Panhandle Pete

• Born: 1913
• Died: 1972
• Active: '30s, '40s
• Genres: Folk

Biography

A completely original one-man band, this North Carolina artist was born J. Howard Nash and began playing music at the tender age of seven. In his mid-twenties he developed a novelty act in which he would use dozens of instruments which were fastened to his body with all manner of straps, ropes, and rubber bands. These included not only the expected banjo and guitar and obligatory neck-strap harmonica, but a whole series of whistles, bells, crash cymbals, horns, and so forth. By the end of his career he had a total of some 32 different sound-making apparatus hooked up and ready to be blown, honked, or banged when the appropriate moment would come. He made some recordings for Decca in 1938, the six sides with guitar and harmonica including his own song "Blue, Weary, and Lonesome." Without ever becoming a major celebrity, he appeared regularly on television as well as festivals such as a regular event organized by Bascom Lamar Lunsford in Panhandle's hometown of Asheville. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide