Today we’d like to introduce you to June Blount.
June Blount is a professional fiddle duo, performing Celtic, Bluegrass, Old-Time fiddle styles and contemporary hits. The duo, featured at SMU TEDx in 2016, performs at private events and provides music programming for corporate events and schools. The duo was founded by Roberta Rast Smith and Joanna Ridgway. Roberta is a six-time national fiddle champion, professional touring musician (The Killdares) and fiddle teacher in Dallas. Joanna played classical violin since age 3 but was always interested in new styles. In 2012, Joanna “literally googled ‘fiddle lessons’ and found not only a great teacher but also a close friend.” Over the next few years, they realized each musician brought unique skills and capabilities to a potential fiddle duo.
The duo’s SMU TEDx talk, Fiddling: An Evolving Musical Language, presented at the Bomb Factory, is the foundation for their programming, which they have provided at DISD in 2017 and for a cohort of European Marshall Memorial Fellows this fall. The growth of the duo has felt really organic. Roberta and Joanna enjoy learning tunes, arranging new parts and harmonies to pair together for performances, and enjoy sharing tunes with others.
June Blount (pronounced “blunt”) is a combination of their maiden middle names. Each name is a legacy in their respective families. Their logo, the name framed by the outline of two fiddles, was designed by Roberta’s cousin. As fiddle tunes are passed down through generations and among friends, it made sense for their name to represent pieces of their respective family traditions.
We each have our own primary jobs, Roberta is a freelance musician and teaches private & group fiddle lessons in DFW. Joanna is the Southwest Region Corporate Market Director at Santander Bank. June Blount is a passion project, which is evident in the pair’s fun and lively performances.
Please tell us about your art.
The most gratifying compliment we have received is that we have a natural chemistry when we play. Our performances are a series of unique arrangements of contemporary and traditional tunes for two fiddles. We often rearrange, harmonize and alter tunes while we play, so no performance is exactly the same. Some of these tunes have been passed down for more than 100 years, and we love that we can be a part of carrying on that tradition and keeping these tunes and music alive.
You may not know what “fiddling” is. That’s ok! We are here to educate you. A fiddle and a violin are the same instrument, just played in different styles. Similar to speaking a language with different accents or slang. Fiddling is both fast and slow. There are rapid reels and lovely slow waltzes. There are many styles including Western Swing, Bluegrass, Texas Contest, Old-time Appalachian, Irish, Scottish, to name a few. We are often asked about “Devil Went Down to Georgia” or “Orange Blossom Special.” While we play them when requested, those tunes are not ones we would choose to play on our own. Also, there are some amazing tunes names you should know like “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” “Possum up a Gum Stump” or “Glass Case of Emotion” (yes, that is a movie reference).
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
The most important element in the music business (or any business) is to align yourself with people that you respect and that have similar work ethic and character. Be dedicated to your craft but don’t take yourself too seriously. Sometimes, mistakes are happy accidents. If they aren’t, laugh at your mistakes, learn from them, and move on knowing you are stronger from experience. We coined a term a couple of years ago during rehearsal…”shorry.” It’s a combination of two words you might say after you have made a mistake. Joanna probably said it first. And she isn’t afraid to own that.
Find people and groups to meet with to continue honing your craft. Ask people you look up to for help and advice. The duo excels because they studied with or learned from their heroes. Roberta and Joanna have been fortunate enough to study with some of them at Live Oak Fiddle Camp, an advanced fiddle experience organized by Roberta for professionals or aspiring professional fiddlers and guitar players. Some of our heroes who have taught at camp are Hanneke Cassel, Brittany Haas, Wes Westmoreland, and Casey Dreissen. We encourage everyone to seek these experiences out for yourself. The more genuine and authentic you are, the more responsive your heroes will be… they’ve been in your shoes and know you should never stop learning.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
June Blount is hired by individuals and organizations for formal to casual events. We provide programming or background music for corporate affairs, private parties, tailgates, dinners, weddings or your backyard hootenanny. We are also available for music arts education programming.
Our mission is to support the fiddling tradition continuing to the next generation. To that end, we have donated time and music in the community. June Blount has shared performances and fiddle programming with DISD, the Rise School and has donated performances to organizations such as Dallas Regional Chamber, Social Venture Partners, The Crystal Charity Ball and Texas Wall Street Women. June Blount supports education-related non-profits and as a woman-owned business, access for women in the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.juneblount.com
- Phone: 972-953-6367
- Email: juneblountfiddle@gmail.com
- Instagram: @juneblount
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dallasfiddleduo/
Image Credit:
Main photo was taken by Kim Leeson at SMU TEDx 2016
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