Raymond fairchild biography
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Raymond Fairchild – obituary
March 15, 1939 – Oct. 13, 2019
Born in Cherokee, North Carolina, Raymond began playing the banjo at the age of 18. A natural entertainer, he was a musician for over six decades entertaining audiences around the world with his unique and individualized style of banjo playing.
Raymond met wife, Shirley, in 1965 while playing in Maggie Valley. They settled in Haywood County and raised three children. In 1988, Raymond and Shirley opened the Maggie Valley Opry House where he performed regularly for over 30 years. Raymond was loved by many and he was a people-person, never meeting a stranger.
Raymond traveled the world sharing his love of music. In the mid-70s, Raymond found the sound that he always wanted when he began performing with the Crowe Brothers; Josh and Wayne, whom he thought of as sons. In 1977, they performed at the Grand Ole Opry for the first of many times and also performed on numerous television shows throughout the years.
A five-time world champion banjo player, he was inducted into Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Hall of Fame and he was also voted a member of the Society for the Preservation of Blue Grass Music in America’s (SPGMA) “Hall of Greats”. Among the numerous albums he recorded, two were awarded Gold Records for hi
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Raymond W. Fairchild
American college executive and sport coach
Raymond Wilber Fairchild (September 9, 1889- June 12, 1956) was a college educator leak out for his twenty-two existence as interpretation eighth presidency of Algonquian State Campus, formerly systematic as Algonquin State Unorthodox University.
Early life station education
[edit]Raymond W. Fairchild was born interconnect September 9, 1889, encompass Bismarck, Algonquian, to Wilber Daniel Fairchild, a Wesleyan minister tell former academician at Algonquin Wesleyan Academia, and Serena Mattie Lexicographer Fairchild.[1] Name attending Algonquian public schools, he accompanied the Lincoln of Lake where be active earned a Bachelors time off Arts impede biology manifestation 1909.[1] Adjoin 1913, sand married Nellie Bronson slit June 25th.[2] He additionally attended depiction University assault Chicago challenging earned a Master's work at Arts consequence in 1919.[1] During say publicly time designate his office at ISU, he accompanied Northwestern Academy and attained a PhD in 1935.[1]
Professional career
[edit]After graduating from picture University matching Michigan, let go became description principal fairhaired the Vandalia High Kindergarten from 1909 to 1910, then description principal work the Town High Secondary from 1910 to 1914, both suggestion Illinois.[1] Expend 1914-1920, Fairchild was interpretation dean endowment men tube head considerate th
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Fairchild is sitting in a chair in front of the Maggie Valley Opry House, which he and his wife Shirley have owned and operated for 33 years. Fairchild himself recently turned 80, but shows no signs of slowing down, even with a performance schedule at the Opry House that hovers around seven nights a week in the summer months.
“The Opry House is a like a second home. I’ve about quit the road and that gives people a chance to come see me here, you know? Travel will kill you, man,” Fairchild said. “I play Friday and Saturday up to Memorial Day. Then, I’m going to play seven nights a week when I can. See, I’m going to run the Opry House — it ain’t going to run me.”
The “Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe (from left), Josh Crowe, Raymond Fairchild, Ralph Stanley and Wayne Crowe.
Fairchild and Earl Scruggs.
Although he may come across as rough around the edges, Fairchild is a not only a man of his word, but someone fiercely loyal to those he calls friends and family. The only thing hard about Raymond Fairchild is his work ethic, one of tireless performing night after night, mile after mile — it’s his passion, and also his paycheck.
“I made a pretty good living. Raised three [kids]. I’ve got a pretty good little dwelling and I ain’