Oscar O. "Red" Wilson (February 20, 1920 – June 6, 2005) was an American musician and fiddle-maker who played old-time and

bluegrass music Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music that developed in the 1940s in the Appalachian region of the United States. The genre derives its name from the band Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Bluegrass has roots in African America ...

in North Carolina. He is also the founder of Mayland Recording Studios.

Biography

Wilson grew up in Avery County where he learned traditional fiddle and banjo tunes of western North Carolina. In 1941, he was drafted into the army and served in North Africa and Sicily during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He was honored with the

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

by the end of his military service. In the 1950s, Wilson joined the local band Toe River Valley Boys as a fiddler. The group played at many square dances in Little Switzerland. During his time with the band, Wilson composed tunes that combined traditional elements with more commercial bluegrass elements. After retiring, Wilson performed at local festivals and music workshops. He was also the operator of the Mayfield Recording Studios in Spruce Pine. He was honored with the North Carolina Heritage Award in 2003 before dying two years later in Bakersville.

References

1920 births 2005 deaths 20th-century American fiddlers 21st-century American fiddlers United States Army personnel of World War II Fiddle makers Musicians from North Carolina People from Avery County, North Carolina People from Mitchell County, North Carolina North Carolina Heritage Award winners {{US-musician-stub