Vassar Clements(1928-2005)
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Virtuoso fiddler Vassar Clements was a true musician's musician. Vassar
was born on April 25, 1928 in Kinard, Florida and grew up in Kissimmee,
Florida. Clements taught himself how to play the fiddle at age seven.
He started playing for bluegrass legend Bill Monroe when he was only
fourteen and still in school. Vassar became a regular Bluegrass Boy
with Monroe in 1949 and was with him through 1956. From 1957 to 1961
Clements performed with bluegrass stalwarts Jim and Jesse McReynolds.
In 1962 he took leave from music to pursue other interests, but
returned to music full time when he decided to make Nashville,
Tennessee his home in January, 1967. Vassar participated in recording
sessions and played tenor banjo in Nashville's "Dixieland Landing" Club
until October, 1969. Clements started touring with Faron Young and did
occasional solo dates when time permitted. In February, 1971 he joined
John Hartford and his Dobrolic Plectral Society. One of the most
respected and sought after session musicians in Nashville, Vassar
performed and/or recorded with a huge array of artists who include
Jerry Garcia, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Johnny Cash, David Grisman,
Dickey Betts, Paul McCartney, Linda Ronstadt, The Del McCoury Band,
Gordon Lightfoot, Jimmy Buffett, The Grateful Dead, J.J. Cale, The
Byrds, Hank Williams, Earl Scruggs, and The Allman Brothers. He
recorded twenty-seven solo albums and played on over 200 albums
throughout his long and impressive career. Vassar appeared as himself
in Robert Altman's acclaimed movie "Nashville." Besides the fiddle,
other instruments Clements played were the viola, cello, bass, guitar,
banjo, and mandolin. Moreover, his musical work encompassed such genres
as blues, country, swing, jazz, bluegrass, and even waltzes. Vassar was
married twice and had five children. Clements died at age 77 from lung
cancer on August 16, 2005 in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.