Traditions: Ohio Heritage Fellows; 103; Troy Herdman interview

Q:

TROY:

The first name's Troy, T-R-O-Y. And my last name's Herdman, H-E-R-D-M-A-N.

Q:

TROY:

No.

Q:

TROY:

Well, just somebody that likes to try to play music.

Q:

TROY:

Oh, at a fiddlin' context in Megg's County, (inaudible) think it back around sixty seven, somewhere along there.

Q:

TROY:

Well, he was a good fiddle player and... and we got uh, we got to meeting around these fiddlin' contests and uh, him and his dad come over to my house and we'd go down to the basement and played some. So, his dad, I think his dad was getting... he was getting kind of little bit old to... to... run around these fiddling contents with us guys and uh, so then I got to go on with Kenny to these fiddling contests and we've had a lot of fun at it.

Q:

TROY:

Well, I think he's done quite a bit 'cause of, a lot of the—'bout everything—a lot of them there young guys has tried to copy his stuff and... and they use it a lot. And uh, he done... he done a lot for... for a lot of fiddle players whether they're uh, bluegrass or whatever.

Q:

TROY:

Well, I don't know he... he... he might have... might have cleaned the fiddle players up a little bit, you know, to make 'em play a little, try to play a little more smoother and stuff, I don't... I don't know... I couldn't say too much one way or another bout, 'cause it's hard to change a bluegrass player. And uh, but I'm sure it did but in a lot of ways, but um, I don't know just how.

Q:

TROY:

Well, it's a little more real, I think and, yea there—I like... I like all kind of music but uh, uh, it seem to try to, you know, stay to the tune more and that—they work together better I think. But I really, I don't know that much about music. I just... I just like to try to play it, but.

Q:

TROY:

Yea, I think so... after... after they learn what they want to do, then they... they can kind of tear it apart and you know make it... make it do what they want to do if they can pull it off.

Q:

TROY:

No. No he uh, he'd uh, he play uh... he'll play one tune one time, he'll put something in it, and then maybe the next time, he'll... he'll think about it a little different way and, you gotta k—kinda pay attention to what's going on. You can't... you can't guess what he's gonna do.

Q:

TROY:

Well, I think so... I think it helps, 'cause I think people get tired of hearing the same thing over and over and uh, and he's done a good job of, kind of, you know, dressing it up a little bit.

Q:

TROY:

I... I couldn't do that. I don't know enough about music to describe but it's uh, it's come a long way in the last few years and... and I think the people can understand it more, you know, better 'an... I—I really don't..

Q:

TROY:

Well, I think (inaudible) music would kinda, I think the way we knew it would die out if... if it wasn't, bluegrass wasn't it there 'cause there's so much stuff played, you know, anymore... this electric stuff that... that uh, you really don't know. You never get to see 'em. The only thing you do is see him on stage way off and... and then hear the music and I don't think young people can learn too much from that. But uh, they can go to bluegrass festivals and get right up close to 'em and watch 'em and then... then they get out there and have jam sessions and they can get... and they can get in jam sessions with 'em, I think that helps a lot.

Q:

TROY:

Well, I think it... it'll... it'll stay... do pretty good because there's a lot, I believe a lot more young people into it now than what they used to be and uh... (inaudible) the young kids gets into it and... and they get a good start, they can learn a lot quicker... and uh... and I think uh, I think bluegrass is probably healthier now than it's ever been. If I'm, you know, listening and going to festivals and stuff like that.

Q:

TROY:

Well, it'd be hard to tell ya, he's.. .first of all, he's a good feller and he's a good fiddle player. And um, and you can sit down with him and... and... and have a little fun playing music. And uh, and he... he.. .he's willing to help anybody, you know, to... that wants to... to, you know, ask him questions and having to show him something, he'll do that. And uh... and we've... we've been good friends for a long time. And I hope we can keep it up.

END