Benton Flippen was nationally recognized for his distinctive playing style, using slides, strong rhythmic bowing techniques and unique fingering patterns. Flippen died Tuesday at Northern Hospital of Surry County in Mount Airy. He was 91.
Flippen was born July 18, 1920, in Mount Airy. He grew up on a farm and learned how to play old-time music from generations of fiddlers in his family. He composed several original tunes that have entered the repertoires of some of this nation's best old-time string bands. He played with the legendary Camp Creek Boys.
In the early 1970's, he joined the Smokey Valley Boys and led the band in capturing countless prizes at fiddlers' contests around the region. In 1990, the North Carolina Arts Council awarded Flippen the N.C. Heritage Award.
Click on the listen button above to hear to his 2007 performance at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh. It was part of the series Music of the Carolinas. This is Flippen and the Smokey Valley Boys performing Soldier's Joy.
