Charlie Poole
1892–1931 (age 39)
Musician
Biography
Charlie Poole (1892–1931) raised his banjo on the hills of North Carolina and went on to lead the North Carolina Ramblers, crafting a distinctive blend of old-time string-band music that charmed audiences across the nation. His lively picking and distinctive voice breathed life into early country recordings, turning songs like “White House Blues” into timeless standards.
Though his own life was brief, his influence felt in every clawhammer flourish and crooning refrain, inspiring countless musicians who followed. Buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, he remains a beloved figure in the story of American roots music.