Greene Acres
In 1980, local musicians Walt Davis and Ray Greene were “itchy for some music” and began getting together in Ray’s kitchen in Swannanoa, NC, that they had learned early in their careers— as far back as the 1920s.
“I went up there itchy for some music. And I went up there and me and him [Ray] got our guitars out and started playing a little bit, trying to anyway. I said, ‘Ray, let’s start having a little music up here every Monday night and bring in these old fellows that have been playing. They would like to have somewhere to go play.’ He said, ‘That suits me just fine.’ And this has been going on since.”
Walt Davis
Soon, more musicians were invited to the kitchen, including Jeeter Riddle. Then others would come to listen to them play. And before long, the regular Monday night event outgrew the Greenes’ kitchen and was moved to an expanded cinderblock workshop in the back yard dubbed “the picking parlor”. During summer months, it was common to see more than 30 people come out to enjoy the show.
“We don’t do this to get rich. I don’t like money. We like the music-if no one else cares, we play it to suit ourselves. Never had someone who never came back. People must come sober. It’s a family affair; we keep it religious. It’s a feeling for one another; it is to say, more than a handshake. If I started charging that would be legal binding on paper. I believe in being friendly.”
-Ray Greene, 1989
Photo (left) Greene Acres, 1990. Photo courtesy of the Music Maker Foundation
The picking parties at Greene Acres were regular events, but they were not formal. Nor were they too wild. Ray Greene made it clear that the event was a family affair, with “no drinking, swearing, or ill behavior”. The only refreshment came from a coffee urn, and a cup sat beside it for donations.
Regular attendees also included Woody Camberon, Lewis Crane, Marvin Hudson, Carl Kerlee, J.C. McCool, Pres Owenby, Dennis Putnam, Arlie Randolf, Margaret Slagel, Shagg Sutton, and Ted Stewart.
“It grew fast and soon there was no room to move in the kitchen.”
-Walt Davis
