Curly Seckler was an American bluegrass tenor vocalist, guitarist, banjoist and mandolinist. Born December 25, 1919, a few miles north-east of China Grove, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA. Died December 27, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. In 1935, Seckler (tenor banjo), brothers Marvin (known as “Slim,” guitar), George (working with his given name, fiddle) and Duard (Lucky, guitar), along with friend Murray Belk (“Shy Mike,” jug and washboard), heavily influenced by the singing cowboys of the day, formed the Yodeling Rangers (later changed to the Trail Riders). In April 1939, Seckler and his brothers began performing at radio station WSTP in Salisbury, North Carolina. In early July 1939, Seckler joined Charlie Monroe and the Kentucky Pardners band at WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia. They moved to WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky, in early November. In 1941, Seckler left Monroe's outfit and teamed with fellow Kentucky Pardner Tommy Scott. The next year he joined Cas Walker's band and in 1947 worked with Mac Wiseman's band, the Country Boys. In 1948 Seckler went to Georgia and worked with Jim and Jesse McReynolds. In late March 1949, Seckler joined Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys in Bristol, Virginia. Within a week they moved to work on Radio WROL in Knoxville, Tennessee. In September they began appearing as stars of the Kentucky Mountain Barn Dance in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1958, Seckler left Flatt & Scruggs a few weeks after participating in a recording session with Foggy Mountain Boys on April 26. The session produced four Gospel songs. In May 1959, Seckler re-joined Flatt & Scruggs. In 1969, Seckler was working as a truck driver (his income was almost four times as much as that earned working seven days a week with Flatt & Scruggs), but was also emceeing and performing at bluegrass festivals as a guest with various groups including Lester Flatt & the Nashville Grass, Jimmy Martin, the Shenandoah Cut-Ups, and fiddler Joe Greene. In 1979, after Lester Flatt passed away, Seckler took over the Nashville Grass for 15 years. In 1987, Seckler made Willis Spears, whose singing and guitar playing were remarkably similar to Lester Flatt’s, his partner. Throughout his career, Seckler worked with Danny Bailey and the Happy Valley Boys, the Sauceman Brothers, Jim and Jesse McReyonlds, Mac Wiseman and the Country Boys, The Stanley Brothers, The McCormick Brothers, The Nashville Grass, Doyle Lawson, David Grisman, Ramblin’ Tommy Scott and many others. Seckler was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association’s International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2004; the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010; and the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2011.
2005
Copper Creek Records
CD, Album
2004
CMH Bluegrass Classics
CD, Comp
1995
Vine Street Records
CD, Comp
1991
Flying Squirrel Records
LP, Album, Comp
1986
Rich-R-Tone
LP, Album
1983
Walking Tree Productions
LP, Album
1983
Folkways Records
LP, Album
1981
CMH Records
LP, Album
1980
Old Homestead Records
LP, Album
1980
1980
1980
1979
Revonah Records
LP, Album
1971
County Records
LP, Album
Rich-R-Tone
LP, Album
2024
CMH Records
CD, Album
2013
Not Now Music
2xCD, Comp
2010
Not On Label (Blackjack (22) Self-released)
CD, Album
2007
Shanachie
DVD-V, NTSC
2007
Kindred Records
CD, Album
2007
2005
Smithsonian Folkways
CD, Comp
2005
Columbia, Legacy
2xCD, Comp
2004
Hay Holler Records
CD, Album
2003
Acoustic Disc
HDCD, Album
2003
2002
1997
Rounder Records
CD, Comp
1997
Rebel Records (3)
4xCD, Comp
1997
1995
1994
Red Clay Records
CD, Album
1992
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
Copper Creek Records
LP, Comp
1988
1987
Strictly Country Records
LP, Album
1987
Roust-A-Bout Records
LP, Album
1987
1985
Folkways Records
LP, Album
1985
Rounder Records
Cass, Album, Comp
1985
1985
1985
1984
Old Homestead Records
LP, Album
1984
1984
1982
1981
Boot Records (2)
LP, Album
1981
Revonah Records
LP, Album
1981
1981
1980
Outlet Records (3)
LP, Album
1980
1979
Programme Audio Gold
LP, Album
1979
1979
1978
CMH Records
LP, Album
1978
1978
1978
1978
1978
1978
1977
1977
1977
1976
CMH Records
2xLP, Album
1976
CMH Records
LP, Album
1975
1975
1975
1975
1974
1971
1970
1970
1968
1967
1966
County Records
7"
1966
1966
1964
1964
1963
Columbia, CBS, Columbia, CBS
LP, Comp
1963
1957
1954
1953
1953
1951
1951
1950
1946
Philips
7", EP, Promo
Jackalope Records (3)
LP, Album
Radio Gems
LP, Album
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