Coley Graves

When did you first become interested in oldtime music? When I first became interested in music back home in Medina in the 40's and 50's, the only thing you had to do on Saturday nights was to provide your own entertainment. So my family always had several musicians who came to our house every weekend to play with my brother and uncle. They both played the oldtime gospel, country, and oldtime fiddle tunes.

How long have you been playing the oldtime music? I started playing guitar when I was 12 or 13 years old, and when Marilyn and I married, and although we both worked fulltime, we continued to make time on weekends to jam and get together with friends who had the same interest in music as we did.

What are your musical influences? My influences were being around several family members who all played the oldtime music. The music was handed down from generation to generation without anything written down - we all played by ear and how we heard and felt the beat.

Does anyone in your family play music? My brother, Skip Graves; my uncle, Tim Walsh; my aunt, Louise Knolton; and other great uncles were all excellent oldtime musicians. All of them could play various instruments, including guitar, fiddle, and banjo.

What kinds of times and places have you played music in your life? It would be impossible for me to list all the times and places we have played, so I will just hit some of the high spots. Marilyn and I have had two different gospel groups, where we played for churches, schools, and many private events. We also had a country band and we played for line dances in community centers across three states. At one time we had a band with a comedian, and played for conventions at the Peabody Hotel and Cook Convention Center in Memphis, as well as company-wide picnics. During the 1980's and 1990's, we had a monthly show in Mountain View, AR.

This was a lot of fun as we would invite the entertainers who performed at the Ozark Folk Center to join us as guests when they finished their set at the Center. We have made some lifetime friends from this experience. For the past several years, we have enjoyed being a part of the Jackson Area Plectral Society, and continue to play and sing throughout West TN, north MS, and eastern AR with our Wildwood Express Band. This band has played for churches, schools, civic organizations, festivals, wedding receptions, 50th wedding anniversaries, funerals, and whatever.

What else do you do besides play music?

We are active in our church, enjoy camping with our children and grandchildren, and I like to shop in different malls. (Marilyn usually finds a bench or rocking chair and waits until I get tired). We enjoy eating out with friends at different types of restaurants, and I enjoy 'piddling' with the computer.

What makes this kind of music "good" to you? This music was passed along by our forefathers, and it has a simple beat that I like. (3 chord stuff!!)

Why did you choose to play this kind of music? I have tried it all, and I like the acoustic sound because as I get older I'm not able to drag around all the amplifiers!!! It's easy to play and usually has a good rhythm. We have really enjoyed our years of playing with the hammered dulcimer in our band, and even though some people may think it is a strange instrument to have in a band, it has worked well for us.