Vassar Clements was my Great Grandfather. I called him Papa Vassar. I miss him so much. Hearing him play on youtube is just so amazing. I remember when I first heard him play. It was just wonderful. I wish more than anything that I could hear him play one more time in person.
I got to meet Vassar in Steamboat Springs when I was producing concerts their in the 80s.He was just a great person to talk with and , I believe he could out Toke Willie Nelson for sure ! In my opinion and many others , he was the best overall Fiddler ever ! He sat in with my ex-wife's Band , Cow-Patty and The Meadow Muffins ! What a great night of Music that was. When he returned to play with Russell Smith former lead singer of The Amazing Rhythm Aces at a show I Emcee'd , I learned an important fact about Vassar , I kept asking him what songs he wanted to do in what key with Russell , he said to me , "Don't need to know the name of the Song Big Bill , just tell Russell to let me know what Key he wants to play it in !" He could play the phone book , just tell him what key. Incredible , listen to him on "OLD AND IN THE WAY" A CLASSIC ALBUM WITH Gerry Garcia,David Grisman,,Peter Rowan,John Khan and Vassar ! A classic Album OF IMMENSE TALENT and even a Stones tune WILD HORSES , it might make you a Bluegrass fan forever
Today at Suwannee Springs Reunion it is Vassar Clements day. I love his music and play fiddle, so I'm going go incorporate his fiddling into my learning. Happy Vassar Clements Day, love you Vassar! 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
I saw him in a tiny club in New Haven CT in the late 80s. I sat like three feet away from him all night. something I will never forget. one thing in remember was feeling I could just flick that fiddle out of his hands with one finger. Holds it so gentle!
Besides being an amazing musician comfortable playing (and improvising!) in a half-dozen different genres, Vassar was also one of the most delightful human beings I have ever had the pleasure to meet. All the best to his family, and thank you, Fiddlerius for posting this vid.
I thought Vasser could use a new comment. By nature fiddle songs evolve. That is the beauty of this music and makes it really fun. So this is his version of an older song and it is different. It is extremely more difficult than the old one and I think an advantage of Vasser putting his name on this version adds to documenting the history of the song. He was such an amazing fiddle player and he totally deserves credit for this particular recording. Because fiddle songs were not written down, we don't know who many of the composers were. My fiddle book notes that this song appeared on the album as Paddy on the Turnpike so I think credit to the song and to Vasser are appropriate. I love this video but I think my favorite is When Vasser plays Orange Blossom Special with all his friends.
my dad tells me stories every now n then of when he lived with Vassar n John hedgecoth, and yes I believe the previous statement that vass could out toke Willie lol
I have almost everithing what Vassar was recorded. Like many songs same but different names...check Fiddle patch-Oklahoma Stomp....tanx for comments anyway.
Vassar Clements was my Great Grandfather. I called him Papa Vassar. I miss him so much. Hearing him play on youtube is just so amazing. I remember when I first heard him play. It was just wonderful. I wish more than anything that I could hear him play one more time in person.
Congratulations in Vassar's going into the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame this year.
I got to meet Vassar in Steamboat Springs when I was producing concerts their in the 80s.He was just a great person to talk with and , I believe he could out Toke Willie Nelson for sure ! In my opinion and many others , he was the best overall Fiddler ever !
He sat in with my ex-wife's Band , Cow-Patty and The Meadow Muffins ! What a great night of Music that was. When he returned to play with Russell Smith former lead singer of The Amazing Rhythm Aces at a show I Emcee'd , I learned an important fact about Vassar , I kept asking him what songs he wanted to do in what key with Russell , he said to me , "Don't need to know the name of the Song Big Bill , just tell Russell to let me know what Key he wants to play it in !" He could play the phone book , just tell him what key. Incredible , listen to him on "OLD AND IN THE WAY" A CLASSIC ALBUM WITH Gerry Garcia,David Grisman,,Peter Rowan,John Khan and Vassar ! A classic Album OF IMMENSE TALENT and even a Stones tune WILD HORSES , it might make you a Bluegrass fan forever
Today at Suwannee Springs Reunion it is Vassar Clements day. I love his music and play fiddle, so I'm going go incorporate his fiddling into my learning. Happy Vassar Clements Day, love you Vassar! 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Clements playing was so clean and smooth. One of the greatest bluegrass fiddlers of all time
I saw him in a tiny club in New Haven CT in the late 80s. I sat like three feet away from him all night. something I will never forget. one thing in remember was feeling I could just flick that fiddle out of his hands with one finger. Holds it so gentle!
Besides being an amazing musician comfortable playing (and improvising!) in a half-dozen different genres, Vassar was also one of the most delightful human beings I have ever had the pleasure to meet.
All the best to his family, and thank you, Fiddlerius for posting this vid.
I thought Vasser could use a new comment. By nature fiddle songs evolve. That is the beauty of this music and makes it really fun. So this is his version of an older song and it is different. It is extremely more difficult than the old one and I think an advantage of Vasser putting his name on this version adds to documenting the history of the song. He was such an amazing fiddle player and he totally deserves credit for this particular recording. Because fiddle songs were not written down, we don't know who many of the composers were. My fiddle book notes that this song appeared on the album as Paddy on the Turnpike so I think credit to the song and to Vasser are appropriate.
I love this video but I think my favorite is When Vasser plays Orange Blossom Special with all his friends.
That sweater do hah total G..... Greatest Fiddle hero
Goosebumps so many times I lost count. Amazing.
what a amazing fiddle player!
pisses me off, how good he is.
🔥♥️🔥
B"H Praise G-d that was able to live and hear him in his time!
brilliant, thank you so much. do you happen to have any more? vassar is wildly under represented on youtube.
The best version of this I've heard is with Old and in the Way, Sonoma State University...on youtube. Scroll to exactly 20:40, Vassar just kills it.
Sorry for the dumb question, but did he write this song?
Avalanche is uniqe Vassar song, both songs have same chords, but Paddy is traditional and have much simple melody.
Wow…..
hellz yeah
Mighty Fine!
the master
loretta clements baker. that my great uncle
my dad tells me stories every now n then of when he lived with Vassar n John hedgecoth, and yes I believe the previous statement that vass could out toke Willie lol
I have almost everithing what Vassar was recorded. Like many songs same but different names...check Fiddle patch-Oklahoma Stomp....tanx for comments anyway.
wow...
thanx, more comeing
Sorry Paddy on the Turnpike only audio versions
are u really his great grand child
@ryanssun789 yes. he is my mom's-mom's father.
Vassar was my Granny Whitfield's nephew so I thought I'd stop in a say hello to the family members I don't know..
Greaty tune and excellent fiddling. Too bad he isn't backed by guitar, mandolin and banjo
Lawd Vassar was young here..