Carl Rutherford

Carl Rutherford (April 25, 1929 – January 28, 2006) The thumb-and-finger banjo picking of his mother, coupled with his uncle's teaching, left Rutherford picking the guitar with the thumb providing an alternating bass rhythm while the forefinger played the melody. In time he mastered playing rhythm, bass and lead guitar, plus the dobro and banjo. In July 1950, Rutherford found employment in the logging camps around Redding, California. In addition to his daily work, Rutherford played where he could in the evenings and at weekends to supplement those earnings. In 1975, Rutherford moved from California to Warriormine, West Virginia, by then a well-seasoned musician.

Rutherford played at the Vandalia Gathering in Charleston, West Virginia in 1978, both solo and then with Hazel Dickens. By this time, due to the ravages of black lung from his mine working days, Rutherford was reliant on a nebulizer. Usage kept his breathing under control as Rutherford noted, "I was sounding like Louis Armstrong before that." In addition to Rutherford (vocals, guitar, dobro), Jim O'Keefe (bass, backing vocals) and Abe Reid (harmonica), Music Maker supplied the notable electric guitarist Cool John Ferguson. Music Maker issued the recording,

Rutherford's tracks "Long Black Limousine", "Last Handloader", and "Flyin' High, Walkin' Tall," all appeared on the 2005 compilation album, The Last & Lost Survivors. "West Virginia Breakdown" and "Precious Memories" (with Cootie Stark) were included on Treasure Box (2006); while "Blues, Sweet Blues" was on Blues Sweet Blues (2008) and "The Old Rugged Cross" on We Are The Music Makers! (2014).

On May 5, 2002, in Durham, North Carolina, a street festival featured a number of artists from the Music Maker stable, including Rutherford, Cool John Ferguson, John Dee Holeman, Lightnin' Wells, Little Pink Anderson, and Drink Small. Rutherford was also noted in the book Music Makers: Portraits and Songs from the Roots of America (2004). Rutherford also took the opportunity to perform at the Portsmouth Blues Festival in New Hampshire, the National Guitar Festival in North Carolina, and at Ferrum Blues Week in West Virginia.

Rutherford died from emphysema on January 28, 2006, at the age of 76. Upon his death, Music Maker arranged, as per Rutherford's wishes, for his body to be donated to the Duke University School of Medicine.