Bill Clifton
b. William August Marburg, 5 April 1931, Riderwood, Maryland, USA. Clifton sang and played guitar, autoharp and fiddle. He became interested in the music of the Carter Family during the '40s, having been introduced to country music through visiting the tenant farmers on his father's estate. Bill subsequently made his first records for the Stinson label in 1952. By 1954 he was performing with his Dixie Mountain Boys and recording for Blue Ridge. During the '50s Clifton compiled 150 old-time folk and gospel songs and had them privately printed. He was essentially able to bridge the gap between urban folk and bluegrass, reaching both sets of audiences on an international level. In 1961, Clifton recorded 22 Carter Family songs for Starday, and later came to Britain and set up tours for Bill Monroe, the New Lost City Ramblers and the Stanley Brothers. He had been playing bluegrass and old-time country music for 11 years before arriving in England in 1963. He led a ‘missionary’ role, as the music was new to English ears, and by 1966 he was playing regularly and hosting a BBC radio show called CELLAR FULL OF FOLK. Clifton toured throughout Europe during the '60s, and recorded a programme of old-time music for Radio Moscow in 1966. By the following year, Clifton and his family travelled to the Philippines, where he joined the Peace Corps. Later, during the '70s, he went on to New Zealand, and formed the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. Along with Red Rector (d. 1991) and Don Stover, Clifton formed the First Generation with whom he toured the USA and Europe in 1978. Clifton has since toured Japan, the USA and Europe. He is as well known for his work arranging tours and appearances of bluegrass performers, as he is for his recordings.