Sam Hinton

Posted on September 12, 2009 by Peter Feldmann

Dear Friends,

Sam Hinton passed away on Thursday, September 10, at 4 p.m., surrounded by family and hearing his own songs.   It was a peaceful end to a long, creative and beloved life.  There is a sweet tribute to him at < www.samhinton.org>, the website kept by his grandchild Katrina Cooper and her husband Danny.

Please feel free to send this notice on to others, or send me the contact information for others who ought to be on this list.  We will keep in touch as plans develop for memorial gatherings.

Warm wishes,
Leanne Hinton

Sam was one of the people whose love for and command of the music really inspired me.  His performance style was subtle, self-contained, and wonderfully intriguing.  His emphasis was always on the music, not the performer, and Sam always brought something special to each song he sang and tune he played.

Sam Hinton at UC Berkeley Folk Festival, 1965.

Sam Hinton at UC Berkeley Folk Festival, 1965.

My first encounter with his music was via a recording titled “How The West Was Won” (not to be confused by the film of the same title). It was a two Lp set with various artists, with an amazingly diverse range: from traditional-style performers like  Sam and Jimmie Driftwood to Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney!  You know, Rosemary and Bing did a pretty fine job at that!  In 1961, Sam was brought to Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theater.  The audience was a bit on the thin side, but the performance made me a lifelong fan.

About Peter Feldmann

Peter Feldmann has long been a musical mainstay in Santa Barbara and Southern California. Besides actively performing bluegrass and old time music with a variety of groups, Peter is also known as a bluegrass historian, collector, music consultant, teacher, and producer, both of live concerts and radio/tv programs throughout the area. His music has been heard in clubs, concerts, saloons, universities, pre-schools, at weddings, wakes, parties, barn-raisings, calf-ropings, rodeos, auctions, fund raisers, wine tastings and chili cook offs. Peter founded Santa Barbara's Old Time Fiddler's Convention (1972), UCSB's Old Time Music Front (1964), and The Bluebird Cafe (1971). Through these and other outlets, he was the first to bring many prominent folk, blues, and bluegrass artists, including Bill Monroe, Mance Lipscomb, The Stanley Brothers, The New Lost City Ramblers, Fred McDowell, Furry Lewis, Rose Maddox, the Balfa Brothers, and many others to the Santa Barbara area. Peter also helped others access the music by teaching privately, and in group classes for Santa Barbara Continuing Education, UCSB Extension, and McCabes Guitars. He was the first on the West Coast to produce and market instruction Lps - three on How To Play Country Fiddle, and one each on Clawhammer Banjo, and Maybelle Carter Style Guitar. He still presents lectures on country music history at UCSB, Santa Barbara area libraries, and for various interest groups, festival workshops, etc. In 2006, he presented his monograph titled "The Big bang Of Bluegrass Music" (describing the origins of bluegrass 1938 - 1946) to the worlds first International Music Symposium at the University of Kentucky at Bowling Green. He has also been very active in radio, television, and film work, producing weekly shows on country and bluegrass music over a 21 year period on various commercial and public stations. Peter currently maintains three music-related websites, a music blog, and an entertainment service company, "BlueGrass West!", based in the Santa Ynez Valley in Southern California. Peter performs tunes and songs from the heart of America's musical treasure chest. His shows can include fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Well-known as a historian and teacher, Peter is first and foremost an entertainer, sharing his respect, energy and love for the music with his fellow musicians, friends, and audiences.
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1 Response to Sam Hinton

  1. William Wylie says:
    April 24, 2010 at 9:35 PM

    Over the last fifty years I’ve been learning how to play the five string banjo – like the title of the book . Folk music – via guitar , drums , song , fiddle, piano , banjos , and a good number of tin cans . There are certain indelible moments with Mentors who have nurtured me along this crazy journey . Sam Hinton is one of these very Teachers .
    In 1964 Sam performed at the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest . Mr Hinton had developed the remarkable ability for caricature of wild beasts such as frogs , birds , and dragonflies .
    Mr Hinton along with Bess Hawes were Judges of the Event. .
    The Judges placed me in the Advanced ” division “.
    I Frailed a tune I called Sonata . It was nothing short of astonishing to me to receive a prize of a ( Traid Five String Banjo ) from the hands of Mr Hinton . Yep , Mr Sam Hinton is missed by many and will be forgotten by none .
    The reader is encouraged to find ” Vinyl “- for examples of fascinating recordings of /by Sam Hinton .

    Reply

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