Celebrating Twenty Years of the Alabama Folk Arts Apprenticeship ...

Wayne Heard
Henagar
Dobro
Wayne Heard of Henagar learned to play the
dobro more than 65 years ago.
Like many other Sand Mountain musicians,
he learned from a relative, his uncle Marvin.
Heard plays a large repertoire of traditional
songs and tunes. He is a fine songwriter as
well. Although he never played
professionally, he frequently made music
with those who earned their living as
musicians, including Charlie and Ira Louvin
and Cast King. Now in his eighties,
Mr. Heard has a deep knowledge of north
Alabama’s traditional music. His student Matt
Downer, who is his grandson, found this
wealth of information just as important as the
style of playing he learned. Through the
Apprenticeship Program, grandfather and
grandson continued the rich musical
heritage of their region.
David Ivey
Huntsville
Sacred Harp Singing
David Ivey has played an important role in sustaining the tradition of
Sacred Harp singing in north Alabama. A singer since his childhood in
Henagar, he attended singing schools under such notable singing
masters as Hugh McGraw and Leonard Lacy. Through the Apprenticeship
Program, he taught singing schools in numerous Alabama communities
for several years. Mr. Ivey often takes part in all-day singings around the
state, regularly “pitching” or “keying” music as a front bench tenor. He
has held leadership positions with local and state singing conventions,
the Sacred Harp Publishing Company, and the Sacred Harp Musical
Heritage Association. He also co-founded and directs Camp Fasola, an
innovative program in which children and adults learn Sacred Harp
singing in a summer camp setting.
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