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Ray Alden

1942 – 2009

Musician, banjoist

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About Ray Alden

Lived 1942 – 2009 (aged 67). Ray Alden was an American banjoist, musicologist, songwriter and musician.

Ray Alden (July 2, 1942 – September 19, 2009) was active in the Old Time Music community for nearly 40 years. He had taught at The Tennessee Banjo Institute, Augusta Folk Heritage Institute, Banjo Camp North, appeared in concerts, workshops, and on recordings. He was best known for his pioneering work recording traditional and second generation Appalachian banjo and fiddle players and styles, for which he received many awards, including a Grammy nomination. They include "Tommy And Fred - North Carolina Master Fiddle-Banjo Duets", "MountAiry USA", "The Young Fogies", and "The American Fogies". His publications include "Advanced Speaker Systems", "Music From Round Peak" and numerous articles and photographs.

Ray Alden was the founder of and frequent contributor to The Field Recorder's Collective.

Earlier in life Ray worked as a counselor at Trywoodie Camp in Hyde Park, New York. He also taught mathematics at Stuyvesant High School in New York City for 25 years.

Discography Solo

Old Time Friends (Marimac 9009, 1987)

With The Round Peak Band

The Round Peak Band (Marimac 9044, 1992)

With various artists

Ray's Dream: Ray Alden And Many Friends (Field Recorders' Collective FRC115, 2009) (banjo on 4 tracks)

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Banjoist, musicologist, songwriter, Musician
Nationality

People in Ray Alden's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ray Alden's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ray Alden?

Musician, banjoist (1942–2009)

When was Ray Alden born?

Ray Alden was born on 2 July 1942.

When did Ray Alden die?

Ray Alden died on 19 September 2009.

What was Ray Alden's occupation?

Ray Alden was a banjoist, musicologist, songwriter and musician.

What nationality was Ray Alden?

Ray Alden was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ray Alden

· Wikidata: Q7297128

· DBpedia: Ray Alden

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ray Alden. https://biography.guide/ray-alden/

MLA: "Ray Alden." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ray-alden/.

Chicago: "Ray Alden." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ray-alden/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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