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12 May 05 - 08:52 AM (#1483242) Subject: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GLoux Steve and Sandy Mason posted this to the New River Old Time (NROT) list server: We are sorry to have to pass on this news of the loss of an unbelievable musical talent, Greg Hooven. Greg died at 4:30 p.m. yesterday, May 10. A viewing will take place from 7-9 p.m. tomorrow, May 12 at Vaughn-Gwynn Funeral Home in Galax, VA. (Sorry, we don't know the exact address). The funeral service will be held @ 11 AM on Friday, May 13 at the Vaughn-Gwynn Chapel, with the burial to follow at a local cemetery. Through all the adventures, musical and otherwise, that Greg has led us, we are sure you will all join us in mourning the death of this amazing musician. His fiddling will never be forgotten. -Greg |
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12 May 05 - 07:44 PM (#1483728) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: BanjoRay That's really sad - I believe he'd been badly injured some time ago when he fell off a ladder. Was this the eventual cause of his death? He was still relatively young, and a wonderful old time fiddle player. Ray |
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12 May 05 - 07:50 PM (#1483732) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: RangerSteve The obit I read on the Yahoo Old-Time group said it related to a spinal chord injury. Sad news, regardless. Steve G. |
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13 May 05 - 08:08 AM (#1484037) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GLoux Greg was badly injured a few years ago when he fell off a ladder. I will post his obituary here when I see it. -Greg |
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13 May 05 - 03:37 PM (#1484368) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: biglappy Greg Hooven was one of the great fiddlers of all time as a very young man. It is a huge tragedy to old-time music to lose his genius. |
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13 May 05 - 04:03 PM (#1484394) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GLoux From today's Galax Gazette: Steven Gregory Hooven, 36 Steven Gregory Hooven, 36, of Galax, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at Twin County Regional Hospital. He was born in Galax on March 9, 1969 to Donald W. and Martha Brooks Hooven. Survivors include his mother, Martha Brooks of Grayson County; his father, Donald W. Brooks of Galax; a brother and sister-in-law, Kenyon Brent and Amy Hooven of Daleville; an aunt, Hazel Virginia Bedwell of Fries; several cousins; and many friends. A funeral will be held today, Friday, at 11 a.m. in the Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Monta Vista Cemetery. The Rev. Fred Jennings and the Rev. Ted Barlett will officiate. -Greg |
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13 May 05 - 08:49 PM (#1484587) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GLoux More from the NROT list server: Hello, Old-Time fans, For those of you who couldn't attend Greg Hooven's funeral I wanted to let you know that impromptu Old Time music sprung up at his grave side after the services (with family permission). Thanks to Billy and Betty for the inspiration, and to Beth and Andy for solid backup. Dale Morris singing Rainbow Sign was the highlight - we know Greg loved that song. What could have been a better send off? I really felt all was right when I heard a fiddle play, dedicated to him. As Betty said, "This one's for you, Greg." And Logan County Blues rails on into the grey day... with a weary sigh, Sandy As I've grown older, I've come to appreciate the old-time music community and its being the place for me to be. To lose someone so talented and young, someone whose raw enthusiasm for his birth-rite traditions that someone like me (from the nawth) could envy and love at the same time, is very sad. He was the real deal. He's moved beyond his pain and is probably playing tunes with Tommy and Fred right now. -Greg |
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14 May 05 - 10:26 PM (#1485094) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,John Maeder I just got home from the Carter Fold, and Tommy Sells of Big Country Bluegrass announced Greg's passing from the stage tonight (and Jimmy Martin's). I hadn't heard about Greg, and both Darryl Jayne (the Fold soundman) and I were shocked and saddened. Greg certainly had a distinctive style. No one sounded like him. I always looked forward to when the Bogtrotters would play at the Fold, in particular, to hear Greg. He was also a great singer. As I recall, Greg told me he fell off the ladder fixing a gutter at his girlfriend's house. What a loss. I'm going to Whitetop tomorrow and Greg will be on my mind and in my heart there. |
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16 May 05 - 07:28 AM (#1485935) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST HE MAY HAVE BEEN A GOOD MUSIC MAN BUT THE REAL GREG OH NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111 |
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19 May 05 - 03:27 PM (#1488393) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GLoux The New River Old Time (NROT) listserv posted a link to a 4 to 5 minute RealAudio obit on Greg Hooven. Very well done. -Greg |
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19 May 05 - 04:35 PM (#1488458) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: BanjoRay Very nice recording. I assume Mark Campbell was the same fiddler who always plays with Jimmy Costa at Clifftop? Anyone know if that "Tribute to Fred Cockerham CD" is still available? It sounds great. Ray |
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20 May 05 - 08:23 AM (#1489058) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GLoux Ray, et al, I'm not sure the "Tribute to Fred Cockerham" was ever released on CD. I've got it on cassette tape. Greg was only 20 years old when that recording was made...truly amazing... -Greg |
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20 May 05 - 08:28 AM (#1489061) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GLoux More info: "Tribute to Fred Cockerham" is by: Greg Hooven, Ray Chatfield, Barbara Poole, Verlin Clifton, Riley Baugus, and Marvin Cockram. It is on: Heritage Records Rt. 3. Box 280 Galax, VA 24333 Recorded by Bobby Patterson You can probably still get a copy from Bobby at that address. -Greg |
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25 May 05 - 07:21 PM (#1493257) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Jason Sypher One night when I was driving my VW up from New Orleans to Maine I heard in a campground about a festival at Galax Viginia. I headed into town and parked outside the gate. I walked through the rows hearing all kinds of fiddle music. It was nice, but it didn't really move me. I stopped and tried to jam with some folks and they gave me a few beers. So, with a heavy heart and a muddy head I walked towards my car at about 1 am. in the morning thinking I had had enough and would set out to Maine the next morning. Along the rickety walk home I heard a sound. It was a fiddle. I could hear it in the night swooping, darting, crying, laughing. I never heard anything like it before. Being a jazzbo all I could think of was John Coltrane, it was that intense. I weaved through the power lines and RVs and I found a little jam session with just a few candles. That's when I first saw Greg and the moment changed the course of my life. I just couldn't believe the sound and control that this guy had with his phrasing. The only thing I could think of at the time was some kind of bird, like a sparrow, like a master of flight. There was joy, overwhelming joy, and pain, a dark kind of existential pain that we have all felt from time to time. It was complete and it was frighteningly strong. The band did it's best to match his expression but there was only chasing this fiddler. He was so far advanced that noone could really match his bowing arm with their clunky, plucked instruments. No doubt that just trying made everyone a much better musician. His voice was big and warm and again, almost scary in it's expression of loss, or love or life. There is no doubt in my mind that Greg's demons got the best of him but I can understand why someone with that much intensity going on inside him might have trouble in this world. I don't appreciate the above post about "the real Greg, oh no". I tend to think the real Greg was what we heard coming out of him and the rest of it was a Greg that had alot of difficulty relating to people, his emotions and even his musical gifts. I would venture to say that he was the best fiddler of our generation right up there with the greats of the past. I'm sorry he couldn't control his energy to get himself right with the world but I don't fault him for it. Galax will never be the same for me. Bless you Greg, heaven just got one hell of a Gabriel. |
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23 Sep 07 - 04:29 AM (#2155494) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,a guest amen |
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01 Jan 08 - 08:19 PM (#2226460) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Kay Hooven Payne Greg is my double second cousin (his gramps -Ray Hooven and mine -Emory Hooven -were brothers; his grandma -Evvie and my grandma --Fredith-were sisters--2 brothers married 2 sisters). We graduated from Carroll County in 1987- we would both be 39 years old this year, and he is precious to me. We played together growing up...his Dad and my Dad were more like brothers than cousins. Greg was my friend. And I am very proud of him. I am reeling from the "oh no" comment I read above- so please overlook my rambling. If you'd have known Greg all along- maybe you wouldn't be so hard on him. If you'd have walked a while in his shoes, you would not judge him so harshly. Greg's broken heart played the fiddle, he poured himself into it-and became the best-but still he suffered...often he turned the wrong way in the face of his pain and he paid dearly for it-according to his own testimony. On Mother's Day, 2005- 2 days before Greg went to be with the Lord, my brother, Matt and I went to see Greg. That day, we were singing a long time at our parents house around the piano. I sang "The Great Physician"- a song Greg had played and sang to me at the hospital when was recovering from the fall off the ladder. The Lord was there that day, too. We were crying, reflecting on the powerful message and how Greg had leaned heavily on the promise of the nearness of the "great physician" in the hospital that day. We stopped singing and starting thinking and talking about Greg, missing him. We had Mom make a call to see if Greg was home and we took off to visit with him. We had a wonderful time with Greg, we talked a long time...it was Mother's Day--he was thinking of his Mom. We talked about the past...he pressed deep thoughts of forgiveness and mercy to those who had hurt him...he had stuggled a lot to understand them. He mentioned "doubting Thomas" and the hope he had for the Salvation of his family. He had suffered so much--not just the fall from the ladder. You must know nothing of it, but Greg suffered. And Jesus understood. Greg talked about the choices he had made and the consequences that he had to bear for them. He talked about his sin and the blood of the savior that bore them. Greg was REPENTANT. I've said we "talked", but mostly we listened. Greg wanted to talk about Jesus, and I'm so glad he did. God sent us there that day for our comfort. Greg was ready to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. We prayed with Greg, promised to see him soon, and left full of hope and joy at what we had seen and heard. Only a couple of days passed until the phone rang and Daddy said "Greg's gone." I'm sorry if Greg hurt you and you feel that way about him, but he is precious to me, his family and friends, and he is precious to Jesus... and so are you. God bless you. I'm glad there is one that understands us and loves us in spite of ourselves. I hope you meet this same Jesus that is so worthy of the best fiddler I've ever known- Greg Hooven. "The sweetest note in seraph's song, the sweetest carol ever sung, the sweetest word on mortal tongue--Jesus, Blessed JESUS!!!" |
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02 Jan 08 - 03:40 AM (#2226543) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: Melissa That was an awful thing to run across on a day when you're missing your cousin/friend, Kay. You did notice that the rude guest didn't truly say anything..and that they didn't even bother to make up a name for themselves, right? Sometimes people hide behind anonymity and when they do, it's usually because they're doing something they know in their hearts they should be ashamed of. There are good people here. You've just read postings from some who obviously thought well of Greg. Don't let that one hurtful post poison you. It was surely sent by someone who can't stretch their imagination far enough to realize that when we post, the people who read our postings are human too. I hope your new year goes well. Take care, Melissa |
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31 Jan 08 - 09:57 PM (#2250082) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Jim Beach It was Spring in 2000 and I was soon to leave Charlottesville for my next station. I dropped in on a Sunday for one of my last chances to dance and be with friends at Greenwood. It turns out that Greg and a lively group of dance musicians were playing and to my surprise, afterward, Greg called out to me. He remembered me from years before playing music and came over to chat. That made me feel so happy, and here I was soon to leave. Greg told me then and there that he sensed the presence of God. God was coming to him, as I remember it. He was excited. This I remember more than anything else he told me. I wish I could see him again and talk more with him about his relationship with God. I'm writing this from New Orleans where I've been most of the last seven years. God Bless you Greg Hooven. Jim Beach |
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03 Sep 09 - 09:48 AM (#2715361) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Palms - at Augusta I have fond memories of listening to Greg playin' fiddle in the icehouse at Augusta (Davis & ELkins) many years ago. At that time he was one hardest drivin' players with that rich baritone voice and it seemed that he was willing to play with anyone. A generous and talented soul as I recall and a real inspiration to the best of "old time music." |
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26 Dec 09 - 01:49 PM (#2796775) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST I have been meditating alot about greg hooven lately. his fiddling, his singing, listening to his recordings, trying to find out more about him, after some emails and phone calls, not too much info has been forthcoming ... i know he died alone, and last night, christmas night i had to take a long walk alone and the song 'the great physician' got stuck in my head, and feeling quite lonely i got to thinking about greg, a great fiddler indeed, a kind generous man to some, but an inconsiderate man to others, some saw a bad man, others saw a man who was in great pain, falling off a ladder and being paralyzed was just another step in that pain, but the pain of lying alone, rotting, not having a friend to wheel him around galax, that must be a pain i would wish on no one, i assume he had morphine at the home he was in to ease this pain, and perhaps as they say, he made his bed and it was time to sleep in it, i dont know, but what i got from this thread, was that the great physician was there to heal, quell the pain, make whole and take greg home, greg hooven, a wretch? perhaps, like me, this christmas, the gift i received is jesus, his love, his healing, and his forgiveness, jesus blessed jesus |
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06 Apr 10 - 12:47 PM (#2880785) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Friend I still miss Greg and his music. I wish more of it were avalable so that I could listen and remember the good times. I grew up with and went to school with Greg. He was always good to me, generous with what ever had, always ready to help out. He loved to teach, I wish that I hade shared more of his musical ability so that I could have learned more. He was respectful and kind to me. It is sad that so often the most gifted among us are the most troubled. It is funny that someone earlier had mentioned him playing and singing The Great Physician. I never told him but that was my favorite of all his songs. He made this song his own and you could hear him cry out to God at a deep spiritual level. I know that Pain and Chemicals may have brought out the worst at times, but I never witnessed it. I hope and belive that he is playing in Heaven and I will see him again someday. |
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11 Sep 10 - 07:44 AM (#2984470) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Dirk Jefferson I found out about Greg when I watched Mike Seeger's "Old Time Banjo Styles" video, back in 1998. This video contains two great segments of Greg Hooven playing OT and singing "Sweet Little Julie" in a band, plus an interview with him. - I instantly noted what a great player and singer he was, and what a cool sound his voice had. He sounded cool just talking, let alone singing. Watching him play made me go out and get a fiddle so I could learn to play "Sweet Little Julie" like him in cross-tuning. I definitely recommend this clear, well-recorded video for seeing a bit of Greg the person. http://www.amazon.com/DVD-Old-Time-Banjo-Styles-Taught-Seeger/dp/B0007LC59Q - A few years later, when I read about the ladder fall, I felt so sorry for him, and wished him well. Thanks for the music and the feel, Greg. You made a lot of people happy. Dirk |
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31 Oct 10 - 07:41 PM (#3020365) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Sheila Stone just found out about this as I have been out of the old time scene so long, and wanted to express something, not sure how to say it...his music was very deep and he spoke a kind of truth with it. I'm sorry he is gone and that he never really made it out of the pit. He tried, for sure, and I hate that he was in that much pain. He really tried to break free. |
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17 Jan 11 - 08:35 PM (#3076815) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Lisa K I was wondering does anybody miss Greg as much as me? |
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14 May 11 - 09:23 PM (#3154254) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST here is a song i wrote about greg hooven this listserv was very inspirational in getting info http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTHD8slt4SQ |
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23 Apr 12 - 09:54 PM (#3342370) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: greghoovenarchives Please check out the new website, http://greghooven.org as well as the new Facebook page called Greg Hooven Archives. In an effort to preserve Greg musical memory, I'm asking anyone who'd like to contribute material to either site to contact me. |
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28 Jun 12 - 08:19 PM (#3369317) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Sam and Sharon Dunaway/Morefield Mine We are trying to find an address for a family member of his that we could contact. He use to come to our mine and play the fiddle for us. Sam is a fiddler and they would play together. He was a great fiddler and blessed at the mine. We were saddened by the news of his leaving this world to go to the Great Physician. But we know we will see him again over there. Sharon and Sam Dunaway sdunaway3@juno.com or 804-561-0344 |
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03 Sep 14 - 05:54 PM (#3656705) Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hooven 10 May 2005 From: GUEST,Levi Funk Greg's fiddle playing changed my life, and the crazy part is I never even got to meet him. Oh the things I would do for and hour or two with him. |