Published by the Erwin Record

Article by staff writer: Lesley Hughes

He has played in front of thousands of bluegrass fans, but what scares him most is playing his fiddle in front of 10-year-olds.

That's because they're his friends.

Adam Larkey, also 10, became a fiddle-playing phenomenon after he picked up a fiddle at the age of 6. Since then, he has started his own band, performed in front of big namers - like Earl Scruggs, The Osborne brothers, and Rhonda Vincent and the Rage - but he's the first to admit that playing in front of his classmates is far more nerve-racking.

"Sometimes if we're playing at a show, I get a little nervous," Adam said of his band, Adam Larkey and Mountain Time. "When we play at a competition, I get a little more nervous. But when I play in front of my friends, I get really nervous.

"The first time I played at school was Big Orange Day. I played "Rocky Top" and after that, the kids in my class were piling up on me saying, "Can I have your autograph?'" Perfecting his signature has taken some practice, but it was necessary, especially since fans, young and old, have asked for autographs.

Adam's parents, Eric and Tammy Larkey of Erwin, said girls especially show and interest in the slender, well-dressed, blonde-haired star of his own band.

"Even tennage girls have asked for his autograph," Tammy said as Adam shyly motioned for her to stop talking about his female fans. "He played for Miss Tennessee, Miss Johnson City and Miss Jonesborough, and one of them said to him that there wasn't anything wrong with their age difference."

The whole unexpected journey started in 2003 when a friend asked Eric to repair a fiddle. Every night Adam would return from school, pick up the fiddle and play with it. Eric played bluegrass music and seeing Adam's interest, asked if he would like to learn. The rest is history.

Nearly half of Adam's life has been filled with playing the fiddle, but he and his parents are placing the utmost importance in making sure Adam has a normal childhood and not be constantly occupied with practicing and performing with the band.

"He is palying baseball right now," Tammy said. "We are trying to let him do the normal things that kids do. He practices his fiddle about 30 minutes per day and practices with the band about once a week."

The band is made up of five members, including Eric playing guitar, Adam on the fiddle, Jason Duncan on bass, Josh Hamm on banjo and Joe Honeycutt on mandolin.

The Larkeys moved to Unicoi County last year, but are natives of Gray, in Washington County. They all are grateful to Unicoi County for making them feel so welcome and for having several places available for Adam and other musicians to come together to pick and grin. "There is the Red Barn out in Sciota," Tammy said, "Dave Thompson's place has several people come and play. The Spivey Mountain Boys hold an annual festival. There are just numerous places for people who love bluegrass music to gather and play and listen to each other."

But, Adam interjects, "My goal is to play at the Grand Ole Opry."

"I just want to keep on playing," he said, "and maybe the right person will see me and ask me to play there."

Performing in front of famous musicians is something the fourth-grader has already experienced. During a show in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Adam met his fiddle-playing idol-Hunter Berry, who is the fiddle player for Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. Berry, is also a Northeast Tennessee native, and ironically his house in Elizabethton used to be on Eric Larkey's UPS delivery route when Berry was a boy.

At only 9 years old, Adam performed in front of thousands of people at the Myrtle Beach event. "He got up there and played like it was nothing," Tammy said in describing her son's confidence and ease on stage.

"That place went wild," Adam recalled. "I like it when they do that. That gets me all riled up."

When fans start dancing and cheering is Adam's favorite playing moments.

"My favorite song is "Orange Blossom Special," but my favorite to play at a show is "Rag Time Annie." People really like to dance. I really like to bring that song out, and it is a good dancing tune," he said.

Four years ago, as Adam learned to play the fiddle, he was also taught by his teacher, Scott Gould, how to read music. Using his knowledge, he recently composed his first instrumental song, titled "Unicoi County."

With that song, Adam won the statewide PTA Reflections Contest for grades 2-4 with the soley fiddle instrumental piece.

Music runs in the family's blood. Tammy is learning to play an instrument herself, although she is quick to say that she will not be playing in public. Younger sister Sarah Grace, 6, has started showing an interest in the mandolin and, if she chooses, could soon follow her big brother's footsteps. Getting the whole family involved in Adam's future is important to Tammy and Eric, who together manage his bookings and music schedule.

Already this spring and summer, Adam Larkey and Mountain Time are booked to take the stage at the Kiwanis Campfire at Rock Creek Recreational Park, Covered Bridge Days, Children's Miracle Network fund-raiser at Food Lion, the Southeastern Autorama and the Carter Family Fold.

The group performed as the main performers at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, VA, April 21. Adam had played there before, but only for a couple of songs during intermission between headliners.

These days, it seems, Adam Larkey and Mountain Time have the chance to take the same stage where many other legendary bluegrass and country artists, like Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash have stood before.

Quite impressive for a 10-year-old boy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local fiddle prodigy headed to the top

    If you haven’t heard the ten-year-old fiddle playing prodigy from Rock Creek Elementary, believe me, he is unbelievable. Adam Larkey has been playing the fiddle for just under four years now, but it doesn’t seem like any song is out of his playing ability.

    For my sake, I asked what the difference between a violin and a fiddle was. Adam promptly told me that “A violin has strings. A fiddle has ‘strangs’.” His mother, Tammy Larkey, added “It is the same instrument; it’s just all in how you play it.”

    Adam first picked up a fiddle when his dad brought one home to repair. “Everyday I would pick it up and play around with it. Until dad asked if I wanted to take lessons,” Adam said.

    Adam started taking lessons at the Kingsport School of Music under Scott Gould Sr. It was obvious that Adam was a prodigy because he would discover things about his instrument without having been taught. His Mother said, “One day he discovered vibrato just by hearing it in a song.” I asked Adam if he would play me something that had a lot of vibrato technique, so I could see how he did it. To quote Charlie Daniels, Adam “rosined up his bow” and played “The Tennessee Waltz” with ease.

    Adam has recently developed playing by ear. His dad, Eric Larkey, said “I’ll just play a song from a CD or my computer, and Adam will figure out a break in it and just start playing.” While I was sitting there, a lady asked Adam if he could play the “Wedding March”. Adam sat for a few moments, and started to play the song perfectly. I asked him if he just heard music in his head and was able to play it on his fiddle, and he said that he could with some musical pieces.

    Even more amazingly, Adam can play classical music. While I was sitting there, he played a Mozart piece. It was amazing how he could go from tearing it up with bluegrass, to playing classical music.

    As far as practice goes, “I play at least 30 minutes a day, except on days when I play shows,” Adam said. He starts by picking a key, and playing all the songs he knows in the key. His dad told me that Adam has over 150 songs memorized. “I usually don’t need sheet music, but sometimes I do get songs mixed up,” said Adam. Apparently a lot of old bluegrass songs are very similar, but with over 150 songs floating around in his head, he is doing just fine. His dad also added that Adam never went through “a really screechy stage.” Mr. Larkey continued with, “He just took right off.”

    Adam also wanted to thank everybody in Unicoi County for being so supportive. Unicoi County has given Adam a lot of opportunities to play in public. To show his thanks, Adam wrote a song called “Unicoi County.” He was more than happy to play it for me, and honestly, it was just as good if not better than famous fiddle songs.

    Out of curiosity, I asked what the fastest thing he could play was. Without hesitation he and his dad started on “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” While his fiddle playing was perfect, I really enjoyed his singing. Not only does he play the fiddle, but he sings. “I can also play some bass and a little mandolin.”

How far does Adam want to go? “I want to play at the Grand Ole Opry with Hunter Berry,” Adam told me immediately after I asked the question. Adam is well on his way. He has won first place in many contests, and a 2nd place in the Galax, Virginia Fiddlers Convention. It is one of the oldest and most respected conventions in the world, and Adam took 2nd place out of 40 contestants. To beat it all, he had to compete against guys there who were fifteen years old.

    Adam, it seems, is destined for fame. The first day he was born he was on TV. A camera crew filmed him less than 24 hours after he was born as part of a snow baby special the news station was doing. He also made a brief appearance on CMT. He was filmed playing on the street during the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival. Adam has also played in front of a huge crowd at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. “There were probably six or seven hundred people there,” Mrs. Larkey said.

    For a chance to see Adam play, he will be the headline at the Carter Fold on April 21.