Kid Joe

About Joe Dobbs

Joe was born in Mississippi, where his grandfather also was a fiddler. After moving to Louisiana, Joe started playing the instrument when he was 10 years old.

After living in many locations throughout the South and Southwest over the years, Joe moved to West Virginia in 1967 and has been there ever since. He has been active in the Mountain State's folk music scene for 30 years as a fiddler, recording artist, instructor and lecturer. Besides performing at festivals and universities in the United States and Canada, he has toured Africa, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, performing traditional Appalachian folk music. Joe also:

• Teamed up with Bobby Taylor, West Virginia's Champion Fiddler, in 1998 to co-host workshops entitled, "Fiddlin', An American Art Form." This is an exciting workshop by two very capable musicians about the evolution of American fiddle playing.
• Is a founding member of The 1937 Flood, a band of fun-loving musical irregulars who have been playing together (pretty regularly) for more than 25 years.
• Plays fiddle several time a year with the Mary Ingles Trail Association, often appearing in period costume.

In 2000, Joe's sons, Dale and Scott, took over the family business, the Fret'N Fiddle of St. Albans, W.Va., one of the nation's best known music stores for vintage instruments. This has made it possible for Joe to pursue his first love, playing the fiddle. This has also provided him the time necessary to conduct historical music lectures and fiddle workshops. The lectures center on the evolution of American folk music while the workshops are geared toward musicians, with focus on traditional fiddle instruction.

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