Lunsford, Bascom Lamar

Lunsford, Bascom Lamar

(1882–1973) folklorist; born in Mars Hill, N.C. He was a North Carolina lawyer and farmer who, although he lacked formal musical training, became well known for collecting, recording, and performing Appalachian folk music. His commercial and archival recordings eventually numbered 3,000 items. He founded among other festivals the annual Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, Asheville, N.C. (1928).