his feet. His special talent for music became apparent after he taught himself to play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” at the ripe old age of two on a ukulele that his grandmother bought him.
While on vacation in 2006, his parents bought him a 1/8 sized fiddle at an Amish flea market in Pennsylvania and set out in search of a teacher who would take a child as young as Carson at only 3 ½ years old. Their search led them to Morrell Music in Johnson City and Sarah Fletcher Collins. Carson was taught by Mrs. Collins for about three years. He’s currently a student of Mr. Keith Williams in Greenville, Tennessee.
In 2008, Carson and his parents began attending old-time and bluegrass music festivals where Carson could hear and jam with some very talented musicians as well as compete in youth fiddle competitions. His most noteworthy contest wins have taken place at the Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, where he received first place in the Youth Old-Time Fiddle, Bluegrass Fiddle, and Youth Folk Song categories. He also received the most promising young talent award multiple years at this festival. Carson was named Tennessee State Peewee Fiddle Champion for 2010 in Clarksville, Tennessee, and has also won first place in the Youth Old-Time and the Youth Bluegrass Fiddle category at the famous Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax, Virginia.
Carson says winning trophies and getting your name in the newspaper is “really cool,” but that is not the main reason he works so hard at this music. “It’s all about using the talent God gave me to make people smile,” he says. Carson truly loves to entertain. At ten years old, Carson is a seasoned performer, playing numerous venues throughout the region – Bristol’s Rhythm and Roots, Song of the Mountains, and a live broadcast on WDVX in Knoxville to list a few. Carson has also had the honor of playing on national TV as a guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in August of 2013.
Carson has been blessed to have a great band to help him entertain audiences at local venues around the region performing old-time, bluegrass and gospel music. The band consists of Tom and Bobbie Dier from Green County, Tennessee, and Carson’s father, Jamie Peters. Tom plays the bass or “big fiddle” as Carson calls it. In addition to playing a great bass for the band, Tom is also a writer and loves to farm. Bobbie is a musician of many talents and has been an avid bluegrass and old-time music fan for many years. Besides playing the mandolin for over thirty years; she also plays banjo, guitar and mountain dulcimer. The rhythm guitar in the band is played by Carson’s father Jamie. Carson is truly blessed to have these fine Christian musicians in his band. In addition to entertaining with his band, Carson plays music with his special friends, Howard and Vivian Hammonds and their gospel group Headed Home in churches all around the region. He also frequently entertains at area nursing homes as well as the VA hospital in Johnson City.
When he’s not “fiddlin’ around,” he is just an ordinary country boy who enjoys sports, hunting, riding his four-wheeler, and going to church. Be prepared to be amazed by Carson Peters. His talent and stage presence rival the most seasoned of performers. Dancers won’t be disappointed because he’s as fine a fiddler as any that ever graced the stage of the Carter Fold. There will also be beautiful vocals, instrumentals, and gospel music – something for everyone. For more information on the Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band, go to http://fiddlincarsonpeters.com/
Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to http://www.carterfamilyfold.org or http://www.carterfamilyfold.com/. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at http://www.carterfoldshow.com. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – @carterfoldinfo.