Cary Fridley

Cary Fridley is an Appalachian singer, bassist, and innovative educator. Her style is rooted in tradition, and has evolved to embrace all styles of traditional country, blues, folk, and jazz. She is a published songwriter, recording artist, and bandleader, singing and performing in western North Carolina for over 15 years.

She is currently a member of the Adjunct Fine Arts Faculty at AB-Tech in Asheville, NC. Early Musical InfluencesBorn and raised in the Virginia mountains, Cary grew up around a strong bluegrass tradition and a rich musical culture. She sang in the choir at church and played the banjo as a teenager, later switching to guitar. Her parents provided classical piano and flute lessons, which led to a college major in music, and later a Masters in Music Education from UNC-Greensboro.

In North Carolina, Cary found the Mount Airy old-time fiddling scene, and played in Sissy T and the Grownups old-time band for several years. In Mt.Airy, Cary met champion fiddler David Bass, and began subbing in his band The Freight Hoppers on guitar. In 1994 Cary officiallly joined this powerful new old-time band, and was a strong creative force during their rise to folk festival fame, singing and playing on 2 CD's for Rounder Records.

Her powerful old-time guitar rhythm and strong mountain voice made her a favorite in bluegrass and old-time venues throughout the US, Canada, and abroad. Cary left the band and moved to Asheville, NC in 1999 to pursue a solo project, learn to play the bass, and become part of the budding new music scene there.