Fieldwork Archive
Notes from William:
Ray grew up as the youngest in a large family at the head of Green Cove Rd in Mitchell County, NC.
He was noted for building musical instruments in his later years, and was a keen-eyed local historian.
His repertoire consisted of popular songs from his childhood, old sacred songs, Church of God gospel songs, banjo and fiddle tunes,
and folk songs and ballads from his mother (Lura Serna Gragg Dellinger, b. 1895) siblings, and neighbors.
Ray's mother was from the Carey's Flat section of Grandfather Mountain. The Graggs were a very musical family.
This was one of the very last songs I ever sang with him,
and later the last song I sang for him when he was bedridden could no longer talk from dementia/Alzheimer's.
