Corbit Stamper was born in 1910 in Whitetop, Virginia. His father was an old-time fiddler and music was a big part of his life, on both sides of his family. His mother had three brothers, all fiddlers. Corbit had three brothers who also played music. Corbit started off playing the banjo when he was very young. Some of the first tunes he first played were what he called "the real old-time tunes" such as Sourwood Mountain and Jimmie Sutton. Corbit was responsible for teaching many people to play the fiddle.

His most well-known student was Albert Hash, who he taught to properly use all 4 fingers, and taught many tunes, like Cumberland Gap and Flop Eared Mule. Another well-known student was Howard Wyatt, who played left-handed with his fiddle strung up as a right hander would play it. Wyatt won first or second at nearly every Whitetop Folk Festival playing the fiddle. He was recorded playing Salt River solo and Cumberland Gap with his band at the 1938 Whitetop Folk Festival by WVRA. He is also seen in the video "To Hear Your Banjo Ring", narrated by Peter Seger. Wyatt and banjo player Harv Sheets play Arkansas Traveler while Bud Spencer dances. Corbit also spoke of teaching Clarence Ashely some fiddling when Ashely went through the Whitetop area working.

PHOTO BY MARK SANDERFORD

Songs Corbit played

Jimmy Sutton (D)

Old-Time Sourwood Mountain (G)

Sally Goodin (G)

Old Joe Clark (G)

Billy in the Lowground (C)

Tell Her Lies and Feed Her Candy (C)

Cluck Old Hen (G)

Cripple Creek (G)

Alabama Gals (G)

Arkansas Traveler (D)

Mississippi Sawyer (D)

Johnson Boys (D)

Soldier's Joy (D)

Old Billy Goat

Turkey in the Straw (G)

Old Molly Hare (D)

Black Eyed Susie (D)