Sara Watkins Instagram – This weekend we lost a legendary fiddler, and a man who hugely influenced so many of us when we were coming up as young players. When I was about 8, he sold me my first good fiddle – a 3/4 size. It was way too big for me for at least a year or two but it sounded great and I was so proud that I got it from Byron. That’s the one I’m playing in these first two photos. Alison Kraus was playing our favorite local festival called Follows Camp, and Byron organized a jam so all of us kids could play with her. Byron, his wife Bette and daughter Becca were always welcoming and my heart and love are with them. I remember going to their house shortly after the Northridge earthquake and he told stories of near misses and mentioned after the quake, the water level of his pool was a foot lower, and all the fruit on that side of the orange tree had been knocked to the ground. Seemingly from a big wave. It’s funny the things that stick with you.
If we came to one of Byron’s shows, be it with “The LA Fiddle Band” or “California” or anything else, he’d almost always invite us up to play on a tune with them. It made me want to work so I’d be deserving of the opportunity if and when the next chance came in hopes he’d see that I’d been practicing. Throughout his long influential life, Byron took so many of us young players under his wing and taught us about performing and jamming by example. I’m so grateful for his contribution to my life, and for his bow arm that, to me, defined his style. I have so many memories of being around Byron, I wish I had more photos, but I’m grateful for these which my parents and aunt Joanie recently sent my way. | Posted on 13/Jul/2021 04:03:24
