Garfield's Blackberry Blossom

Musicians:
Lillyanne McCool: banjo
Emily Phillips: fiddle

This is one of the traditional songs that I played in the Arkansas State Banjo Competition in 2018. I came to love this tune while listening to both Lukas Pool’s and Adam Hurt’s versions of the song. Lukas Pool is a banjo player and banjo builder in my town. He taught me the song first. I then learned it from Adam Hurt who lives in Danville, Virginia. Some say that it was given the name Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom during the Civil War because of Gen. Garfield’s fondness for the tune. Some say it is just to keep it separate from another tune known as Blackberry Blossom. The fiddle player on this tune is Emily Phillips, a fabulous old time fiddler that I’ve grown up admiring. Featuring only banjo and fiddle, the fundamental instruments and ultimate duo for old-time music, Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom is about as traditional as you can get.