Buddy Thomas' fiddling is a challenge for arranging on my banjo, but his old-time tunes are remarkable and memorable.  He lived for fiddling, traveling from the family's NW Kentucky cabin , recording on cassette and playing at festivals and dances and with with friends.  He claimed to be "so poor that even the poor folks said we were poor" and is said to have been a modest and unassuming, kind person.  

 

Banjo was his first instrument, but fiddling was his passion after he snuck down his brother's.  He was so good that his father made sure he was allowed to play.  Buddy's mother whistled tunes that he'd learn and sheplayed skillfully on the organ.  To read his autobiography in his own words, get the CD "Kitty Puss."