From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.
- July 28, 1938 Norman Keith ‘Buddy’ Spicher was born in DuBois, Pennsylvania. *
- July 28, 1977 Recording session – Bill Monroe recorded That’s Christmas Time To Me, Pinewood Valley, My Florida Sunshine and Wabash Cannon Ball for MCA Records. James Monroe and Wayne Lewis [guitar], Bill Holden [banjo], Randy Davis [bass], Buddy Spicher [fiddle] and Walter Haynes [bells on That’s Christmas Time To Me only]. The producer was Walter Haynes. **
* Primarily known as a session musician, Buddy Spicher played fiddle for Bill Monroe at various times on the road beginning in 1961 and then in short spells on into 1988. He was involved in several recording sessions from 1961 through to the mid 1990s. Many of these were in multi-fiddle arrangements, playing at various times with Vassar Clements, Benny Williams, Kenny Baker, Bobby Hicks, ‘Tater’ Tate and Mike Feagan.
He can be heard playing on the following albums: Blue Grass Ramble (Decca DL 4266), Kentucky Blue Grass (Decca DL 7-5213), Bluegrass Memories (MCA 2315), Bill Monroe and Friends (MCA 5435), Bluegrass ’87 (MCA 5970) and Southern Flavor (MCA 42133) as well as on the recordings from the Cathedral Caverns concert (July 4, 1982).
Spicher also played with Hank Snow, at sessions backing the likes of Bob Dylan, George Strait and Gene Watson, Crystal Gayle among many others, and as a member of Area Code 615.
He has several albums of his own and releases on which he shares credits with the likes of Vassar Clements and Benny Martin.
One of the pre-eminent fiddle players of our time, Spicher was inducted into The National Fiddler Hall of Fame in 2010.
** All four recordings were included on the LP Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Memories (MCA 2315), which was released on October 3, 1977.
