Mary and Gregg Roots Duo

Gregg Kimball and Mary Smith are musicians who take a special interest in the history and context of roots music. Their concerts always contain a wide variety of material culled from old recordings, forgotten ballads, and vintage favorites that take on a new sparkle when they are dusted off, polished up and performed with vim and vigor. Expect the unexpected - a waltz from Quebec may be followed by a mountain ballad, or a Scottish strathspey, or some delta blues....all accompanied by commentary that adds interest and puts the song or tune in its historical context.   Gregg and Mary can do a mix of styles and materials, or a themed program such as "Traditional Mountain Ballads and Tunes", "Celtic Appalachia" etc.

Gregg Kimball is both an accomplished musician and a historian with a passion for collecting old 78 records. This makes for a fascinating repertoire and a wealth of knowledge about the music he performs. Gregg plays several instruments, including six-string, twelve-string, and steel guitar, fiddle, accordion and banjo. He has performed throughout the region at festivals, clubs, and cultural events, most often with the blues trio Sheryl Warner and the Southside Homewreckers. Currently a historian for the Library of Virginia he frequently organizes educational programs to accompany musical performances, including Old Dominion Songsters, a tribute to Virginia's blues heritage and Blues in the Schools programs.

Mary Smith is a traditional singer from central Virginia. Her father, Ronald Smith, was an avid collector of traditional American folk music, old time Country and Western, Bluegrass and Gospel. It was a natural step for her to take up the guitar, and her interest in the ballads of the Appalachian Mountains led to her to explore the traditional songs of England, Ireland and Scotland. She is a popular performer at festivals, coffeehouses and concert venues in Virginia and Washington, DC, and has toured in the UK as well. She also gives educational presentations and workshops on traditional ballads. She released her CD “Of Rogues and Lovers” with the collaboration of the Irish traditional group KILLULTAGH, from Ulster,in 2003. Mary is an active member of the folk community in Richmond, Virginia, and is co-founder of Richmond Folk Music, a monthly concert series dedicated to traditional folk music.

Gregg and Mary are available for festivals, concerts and educational presentation featuring roots music.  For booking, contact Mary or Gregg .

 Sound Clips 

Black Jack Davey The Scottish ballad "The Gypsy Laddie" has undergone many incarnations - The Raggle Taggle Gypsies, Seven Yellow Gypsies, The Whistling Gypsy and, in Appalachia - Black Jack Davey.  This version combines the tune and picking of the Carter Family with the words of Ozark source singer Almeda Riddle.  The story has variations, but centers around a high born lady being seduced and enticed into joining a roving band of gypsies.

Lakes of Ponchartrain Set to an Irish melody (the same used in "Lily of the West"), Lakes of Ponchartrain is a touching tale of a soldier, possibly during the American Civil War, lost and broke in Louisiana, who is taken in and treated kindly by a local girl.   While the ending is bittersweet, the theme of hospitality and willingness to extend a helping hand to a stranger make this an uplifting and moving ballad.  

Georgia Rag A classic blues song recorded by Blind Willie McTell, played with a complex, ragtime style of fingerpicking 

Jaybird A beloved old time fiddle tune that skillfully mimics the squawking and strutting of its namesake!