CLINE FAMILY ASSOCIATION

Clines & Early Bluegrass Music

On June 6, 2015, Scotty Cline, the son of Ezra Cline and nephew to Curley Ray, Charlie and Ireland Cline, sent me an email with some changes and great additions to the website.  Below is Scotty's email on the Clines and Bluegrass Music:

I [Scotty Cline] am the son of Ezra Cline and Curley Ray and Charlie Cline were my Uncles. I was very involved in their induction to the Bluegrass Music hall of Fame. I noticed a glaring mistake on your listing of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers [JPC - which I have corrected below]. My father, Ezra Cline, never played with the Osborne Brothers, however, Bobby Osborne played with the Fiddlers in 1949 at Bluefield, WVa. As a matter of fact, Bob married my sister, Patsy, and they were married about 20 yrs before they divorced. Bob now has 3 of his sons playing with him in the Rocky Top Express. Wynn, and Robbie from his marriage to my sister, and Bobby Osborne, Jr from his 2nd marriage.

Curley and my Dad, along with my uncle, Ireland Cline, were 3 of the four original members of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. Ireland, as stated, was killed in WW 2, and they had several people play with them through the years. Jimmy Martin, Hall of Fame Member, played with them in Detroit and Pikeville, Paul Williams, Udell McPeak, Rex and Eleanor Parker, Ray Morgan, Melvin and Ray Goins all played with the Fiddlers throughout the years.

Charlie, Curley's Brother, joined for awhile. He also played with Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers. Curley played with Ralph Stanley about 26 yrs after my Dad decided to retire from music. My Dad was the leader of the Fiddlers and owned the copyright to their name. Blueridge Guitars made a 70th Annivesary edition guitar in honor of the Fiddlers, and they presented me with the first one made and he did all the booking and contract work for the group until about 1966.

All Clines should be proud of their kin's accomplishments in Bluegrass Music. They were the first Bluegrass band to actually sign a recording contract the RCA Victor, and they recorded on Starday and Cozy.

Scotty Cline

Thank you, Scotty for the information and corrections!!!  We are all truly proud of our Clines and the origins of Bluegrass!! - Jerry Cline



Lonesome Pine Fiddlers (2009 inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame)

Ezra Cline (lead, bass)

Curly Ray Cline (fiddle; later played with the Stanley Brothers and Ralph Stanley)

Charlie Cline (all instruments, principally fiddle; later played with Bill Monroe)

Ireland "Lazy Ned" Cline (banjo; musical career cut short - killed on August 1, 1944 during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France)

Curly Ray Cline and Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4adxe5N6Ato  (Curly Ray Cline on fiddle)

Charlie Cline and Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXkwthWiMFk  (Charlie Cline on fiddle [the older of the two])