Steve Ledford Home Recordings Collection

Steve Ledford started playing fiddle at age seven and performed extensively in his home community with his father and sisters. In 1929 as part of the Carolina Ramblers String Band, he played on radio in New York City where the group also made 20 recordings for the American Record Company. In subsequent years, back in North Carolina, he played with several other notable early country music artists including Wade Mainer, Zeke Morris, Clyde Moody, Jay Hugh and Roy Hall. With these musicians, in varying combinations, during the 1930s and early 1940s, he performed on various southern radio stations including WWNC, Ashville, WIS, Columbia, South Carolina, WPTF Raleigh, North Carolina and WDBR in Roanoke, Virginia. After 1941, he spent many years farming in Mitchell County and continued to play music with various family members. With brother, Wayne Ledford and another family member, James Gardner, he formed a new version of the Carolina Ramblers that played extensively in Western North Carolina tourist venues during portions of the 1960s and 1970s. As the Ledford String Band, this group recorded for Rounder Records in 1971.