Bluegrass guitarist William Marburg (Clifton) originally from Riderwood/Ruxton area of Baltimore County. While attending college in Virginia formed the Dixie Mountain Boys, a group that also included Paul Clayton (originally from Massachusetts and went on to be well known in the Greenwich Village folk music scene of New York City during the ’50s and 60s).
Recordings by Bill Clifton & the Dixie Mountain Boys at Audio Services Co. 48 W. Biddle St. include “Burglar Man” and “You’re A Flower In The Wildwood” issued on acetate and later released on 78rpm Blue Ridge 403.
Clifton and his groups released a large catalog of albums from the ’50s through the ’00s on Starday, Nashville, Bear Family, Elf, Rounder and other labels including solo efforts, recordings with The Dixie Mountain Boys, and later releases in Europe and the U.S. with artists such as Hedy West, Red Rector, Jim Eanes, and others.
In addition to performing, he was noted for publishing an early bluegrass songbook as well as organizing one of the first major bluegrass festivals.
He authored the book “150 Old Time Folk and Gospel Songs” published in 1955 that became a standard reference for old-time Americana music. In addition he was a pioneer in bluegrass festivals being credited with organizing the very first such event in 1961 in Luray, Virginia.
Clifton was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame in 2008.
Album releases include:
1962(LP) Starday 159 The Bluegrass Sound Of Bill Clifton
1969(LP) Starday 213 Soldier, Sing Me A Song