BLACK FIDDLERS
AN AMERICAN TRADITION
Black Fiddlers Black Fiddlers is a documentary film that traces the history and culture of African American violinists in different regions of the United States. The film features interviews and performances by musicians who are descendants of Black fiddlers from the times of the Indian Wars and the Gold Rush, such as Joe and Odell Thomson. The film also showcases the work of Rhiannon Giddens, Justin Robinson, and Earl White, who have revived and reinterpreted 300 years of Black music. The film draws on the expertise of local historians, academics, and award-winning authors like Kip Lornell and John J. Sullivan, who provide context and insight into the stories and songs of the Black fiddlers. The film is the product of one year of intensive research and travel, and aims to educate and entertain the audience with new perspectives and discoveries that have not been explored in film before. HD | 60 minutes
HERITAGE FILM PROJECT + EARLY MUSIC ACCESS PROJECT present BLACK FIDDLERS
a documentary film by EDUARDO MONTES-BRADLEY
Development made possible with financial support from
The Joseph & Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
Early Music Access Project and Individual Contributions
executive producers
DAVID McCORMICK + SOLEDAD LIENDO
written, narrated, edited, and directed by
EDUARDO MONTES-BRADLEY
principal consultants
Marshall WYATT Jeffrey PLANK Guille MEALLA
Jacqueline C. DJEDJE Kip LORNELL Loren LUDWIG David McCORMICK
in order of appearance
KIP LORNELL
IRIS CHAPMAN THOMPSON
TRAVIS “BOON” THOMPSON
HENRIQUE PRINCE
MARSHALL WYATT
DAVID ROBERTS
JUSTIN ROBINSON
RHIANNON GIDDENS
EARL WHITE
JOHN SULLIVAN
HOWARD L. SACKS and JUDY ROSE SACKS
BEVERLY GREY
TERRY JENOURE
MARY CATTON LINGOLD
archival footage and photographs
The Life of Joe Thomson (2004) Directed by Iris Chapman Thompson
Way Out West (1978) Virginia Commission for the Arts and Humanities
Marshall Wyatt, Old Hat Records
Talensi Fiddle. Gongay Music From the Upper Region of Ghana, The Dinizulu Archives
Cedric Watson - Pa Janvier (Live on KEXP)
America (1924) D. W. Griffith, USA
Portrait of Joe and Odel Thompson (1987) by Nancy KALOW
Virginia Folklife
The Library of Congress
The Battle of Rogue River (1954), Theatrical Trailer
12 Years a Slave (2013) Theatrical Trailer. Regency Films
The New York Times
first assistants
William MONTES-LIENDO
Michael JORDAN (North Carolina)
Mikel GRAY (Ohio) Jason EVERSOLE (Virginia)
music + sounds
Negro Jig, by Carolina Chocolate Drops
attributed to The Snowdens
special thanks to
Jacqueline C. DJEDJE and BENJAMIN HUNTER
Lucia “Cinder” STANTON Joe and Rosemary ERDMAN
Melissa YOUNG Cynthia REUSCHE
Dom FLEMONS Eugene STOLTZFUS and Janet TRETTER
Iris THOMSON CHAPMAN Ruth CHODROW Janet KALTENBACH
Elsie W. THOMPSON Dana MARSH Sandra TIMMONS
the producer also wishes to thank
Travis “Boon” THOMPSON Adrianne NELSON Dan FOSTER
Michael MALLORY Elsie THOMSON Luck CHURCH
Johannah CASTELMAN Jody KIELBASA Dena Ross JENNINGS
Pat JARRET ab WALKER Eliza CANTY-JONES
Megan FRESTEDT Nicole CHERRY Sandy HAUSMAN
Zachary STOCKS Jon VEIN Kristina GADDY
Bridgit and Jason EVERSOLE
Dylan LOCKE from The Floyd Country Store
filmed on location
Maryland: Sylver Springs
Massachusetts: Northfield, Stockbridge
New York: Harlem
North Carolina: Mebane, Raleigh, Durham
Ohio: Mount Vernon, Chillicothe
Pennsylvania: Cumberland
Virginia: Charlottesville, Floyd
insurance by
Pacific Way Insurance Services | Adam Fast
Beverly Hills, CA
accounting by
Vitale & Miller, PA | Greg Vitale
postproduction provided by
Heritage Film Project | Charlottesville, Virginia
Edited on FINAL CUT PRO X James McLaughlin
Mountainside Studio, Charlottesville, Virginia
Images Enhanced with Topaz ® Gigapixel Artificial Intelligence
Cameras NIKON Z6, Sony PDK-150, and iPhone13