Raised in the southwestern mill town of Fries, Virginia by a family of musicians, Bond learned to play the fiddle at a young age. He plays what’s known as old-time fiddle, a kind of folk music that’s distinct to Appalachia and often cited as a forerunner to bluegrass and country rock. “I honestly can’t remember the first time I heard these tunes or exactly how I learned them,” Bond said. “They were just always there. Down here playing this music comes as naturally as breathing. I just feel so blessed I get to carry it on.”
Although he spends much of his time performing across the state and traveling to festivals around the world, Bond’s main priority lies with his own community. There, he fronts live performances and teaches strings to high schoolers in Grayson County. In these ways, he helps keep the old-time tradition alive.
The NEA National Heritage Fellowships—the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts—recognize the recipients’ artistic excellence and support their continuing contributions to our nation’s traditional arts heritage. Bond was nominated for the award by our Virginia Folklife Program.
We’ve been amplifying Virginia’s stories for more than forty-three years. It’s our hope that the more Virginians get to know one another, the better we’ll all understand each other.
