Congratulations to Blue Ridge Dulcimer Players Club member Phyllis Gaskins, recipient of the 2025 Fries Musical Heritage Award
This award, sponsored by Legends of Grayson, is presented to a person who has excelled in preserving, promoting or performing the unique traditional music of Fries and the surrounding communities of Grayson and Carroll counties. Master musician, author and educator, Phyllis Gaskins is known as the foremost expert on Galax-style mountain dulcimer playing.
The 58th Annual Fried Fiddler’s Convention publication (above) included this award description of the Legends of Grayson Fries Musical Heritage Award recipient, Phyllis Gaskins:
The Legends of Grayson County, on Instagram, wrote “The Galax-style is one of the oldest mountain dulcimers, dating back to the mid-1800s. Phyllis played with some of the greats of the genre, including the Raymond Melton and Russell families. She and her fiddle-playing husband Jim have learned from and shared their knowledge with many prominent Southwest Virginia musicians, such as Luther Davis, the Kimble family and Fries’ own Evelyn Farmer.”
She’s recorded several albums and written popular books on how to play and build the Galax dulcimer, keeping the tradition alive. Phyllis also has served as Master Musician for the Virginia Folklife Program and performs with The Highlander String Band. And, of course, she has won countless prizes in dulcimer competitions.
Phyllis was the second recipient of this award designed to recognize “a person who has excelled in preserving, promoting or performing the unique traditional music of Fries and the surrounding communities of Grayson and Carroll Counties.
Read more here: https://www.graysoncountyva.com/legends/
Read more about the Galax dulcimer here: https://blueridgemountaindulcimerplayers.com/2018/11/04/galax-dulcimer/
Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Players Club 