Event

Barton-Para

Cathy Barton is a protégé of Roy Acuff, Jimmie Driftwood, and Grandpa Jones. A master of the frailing banjo style, she is a multiple winner of the Tennessee old-time banjo championship. She introduced the hammered dulcimer to the Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield, and holds a master's degree in folklore. Dave Para, playing with old-time performers, has developed a great repertoire of traditional songs and stories, and a fantastic stage presence that carries over into their recordings. They have befriended many old-time musicians, encouraging them to join in both performing and recording. Many of their recordings include other legacy folk artists and Missouri old-time fiddlers, as well as Bob Dyer (the Bard of Boonville). Cathy, Dave, and Bob worked on a project collecting and recording Civil War songs from the Midwest. Dave's great six- and 12-string guitar work, Cathy's banjo, dulcimer, and autoharp, and their fine harmony singing make the pair's recordings a listening treasure.