Dillard Chandler (1907 - 1992)

Born 16 Apr 1907 in Revere, Madison, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Laverta (Norton) Chandler — married 30 Mar 1937 in Madison, North Carolina, United States

Died 24 Jan 1992 at age 84 in Spruce Pine, Mitchell, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Dillard Chandler is Notable.

Dillard was an Appalachian Old Time Musician

Dillard Chandler was an American Appalachian Folk singer from Madison County, North Carolina.

Dillard was born in 1907. Son of Bayless Chandler and Louisa Bullman. He grew up listening to folk songs and old world ballads in the mountains of North Carolina. He left school at an early age to work in the logging/timber industry.

His a cappella performances on compilation albums were recorded by folklorist and musicologist John Cohen. Cohen researched and recorded Appalachian folklore singers as a way to not only document the singing style but to debunk that the songs were mostly British folklore as opposed to Appalachian folklore songs. Chandler knew these songs and added his own take on them including vocal styling, unique phrasing and wording that was deep-seated in Appalachian story telling. His voice and phrasing helped define Appalachian Folklore style of singing.

The first singing that I ever heard was old-timey meeting songs, and these old songs like I sing, and these frolics where they get together and pick and sing and drink a little. Maybe a "lassie makin'," or maybe a corn shuckin', maybe a gallon hid in the corn pile. They'd go ahead an' shuck into that—pick the banjo, have a dance. The only kind of music I know anything about is old ballads—just learning songs from somebody else that I've heard sing 'em. - Dillard Chandler

In his later life, Chandler was known more for being mysterious than for his singing. He never stayed in one place too long and he did not play the popular music festival circuits. He preferred to stay close to his beloved North Carolina mountains and the town of Asheville.

He passed away in 1992.

He was laid to rest in Green Bullman Cemetery in Lumptown, North Carolina

Sources

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML9H-6V9 : accessed 12 August 2022), Dilford Chandler in household of Bailes Chandler, Big Laurel, Madison, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 75, sheet 6B, family 113, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1107; FHL microfilm 1,375,120.
• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZKR-281 : 2 February 2021), Dillard Chandler in entry for Baylis Chandler, 1920.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X331-7RL : accessed 12 August 2022), Dillard Chandler in household of Balas Chandler, Laurel, Madison, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1, sheet 2A, line 49, family 26, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1704; FHL microfilm 2,341,438.
• "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28Y-WZLX : 22 July 2021), Dillard Chandler and Virtie Norton, 31 Mar 1937; citing Marshall, Madison, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 2,436,000.
• "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FG6J-VHF : 10 February 2018), Dillard Chandler, 24 Jan 1992; citing Spruce Pine, Mitchell, N.C., v 03A cn 3386, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,991,941.
• "North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8N-7P26 : 13 November 2019), Dillard Chandler, 24 Jan 1992; citing Death, North Carolina State Archives, Division of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 102393816.
• "North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HH4R-HN3Z : 21 January 2020), Dillard Chandler, .
• "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FG6J-VHF : 10 February 2018), Dillard Chandler, 24 Jan 1992; citing Spruce Pine, Mitchell, N.C., v 03A cn 3386, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,991,941.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75866140/dillard-chandler: accessed 12 August 2022), memorial page for Dillard Chandler (16 Apr 1907–24 Jan 1992), Find a Grave Memorial ID 75866140, citing Green Bullman Cemetery, Lumptown, Madison County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Patricia Branson (contributor 47446740).

See Also:

• Wikipedia: Dillard Chandler
• Wikidata: Item Q5276865, en:Wikipedia ,
• Artist on Spotify
• video
  
  - Dillard Chandler - "The Soldier Traveling from the North"
• Dillard Chandler, Biography by Blue Ridge National Heritage
• Dark Holler: Old Love Songs and Ballads CD Liner Notes
• Sharp, Cecil (1917). English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. New York and London: Putnam.