Uncle Dave Dougherty & The Trough Sloppers

Uncle Dave

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Uncle Dave Dougherty

Today as an entertainer, Uncle Dave Dougherty employs a variety of music genres to engage audiences and show them a great time. Using a combination of storytelling, humor and music, Uncle Dave brings back to life the feeling of the ‘good old days’ when life was simpler and slower-paced. While his performances are lively and bring people to their feet, his songs relate real life emotions and situations as well. Uncle Dave is able to connect with his audiences in a way that encourages smiles, laughter, and moves them to tears.

Uncle Dave goes to great pains to explain that he does not play 'bluegrass' music.’ "I play what used to be called 'hillbilly music' or 'old time music'," says Dougherty. "I'm somewhere between Webb Pierce and The Fruit Jar Drinkers." His repertoire ranges from Broadway tunes of the 1850s and Library of Congress archival material to country music classics.

"I do a song called 'Carve Dat Possum' but I also do 'Crazy Arms.' I try to stick with tunes I have a feeling for and can put over to an audience." Dougherty has won rave reviews for his banjo technique, which entails playing the same notes a fiddle would play on a tune instead of what he calls the "monotonous banjo clawhammer, bum-tiddy-bum-tiddy rhythm." Dave says, "I've quit playing the banjo per se and instead play music on the banjo. Big difference." Dave relates, "I don't care if people don't think I'm a great singer or picker as long as they go home and say, 'That Uncle Dave has the best show I've ever seen.'"

At a recent musical theatre performance, Uncle Dave and his band performed the “Uncle Dave’s Radio Hour.” Featuring Bill Knowlton as the “solemn old judge,” the Radio Hour crossed over to musical theatre as the cast members included actors, musicians, cloggers and well-known personalities. Uncle Dave and his band perform variety shows and musical theatre as well as concerts, all designed to engage audiences in a unique way.

"If you love great traditional music in the old-time way, you couldn't find anything more refreshing than Uncle Dave Dougherty and the Trough Sloppers. Uncle Dave has played with many old-time greats including The Stonemans. As more and more young folks are getting into this wonderful unique style of music, Uncle Dave, to me, is a big reason why. He has (and continues) to inspire many people who have been heavy metal fans, but now who are hooked to the great old time music of Uncle Dave and the Trough Sloppers."
Alex Leach
SPBGMA Bluegrass DJ of the year

Uncle Dave Dougherty, a longtime legend in Kentucky country music circles, after stints with Bill Monroe and the Stonemans, returns to his musical roots in old-time banjo, singing and entertaining. Not since the 1970's when Asa Martin and the Cumberland Rangers were still playing live over radio station WIRV in Irvine, KY, has there been a group so authentically at home with both the popular and traditional music of the early 20th century. This is music for both dancing and listening. Here are Kentucky fiddle tunes played by Kentuckians who have grown up with them as well as old songs of rural America penned by Louisville native, river boat pilot and Courier-Journal reporter, William Shakespeare Hays, whose songs Uncle Dave knows better than anyone. The Trough Sloppers serve up a five-gallon bucketful of choice trimmings and table scraps that is sure to top you out and make you asqueal for more.
John Harrod

The Trough Sloppers have proven that Kentucky string music is alive and doing very well, thank you. These talented musicians have produced a delightful combination of fine vocals and foot-tapping instrumentals. The music, which has the drive of early radio sting bands, ranges over three centuries; there are compositions by William Shakespeare Hays, Kentucky's premier songwriter of the 19th century, tunes from the 20th century and original compositions from the 21st.
George Gibson

THE BAND

Management:
Turniptown Productions
Tel: 770 403-9798
Canton, GA