Clifton published a songbook in 1955 called 150 Old Time Folk and Gospel Songs.
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Full Name: William Marburg
Description: Vocalist, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, USA
Known For: Member of “The Dixie Mountain Boys” mainly a blue grass band.
Instruments: Guitar, Voice
Music Styles: Country, Bluegrass
Location: United States of America
Date Born: 5th April 1931
Location Born: Ridgrwood, Maryland, United States of America
CONTACT DETAILS
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BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
Bill Clifton
An American bluegrass musician and singer who is credited with having organized the very first bluegrass festival in the United States in 1961.
From an early age, he listened to country music radio stations. While still in college, he formed the Dixie Mountain Boys together with his friends Paul Clayton and Dave Sadler
In 1952, Clifton made his recording debut with the Dixie Mountain Boys. With the addition of banjo player Johnny Clark, the group signed with Blue Ridge Records in 1953 and began playing traditional bluegrass.
Clifton published a songbook in 1955 called 150 Old Time Folk and Gospel Songs. In the mid 1950s, he enlisted in the Navy and was discharged two years later.
On July 4, 1961, Clifton organized the very first bluegrass festival at Oak Leaf Park in Luray, Virginia. The festival featured the biggest acts of the day in bluegrass music including Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, Jim & Jesse, etc.
In 1963, Clifton’s family moved to England and he toured all over Europe playing in local folk clubs.
He recorded with a local New Zealand band, The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. In later years, he recorded both in Europe and in the United States.
Clifton and his family returned to the United States in 1978 and settled down in Virginia.
In 1980, he began recording for his own label Elf Records.
Albums include
Mountain Folk Songs – Starday Records (1960)
Carter Family Memorial Album – Starday Records (1961)
Bluegrass Sound of – Starday Records (1962)
Soldier, Sing Me A Song – Starday Records (1963)
Code of the Mountains – Starday Records (1964)
Mountain Bluegrass Songs – Nashville Records (1964)
Bluegrass In the American Tradition – Nashville Records (1965)
Are You From Dixie – Bear Family Records (1971)
Getting Folk – Bear Family Records (1972)
Blue Ridge Mountain Blues – County Records (1973)
Come By the Hills – County Records (1975)
Bluegrass Session 1952 – Bear Family Records (1975)
Going Back To Dixie – Bear Family Records (1975)
Another Happy Day – Bear Family Records (1976)
Are You From Dixie – Bear Family Records (1977)
Clifton & Company – County Records (1977)
Autoharp Centennial Celebration – Elf Records (1981)
Beatle Crazy – Bear Family Records (1983)
Where the Rainbow Finds Its End – Elf Records (1991)
The Early Years 1957-1958 – Rounder Records (1992)
River of Memories – Elf Records (1994)
Around the World To Poor Valley – Bear Family Records (2001)
Alive – Elf Records (2001)
Playing Where the Grass Is Greener – Elf Records (2003)
Mountain Laurel – Elf Records (2004)
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