Late last month, the city of Sparta, TN honored another of their hometown heroes during their annual Lester Flatt Celebration on May 23.
Sparta likes to call itself Bluegrass USA, being as they raised up a number of music legends including Lester Flatt and Benny Martin, both hometown boys, who did as much to shape the early bluegrass sound as any others. During this year’s event, Sparta native Blake Williams was also honored, being inducted into the city’s Bluegrass Hall Of Fame, and seeing his name listed on the official Welcome To Sparta road sign.
In addition to being born in Sparta, Williams has served as banjo player with both Lester Flatt & The Nashville Grass and Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys. He works now as a member of Williams & Clark Expedition.
Ever the comic, Blake rated this award highly as he accepted an official letter of induction.
“I am humbled and extremely happy about such a wonderful tribute to Lester and Benny and being included among these men is truly an honor that I never expected. I have only won one other thing in my life and that was a fruitcake at a banjo contest in Clarkrange, Tennessee when I was 13. When I got it home, it had a worm in it. This is much better!”
You can find out more about Sparta and their Lester Flatt Celebration online.
