Curly Seckler was an American bluegrass tenor vocalist, guitarist, banjoist and mandolinist. Born December 25, 1919, a few miles north-east of China Grove, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA. Died December 27, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
In 1935, Seckler (tenor banjo), brothers Marvin (known as “Slim,” guitar), George (working with his given name, fiddle) and Duard (Lucky, guitar), along with friend Murray Belk (“Shy Mike,” jug and washboard), heavily influenced by the singing cowboys of the day, formed the Yodeling Rangers (later changed to the Trail Riders).
In April 1939, Seckler and his brothers began performing at radio station WSTP in Salisbury, North Carolina.
In early July 1939, Seckler joined Charlie Monroe and the Kentucky Pardners band at WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia. They moved to WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky, in early November.
In 1941, Seckler left Monroe's outfit and teamed with fellow Kentucky Pardner Tommy Scott. The next year he joined Cas Walker's band and in 1947 worked with Mac Wiseman's band, the Country Boys.
In 1948 Seckler went to Georgia and worked with Jim and Jesse McReynolds.
In late March 1949, Seckler joined Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys in Bristol, Virginia. Within a week they moved to work on Radio WROL in Knoxville, Tennessee. In September they began appearing as stars of the Kentucky Mountain Barn Dance in Lexington, Kentucky.
In 1958, Seckler left Flatt & Scruggs a few weeks after participating in a recording session with Foggy Mountain Boys on April 26. The session produced four Gospel songs.
In May 1959, Seckler re-joined Flatt & Scruggs.
In 1969, Seckler was working as a truck driver (his income was almost four times as much as that earned working seven days a week with Flatt & Scruggs), but was also emceeing and performing at bluegrass festivals as a guest with various groups including Lester Flatt & the Nashville Grass, Jimmy Martin, the Shenandoah Cut-Ups, and fiddler Joe Greene.
In 1979, after Lester Flatt passed away, Seckler took over the Nashville Grass for 15 years.
In 1987, Seckler made Willis Spears, whose singing and guitar playing were remarkably similar to Lester Flatt’s, his partner.
Throughout his career, Seckler worked with Danny Bailey and the Happy Valley Boys, the Sauceman Brothers, Jim and Jesse McReyonlds, Mac Wiseman and the Country Boys, The Stanley Brothers, The McCormick Brothers, The Nashville Grass, Doyle Lawson, David Grisman, Ramblin’ Tommy Scott and many others.
Seckler was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association’s International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2004; the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010; and the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2011.