If you followed our video interviews during the 2013 World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, you may recall one we did with Connie Matthews, who is the nephew of the great Clyde Moody. Connie had recovered one of Clyde’s old guitars, his last in fact, and drove from coastal Carolina to give everyone at the convention a chance to see it.
The guitar is a custom 1973 D-28 which Martin built for Clyde with his name inlaid in the fingerboard.
Moody was a true pioneer of bluegrass and country music, being the first Blue Grass Boy hired by Bill Monroe. In addition to playing mandolin on the original cut of Muleskinner Blues, on which Big Mon played lead guitar, Clyde pitched for the Blue Grass Boys baseball team. He had previously worked with J.E. Mainer, and after leaving Monroe, worked as a lead singer for many years. In 1951 he has a hit with Shenandoah Waltz, which remained his signature song until in passed in 1989.
Now Monroeville has picked up the banner – and the guitar – and are using it to promote Moody’s legacy before it is handed off to the Country Music Hall Of Fame Clyde Moody exhibit. They are carrying the guitar with them, and pulling it out to perform Shenandoah Waltz in Moody’s honor.
Here is a video they made with the guitar.
Watch Connie’s interview with us here.
