Honky-Tonk
Galax, Virginia
Grammy-winner and guitar-playing legend Redd Volkaert is renowned throughout the country music world and beyond for being one of the greatest Telecaster players in history. A true giant of country music, Volkaert once played in Merle Haggard’s backing band The Strangers in the spot previously manned by Roy Nichols.
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Redd picked up guitar at an early age, and moved to Alberta where he got his first serious start as a professional musician. Redd then relocated to Southern California in 1986, eventually running into a young Dale Watson who became a frequent collaborator. Redd then spent more than a decade in Nashville primarily as a live performer, playing with the likes of Ray Price and The Statler Brothers among others, and eventually behind Haggard. But he never quite liked it in Music City, where most of the musician work was centered around studio time as opposed to the clubs and honky tonks. So eventually Volkaert moved to Austin, Texas, where he lived for some 20 years, including performing at Austin’s famed Continental Club with the supergroup Heybale! every weekend.
From western-swing to jazz and rock, Redd is considered an icon on the Telecaster with numerous guitar models named after him. He emerged as a solo artist with the celebrated release of Telewacker (1998) and No Stranger to a Tele (2001), each showcasing a satisfyingly diverse mix of country and swing, hot instrumentals, and vocal numbers in the Bakersfield-honky-tonk tradition. In 2009 Redd received a Grammy for best country instrumental performance for “Cluster Pluck,” a collaboration with Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, and Steve Wariner. In addition to his seamless ability to conjure up a vast array of complex guitar styles, Redd is beloved for his trademark wit and sense of humor.
We are thrilled that Redd has recently relocated to Galax, Virginia, and simply cannot wait for him to kick off our Sunday at the Virginia Folklife Stage.