Meet Roscoe Holcomb

Roscoe Holcomb was born on September 5, 1912 and died February 1, 1981. Otherwise, he was an American singer, banjo player, and guitarist from Daisy, Kentucky.  A prominent figure in Appalachian folk music, Holcomb was the inspiration for the term “high, lonesome sound,” coined by folklorist and friend John Cohen.

Roscoe Holcomb in 1959

The term is now used to describe bluegrass singing, although Holcomb was not, strictly speaking, a bluegrass performer. Holcomb’s repertoire included old-time music, hymns, traditional music and blues ballads. He was a competent harmonica player and sang many of his most memorable songs a cappella.