Carlton Haney, Bluegrass Festival Pioneer Dies

[Dave A. Burley]

Carlton Haney who concieved the idea for bluegrass festivals has died. Carlton died yesterday at the age of 82. He held a festival near Fincastle, Va. in 1965 which is considered the first multi-day festival of bluegrass music ever produced. He also was a promoter of country music concerts. Today the bluegrass music festivals number in the hundreds and are the main venue's for todays major bluegrass artists. Carlton managed the father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe as well as the early country/bluegrass duo, Don Reno and Red Smiley. He was one of the most interesting men that I had ever met and was never at a loss for words. I witnessed and video taped a debate between Jimmy Martin and Carlton about music theory that was one of the funniest things that I had ever seen.
Rest in peace Carlton
Dave A. Burley

[Larry King]

I met Carleton back in the late 60's , first at WSM T V studios out on Charlotte Pike and a short time later we were seated next to each other on a flight from the West coast to Nashville , with a stop over in Ok City where he introduced me to Conway. Merle makes reference to Carleton on one of the live albums....Philadelphia I think .

In a way , he reminded me of Boss Hogg on Dukes of Hazard . He had an entrepreneurial mind . He kept me spell bound with stories of shows he'd produced . I've often wondered about him . Sorry to hear that he has passed . They broke the mold when they made him .

[Janice Brooks]

Haggard live albums with introductions
Okie From Muskogee and The Fighting Side of Me