Bill Clifton

Bill Clifton (born William August Marburg; April 5, 1931)

Early life Born and raised on a farm in Riderwood, Maryland, United States, From an early age, he discovered his love for country music through the radio and records. Clifton began singing and playing the guitar by age 12.

Early music career His education spans private schools from New England to Florida. Eventually, he enrolled at the University of Virginia in 1949 where his love for country music expanded to folk music through fellow students, Paul Clayton and Dave Sadler. While still in college, Clifton, Clayton, and Sadler formed the Dixie Mountain Boys together and began playing professionally at small radio stations in central Virginia. Because his family was opposed to his musical activities, he took the stage name "Bill Clifton". With the help of his friends and bandmates, Clifton produced his first recording in 1952 that included an array of old-time, bluegrass, and folk revival repertoire. Clifton met banjo player Johnny Clark through Sadler and soon formed a band that began playing on many local radio stations (including WWVA). In 1953, the band signed with Blue Ridge Records and began playing traditional bluegrass. During this time, Clifton met and played music with artists such as A.P. Carter, The Stanley Brothers, and Woody Guthrie, to name just a few. He had many connections throughout old-time, bluegrass, country, and folk music - which reflected his unique repertoire and sound. In 1967, he joined the Peace Corps, serving three years in the Philippines. Meanwhile, he recorded with a local New Zealand band, The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. In later years, he recorded both in Europe and in the United States. In the 1970s, he signed with County Records and formed the First Generation band, consisting of Clifton on guitar, Red Rector on mandolin and Don Stover on banjo. Clifton and his family returned to the United States in 1978 and settled down in Virginia.

Selected discography Mountain Folk Songs – Starday Records (1960) Carter Family Memorial Album – Starday Records (1961) Bluegrass Sound Of – Starday Records (1962) Soldier, Sing Me a Song – Starday Records (1963) Code of the Mountains – Starday Records (1964) Mountain Bluegrass Songs – Nashville Records (1964) Wanderin''' – Hillbilly Records (1964) Bluegrass in the American Tradition – Nashville Records (1965) Are You from Dixie – Bear Family Records (1971) Getting Folk – Bear Family Records (1972) Blue Ridge Mountain Blues – County Records (1973) Come by the Hills – County Records (1975) Bluegrass Session 1952 – Bear Family Records (1975) Going Back to Dixie – Bear Family Records (1975) Another Happy Day – Bear Family Records (1976) Are You from Dixie – Bear Family Records (1977) Clifton & Company – County Records (1977) Autoharp Centennial Celebration – Elf Records (1981) Beatle Crazy – Bear Family Records (1983) Where the Rainbow Finds Its End – Elf Records (1991) The Early Years 1957–1958 – Rounder Records (1992) River of Memories – Elf Records (1994) Around the World to Poor Valley – Bear Family Records (2001) Alive – Elf Records (2001) Playing Where the Grass Is Greener – Elf Records (2003) Mountain Laurel – Elf Records (2004)