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For those concerned about traditional music’s appeal to the youth today, this week’s Folkfinds is Rob Fong of Asheville, NC. Rob fell in love with Southern traditional music a few years ago and has since become a skilled Piedmont guitarist, banjo player and fiddler. That may not be unusual, except that he’s 19. His output on Soundcloud, combining his RobsRags and Boll Weevil Bobby personas, varies between deftly fingerpicked rags and old-time jams where Rob features on every instrument, and while it’s all worth a serious listen, his version of the old-time tune Katy Hill is among many standouts.

Q & A

What is your goal in recording and sharing music?

To eventually record my own solo album and hopefully other collaborations.

Come up with a descriptive, original genre name for your music.

Tastefully authentic old-time music

Who do you feel is a likely audience for your music?

The old-time and blues communities, mostly being music players themselves.

If trapped on a desert island with only three songs, which would they be?

Blind Arthurs Breakdown – Blind Blake.
Oh Glory – Reverend Gary Davis
Buck Hoard – Alva Green

Is there an instrument you do not currently play that you’d like to learn?

I’d like to better learn the ones I play, as the more you learn an instrument the more of yourself you can put into the sound.

Who is your musical hero(es), if any?

Blind Blake, Reverend Gary Davis, Edden Hammonds, Blind Boy Fuller, Alva Green, Marcus Martin. Newer guys such as Roy Bookbinder, Bruce Molsky, Ernie Hawkins.

You can hear more from Rob Fong on his Facebook page: Click Here