One of Grayson County’s favorite sons will soon be inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame.
The always humble Jimmy Mattingly, who has not so much played fiddle, but shredded the fiddle, in country music legend Garth Brooks’ band for 23 years, will be bestowed the highest honor a fiddle player can receive next month.
Mattingly, who grew up in Eveleigh, has not only performed with Brooks for over two decades, but he has played fiddle in concert and/or in the recording studio for iconic stars Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, among many other legendary county music performers.
But as popular and in-demand as Mattingly has become in country music, his journey to stardom began by simply wanting to improve his skills on a daily basis.
“When I was first starting out, I only thought of playing better each day and working on perfecting what I already knew. I wasn’t sure what direction it would take me, but I was excited about the ride,” Mattingly told K105.
Leitchfield Mayor Harold Miller, who has counted Mattingly among his close friends for over four decades, remembers the fiddle ace being a major influence on other Grayson County musicians from an early age.
“I distinctly remember when Jimmy Mattingly came to town. We were kids who had started in the orchestra program and had dabbled with fiddle very little,” Miller said. “Up until that time we had experimented with fiddle, but the extent of our fiddling came from handwritten Irish jigs (of which I still have). But Jimmy came to town packing fiddle music with him and we were all smitten with the music he was making. I truly think if Jimmy hadn’t moved here, and represented the music the way he did, you wouldn’t see the plethora of fiddle players that you see in the community today.”
While Mattingly influenced Miller and other young musicians in Grayson County decades ago, the electrifying fiddle player gives a nod of appreciation to his family and friends for allowing his talent to flourish.
“There are so many people that have helped me along the way. The support of my mom, Carol, my dad, Edward, and my wife, Ginger, and entire family have been a huge blessing and support in my life,” Mattingly stated. “Charlie Butler, who drove me to many competitions as a young teenager; it wouldn’t have been possible without him. (And) Danny Roberts and so many other wonderful friends have been a blessing and inspiration to me.”
As important as those people were in the growth of Mattingly as a fiddle player, it was a memorable Grayson County music teacher who Mattingly credits with pushing him to become the astonishing musician he is today.
“Jesse Haycraft, my teacher (and creator of the orchestra program in Grayson Co.), pushed me to places musically I would have never gone without his confidence in me. He was a genius,” Mattingly exclaimed.
The “Grayson County Cluster”
Grayson County, with a population hovering around 27,000 residents, has surely produced more outstanding fiddle players per capita — or otherwise — than any other region of the country. The cluster of fiddle players who call Grayson County home, or who originated in the county, is mind-boggling.
“There had been a number of good fiddle players in Grayson County,” Miller said, “like Lazy Jim Day from Short Creek, Hoot Hester (who is also being inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame), Herman Alvey, and Bud Meredith, but with the creation of the orchestra program, and the good luck of Jimmy’s family moving to town, there was an explosion of talent sitting, waiting for the stars to align, and align they did.
“(In fact), legend has it that (singer and songwriter) Steve Wariner’s dad knew someone who needed a fiddle player,” Miller added, “and he told them to go look in Grayson County because there’s one on every corner.”
The brightest among the innumerable Grayson County fiddling stars, though, is Mattingly, affectionately known throughout the country music industry as “The Rookie.”
“Few fiddle players hold a candle to ‘The Rookie,’ Jimmy Mattingly,” Wide Open Country, a country music media platform, wrote in 2021. “Mattingly has been with (Garth) Brooks for a short 21 years … lending an enormous amount of talent and energy to any show of which he is a part.”
Drops of wisdom for young musicians
“I love to see young people playing a musical instrument,” Mattingly said, as he feels the love of playing, along with staying humble, is the key that unlocks the door to achievement.
“Don’t do anything that you don’t love. If you love it, you won’t want to put it down and you’ll excel in whatever it is,” he said. “Practice a lot, and as you progress and get really good, still listen to your mentors. There’s always somebody better than you, so stay humble … work hard and have fun!”
Practicing what he preaches, being humble, appreciative and an encourager of others are Mattingly’s fortes; admirable attributes among common men, but even more remarkable in an icon. He deflects adoration, focusing instead on those who allowed him to elevate his talent to hall of fame heights.
“I am so honored to be going into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame and I feel like I’m bringing a lot of people with me that, without them, I wouldn’t be where I am in my life,” Mattingly stated. “They’ve all been a huge blessing to me … Most of all, I owe all thanks to God for blessing me with so many amazing friends in my life.”
Mattingly will be inducted in the National Fiddler Hall of Fame on September 16 at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
(Headline photo: Jimmy Mattingly, courtesy of the National Fiddler Hall of Fame)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
