About

Barte Laney is a multi-instrumentalist from McDowell County, North Carolina, where he learned “mountain fiddling” from Otto Gross, Floyd Wilson, Paul Birchfield, Pee Wee Davis, and his father, Robert Laney. About learning to play, Barte shares:

Growing up, I was always listening to stories my Daddy would tell of living in the Smokey Mountains. He would talk of how they worked, hunted, and fished, but the pastime was singing and playing music. I always was interested in everything he talked about, especially music. For my fifteenth birthday I got a fiddle. Daddy taught me a couple tunes and what he called a sawmill shuffle (a type of rhythmic bowing).

 A highly sought-after fiddle and mandolin player across the state, he has performed with a number of successful regional bands (notably: Silver Creek, Midnight Flyer, The Connections, Ages Past, The Highway Bound, and the Linville Ridge Band). He regularly provides music for plays, churches services, weddings and other community events. In 2007, Barte tied for first place fiddle at the WNC State Fair, and won second place in the mandolin competition Bascom Lamar Lunsford Folk Festival in 1994. In 1981 he placed second at the State Champion Fiddlers Competition (also known as the Star Fiddlers Convention), and was awarded Best Fiddle at the Hominy Valley Youth Association Dance and Band Festival in 1976. He was also awarded first place in the Star Band Competition with the bluegrass group Ages Past.

 For the past two decades Barte has taught fiddle, mandolin, and guitar from his home. Many of his students have continued on to graduate from East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass County, and Old-Time program, with two being featured members of ETSU’s elite Pride Band. Additionally, his students have won MerleFest Songwriting awards and multiple International Bluegrass Music Awards. Barte also raises chickens and keeps a large garden.

He is currently recording a solo album.

Barte is available for lessons and performances. Please contact him by phone: 828-738-3827 for more information.