07/08/2020
Louis Southworth was an amazing man and a fiddler too. Born into slavery in Tennessee, he eventually came to Oregon in 1853 and earned enough money playing at instructional dance academies to buy his freedom. Champ fiddler Starr Page McMullen from Corvallis, Oregon played the fiddle for this inspiring video. 🎻
When Southworth was told he could not attend the local Baptist church if he continued to play his fiddle, he said: “Was brought up a Baptist. But the brethren would not stand my fiddle, which was about all of the company I had much of the time. So I told them to keep me in the church with my fiddle if they could, but to turn me out if they must, for I could not think of parting with the fiddle. I reckon my name isn’t written in their books here anymore; but I somehow hope it’s written in the big book up yonder, where they aren’t so particular about fiddles.”
Narrator, Eric Ely, brings historical figure Louis Southworth's story to life. Southworth was born into slavery and brought to Oregon by his master. He bought…
