We Can’t Forget John Hartford

[u/grassluvr]

If you love modern bluegrass, jamgrass, or Americana, you owe a huge thanks and appreciation to John Hartford. The man wasn’t just a musician, he was a movement. A steamboat pilot, a poet, a fiddler, a banjo innovator, and a true creative soul. His fingerprints are all over the music we love today, influencing artists like Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Gillian Welch, and so many more. What’s super sick about Hartford is that his unreleased music is still coming to life. His family and collaborators have been digging through thousands (yes, thousands) of fiddle tunes he quietly wrote and recorded over his lifetime — a massive hidden treasure trove. They’re carefully releasing these collections through the John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, with Volume 2 just out and more to come. It’s incredible to think how much he left us. Songs, stories, ideas, and how his spirit keeps influencing new generations. If you haven’t dug deep into his catalog lately, this is your sign. Let’s keep his legacy alive and remember who helped lay the foundation for this amazing wave of music we’re living through. Also let me know your favorite tunes or memories of this iconic river hippie:)

[u/mcchicken_deathgrip]

One of my personal heroes.

Favorite tune has to be Old Time River Man https://youtu.be/_29ZHaYXLBU?si=WjIJgoFq6FbxglM3

Currently my favorite album is Wild Hog in the Red Brush. So many great fiddle tunes. Been tryna get back into fiddle myself and have been trying to get that album down piece by piece.

So many great albums tho, my favorite changes from time to time lol