Lynn Foddrell has a guitar case overflowing with memories, and a musical heritage that’s steeped in his blood. He will unpack both when he takes the stage to headline the Patrick County Music Association’s July 15 event in Stuart.
Foddrell will play his father’s, Turner Foddrell’s, old guitar, new strings and all. A singer/songwriter, the elder Foddrell also was known for playing his acoustical guitar.
“It’s a pleasure playing that guitar,” Lynn Foddrell said. He said he plans to present his renditions of Turner Foddrell’s “Big Boss Man,” “Step It Up,” “I Got A Gal Won’t Leave Me Alone,” and others.
The father/son duo are so intertwined, it’s impossible to tell one’s story without including the other.
But the music started even before, with grandfather, Posey Foddrell, a talented, self-taught musician in his own right. Posie Foddrell played a number of instruments including the banjo and guitar.
Posie Foddrell had four sons in addition to Turner, Foddrell said of uncles Marvin, Roger, Phil and Lloyd. All were talented musicians, but all developed distinct styles, Lynn Foddrell said, and added two of Turner Foddrell’s brothers still perform, but not publically.
Turner Foddrell and his brother, Marvin also had different styles, but “they made it work,” performing together as the Foddrell Brothers, Lynn Foddrell said.
Their unique blend and playing style, known as Piedmont blues (which had to do with their picking styles) created “a wonderful sound,” Lynn Foddrell said. He thinks he was about 5 years old when his father bought him a two-tone guitar from Sears & Roebuck.
“I started watching dad play, and he gave me some lessons,” Lynn Foddrell said, and recalled in those days, his father worked third shift at Fieldcrest Mills in Fieldale.
Lynn Foddrell said he was in his teens when he joined his father and uncle in the group that at its inception, performed locally at tobacco barns and other events.
Once, Lynn Foddrell recalled a performance at the Reynolds Homestead. A bee insistently buzzed around Marvin Foddrell. After swatting at the insect a few times, Marvin Foddrell grabbed it with his bare hand, and threw it down to the ground, Lynn Foddrell said.
“Some people thought it was part of the show,” he said, laughing at the memory.
In the 1970s, the group branched out, playing regularly at the Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival in Ferrum. By 1981, they were performing in Holland at the Blues Estafette; returning to Holland again in 1984. They also recorded two albums, “The Original Blues Brothers” and “Patrick County Rag,” according to online information.
Marvin Foddrell died in 1986.
Lynn Foddrell and his father continued performing, with two appearances at Carnegie Hall, and other gigs at the Lincoln Center, the World’s Fair and several other venues.
Both Turner and Lynn Foddrell are included in the List of Honor ‘A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy,’ with the likes of Gladys Knight, Dianna Ross, Muhammad Ali and Danny Glover.
The elder Foddrell also was a member of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy, the North Carolina Blues Society, the Commission of the Arts in Richmond, and the Blue Ridge Folklife Association, according to online information.
Turner Foddrell died from lung cancer in January, 1995, and for a while, it seemed as if the music died with him.
“It hurt me so bad, I said, ‘I ain’t going to play anymore. I’m done,’” Lynn Foddrell said.
But as he worked through the loss, Lynn Foddrell said he realized his father would want him to continue performing.
Drawing on his wealth of memories, and outside musical influences like James Brown and Rick James, Foddrell eventually formed a new R&B group called ‘The Foddrells.’ Group members include cousin Doug, a couple of members from adjacent areas of North Carolina and, of course, Foddrell.
Now, more than 20 years later, “Here I am,” he said with a smile. “Still playin.’”
Foddrell is scheduled to take the stage at 7 p.m. in the Rotary Building on Woodland Drive.
