Interview with Byron Berline, June 8, 2006
Project: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Byron Berline describes his childhood learning to play the fiddle from his father, who often competed in fiddle contests. Berline talks about his involvement with music during college, including a show at Oklahoma University, after which he played the fiddle for Doug Dillard and ended up jamming with The Dillards for several hours. This led to him recording an album with The Dillards in Los Angeles. Berline talks about how he and his father came to play the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. He talks about how he came to play with Bill Monroe and tells stories about playing shows and recording with Monroe. He talks about playing at Bill Monroe's first Bean Blossom Festival. He talks about being drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, during which he became a member of the Special Services and arranged music shows at Fort Polk. Berline talks about his decision to move to California to play with Dillard & Clark after leaving the Army, recording with the Rolling Stones, and the formation of the band Country Gazette. He describes recording various albums with the Country Gazette, as well as his work as a session musician for many film scores. He talks about his interest in collecting instruments and opening the Double Stop music shop in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He tells several humorous stories about Bill Monroe.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Double Stop Fiddle Shop National Oldtime Fiddle Contest Championship Sports University of Oklahoma The Dillards (Artist) Stone Mountain Boys (Artist) Dillard, Doug (Artist) Doug Dillard (Artist) Newport Folk Festival Fiddle players Fiddlers Fiddles Monroe, Bill (Artist) Bill Monroe (Artist) Bean Blossom Festival Dillard & Clark (Artist) Dylan, Bob (Artist) Bob Dylan (Artist) Soundtracks Rolling Stones (Artist) The Flying Burrito Brothers (Artist) Country Gazette (Artist) Byron Berline & Sundance (Artist) Guthrie (Okla.) The Byron Berline Band (Artist) Oklahoma International Bluegrass FestivalInterview LC Subject
Bluegrass musicians Bluegrass music. Musical instruments. Old-time music. Universities and colleges. Musical performance Musical groups. Bands (Music) Music--Performance. Records. Sound recordings. Sound--Recording and reproducing College campuses. College environment College students--Conduct of life. College students--Social conditions Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Social aspects. Vietnam War, 1961-1975. Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Veterans--United States United States. Army--Military lifeInterview Rights
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Berline, Byron Interview by Alan Munde. 08 Jun. 2006. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Berline, B. (2006, June 08). Interview by A. Munde. Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Berline, Byron, interview by Alan Munde. June 08, 2006, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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