Mount Airy in Surry County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Fred Cockerham

November 3, 1905-July 8, 1980

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, October 23, 2021

1. Fred Cockerham Marker

Inscription. Fred Cockerham was born in the Beulah Community of Surry County and was a legendary Banjo player, fiddler player, and singer. He began playing banjo around the age of seven. He was known for his double noting old-time banjo playing technique which was widely used in the round peak area. He often played banjo with Tommy Jarrell, and also played the fiddle with Early Bluegrass Flavor. His banjo is now part of the Smithsonian Institution's collection in Washington, D.C.

Erected 2018.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment.

Location. 36° 30.091′ N, 80° 36.523′ W. Marker is in Mount Airy, North Carolina, in Surry County. It is on West Oak Street west of West Main Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Airy NC 27030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ralph Epperson (here, next to this marker); Tommy Jarrell (here, next to this marker); The Whittling Wall (here, next to this marker); Donna Fargo (here, next to this marker); The Whittler (a few steps from this marker); Floyd Eugene "Flip" Rees

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(a few steps from this marker); The Mill Worker (a few steps from this marker); Leonidas Harold "L.H." Jones (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Airy.

Also see . . . Historic Artist Fred Cockerham Old-time banjo player and fiddler Surry County, NC. Fred Cockerham was one of the most highly regarded musicians to come out of the Round Peak musical tradition for which the Mount Airy region is so well known. He was born in 1905 in Round Peak, in Surry County. As a child, Cockerham would sneak his older brother Pate’s fiddle, and he secretly taught himself how to play. When the secret was revealed, his family encouraged his music, and would play along with him. There were also local musicians who helped Fred fine-tune his music abilities, like Mal Smith and his uncle Troy Cockerham. His main inspiration came from the banjo playing of local legend Charlie Lowe, and the fiddling of Arthur Smith, which took Southern string band music by storm in the years just before World War II. (Submitted on November 6, 2021, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, October 23, 2021

2. Fred Cockerham Marker

Wide view of Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham (center) & Ralph Epperson, and markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, December 30, 2024

3. Wide view of Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham (center) & Ralph Epperson, and markers

Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2021, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 517 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 6, 2021, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on January 1, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.