Nova Baker

Nova Baker and Elsie Vanover: On my first visit to Stallard's Branch in 1973, I did not encounter Nova's sister Elsie, although Annadeene later told me about the excellent duets they sang together, as well as the wonderful songs that Nova would sing with her husband Travis on fiddle.  By the time that I finally managed to get that far south again, Travis had passed away but I was able to record some of Elsie.  She had recently had a throat culture and was apologetic about her voice, but the two sisters supplied me with a number of harmonized ballads, most of them learned from their dad.

Part of the booklet notes, written by Mark Wilson, to the Musical Traditions Records 4-CD set Meeting's a Pleasure (MTCD341-4)