Delmar Herington, Sr.

Delmar Herington, Sr. 

 (Fiddle, Clawhammer Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin)

• Date of Birth: February 18, 1929
• Date of Death: October 10, 1988
  
• Place of Birth: Bristol, Tennessee
  
• Place of Death: Bristol, Tennessee
  
• Married: Mary Harrison (1947)
  

Having taught himself to play the fiddle by ear when he was nine years old, Delmar H. Herington, Sr. started playing on Saturday nights at the old Columbia Theater on 6th Street in Bristol, Tennessee; and at barn dances and schools while working in the maintenance departments of the Paramount Theatre and the Hotel Bristol starting at age 16. Delmar could play in Country and Bluegrass styles, but his true love was Old-Time.

Delmar began playing on WOPI radio’s “Hayloft Jamboree” and on WCYB's "Farm & Fun Time" when he was 17. Delmar played stand-in fiddle for the featured bands when their regular fiddlers couldn’t make the show, so he was fortunate to be able to play with many of the great bands that played on those stations.

Intending to “take to the road” with his own band, his then-girlfriend Mary Harrison named them the “Southern Ramblers” (not to be confused with fiddler Ralph Blizard’s “Southern Ramblers”). He married Mary instead and they had three children: Delmar, Jr.; Debby (Michaels); and Teresa ‘Terry’ (Burchett).

Having been asked to go on the road many times by different bands, Delmar consistently declined for family reasons. He was working at Hecht’s Bakery with benefits and insurance and couldn’t risk losing that. Taking out a polio insurance policy proved to be a blessing when Delmar, Jr. was diagnosed with the disease in 1953. In 1970, when Delmar’s only grandchild – Ken Burchett – was born, Delmar found time to start playing again. He teamed up with Bill McCall from Abingdon (guitar and vocals) in 1978 and named the new band “Southern Country”. Also in this band were Arley ‘Tommy’ Bullock (mandolin) and Willis Blevins (guitar).

Southern Country played together for 10 years until Delmar’s death in 1988 due to a massive heart attack. His youngest daughter, Terry Burchett was fortunate to play dog-house bass in the band alongside her father for the last two years Delmar was alive. Delmar’s recordings may be found in the Archives of Appalachia at the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services (CASS) at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.