MYRTLE GREEN

Born on June 28, 1935, Myrtle Green grew up one of nine children on a number of tenant farms. Although the work was hard, the family survived the Great Depression because they lived from the land. She tells of her school days, church memorial days, and fun-filled times of playing with friends. She was taught to play bass fiddle at age 8 by her father and recalls Don Gibson and his band setting up in WOHS’s only studio as her family’s band finished playing each Saturday. She also tells of playing at a political rally in 1945 with Doc Watson at Brackett’s Cedar Park.

Myrtle is the granddaughter of Smith Hammett, daughter of Hershel Gordon Irvin and sister of Smitty Irvin, who were all part of the bluegrass history of Cleveland County. The grandfather originally played the banjo in the traditional “clawhammer” style until he injured a finger and wore a bandage for a time. He used another finger to compensate for the injured one when he played. He later used the newly designated finger, the healed finger plus the other customary finger to create a three-fingered style of picking. Family friend, little Earl Scruggs sat on Grandfather Hammett’s knee when he was five years old to be taught the basics of banjo picking. It was several years later that Earl yelled to his family, “By cracky, I’ve got it!” The mastery of the Hammett playing style served to make him famous.

Her father played with the grandfather’s band for five years before the elder man died. The Irvin family then established their own band. Eventually the father and the sons left the family to go up north to play in clubs, supporting themselves as carpenters by day. Brother Smitty eventually went to the Grand Ole Opry until the Korean War draft called him away. After the war, he moved to Virginia and traveled with Jimmy Dean.

Myrtle still loves the music of her childhood and is concerned that the violence of today has disturbed the idyllic life that she knew as a child.