Ware Brothers Collection

William Chester (1920-2012), known as “Chet,” and Donald (1921-    ), or “Don,” Ware were born in Argyle, Casey County, Kentucky.  They grew up in an atmosphere of country gospel music and singing and were taught to sing and play guitar by their father Virgil Ware who was a shape-note gospel singer and teacher.  The two brothers performed together since the late 1920s and, after hearing Delmore Brothers for the first time in 1933, began covering Delmore Brothers songs. The duo’s career of pickin’ and singin’ started by singing at parties, medicine shows, and amateur contests.  Their first radio appearance was on WLAP, Lexington, KY; however, they became affiliated with the “Asbury Hour” on WNOP, Newport, KY.  After taking a break during WWI, the brothers began playing again in the Cincinnati area and released a 78 single that received nation-wide radio play.  After Don moved to California in 1957, the brothers only played music with each other at vacation time.  In 1984 Don moved back to Kentucky and the Ware Brothers began playing bluegrass and traditional music festivals on a regular basis.  In 1986 they won first prize at the Renfro Valley Mountain Music Festival and in 1992 they recorded a full length album titled Silver Threads Among the Gold and Blues. The Ware Brothers would become the oldest singing brother duet in the country and played for two years at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. For many years, they played at the Appalachian Museum’s Fall Homecoming and at several area shows and festivals each year, including Berea College’s Celebration of Traditional Music.