Page 14 � Union County GA Magazine � Holiday 2022 Winter 2023
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Local Legend Nelson Thomas known for music on Guitar & Banjo
Music is a way of life in Union County and the surrounding area with a treasured history . Many musicians have made their mark pickin ’& singin ’, including local legend Nelson Thomas , both with other singers and pickers and as a solo artist .
“ In 1972 , David Buchanan and I both purchased new guitars and started practicing in earnest in my parents basement ,” said Nelson .
When Nelson played with the Blood Mountain Boys , they played Blue Grass . That was followed by Old Time Country ( as in Carter Family and Uncle Dave Macon music ). After the Blood Mountain Boys disbanded around 1978 , Nelson and David formed a trio along with Jimmy Waters , a singer and guitarist from Macon and played about three years together .
In the early 1980s , Nelson and David performed as Buck & Nelson . Their videos can still be seen on U-Tube .
“ Once we formed the Duo , we performed together for 28 years before David retired from performing ,” said Nelson .
Nelson continued playing
Nelson Thomas
By Norm Cooper Editor , Union County GA Magazine
and performing solo . Nelson was asked how he got involved with music .
Nelson responded , “ That is a long story . Let me go back a while . Grandpa Thomas , Burley , taught gospel singing in the area for several years . While growing up all of my dad ’ s brothers and sisters played music , except for him .”
Later on , after Nelson started playing with some friends with a guitar and then a banjo , Nelson ’ s dad started pickin ’ on the banjo . He had actually played the banjo years before .
“ He quit playing because his brothers made fun of him ,” said Nelson . “ One of his brothers had
photos / nephew Matthew Thomas played with Johnny and Gerald & the Georgia Mountain Boys during the 1950s and 1960s . I remember hearing them all the time .”
Before his tenth birthday , Nelson lived about a hundred yards from grandparents and across the street from an uncle , katy cornered from another uncle . Other family members were close by .
At night , an uncle played fiddle or guitar on his porch .
“ I listened to it all my life ,” said Nelson . “ Growing up I wanted to play .”
He went to high school , then college , then made some money checking on a cabin . He bought a guitar from Cecil Lance . He and David practiced two years in a basement .
“ Finally , we got the nerve to come out , meet some other friends and started playing ,” said Nelson .
Nelson has played in north Georgia , western North Carolina , eastern Tennessee , and with concerts in distance places .
Nelson bought a banjo which he played as part of a band . Nelson began playing publicly since the mid 1970s .
He began writing music when he considered himself a better singer , picking up the genre of John Denver and other styles . It can best be described
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as Folk music with several other styles as Bluegrass and Roots .
“ My favorite singer and song writer of all time is John Denver ,” said Nelson . “ I sing a few of his songs . I found out a long time ago I can not sing like John Denver . I figured out along the way , that is okay , because nobody else can either . The point is , a good song is a good song , do it the best you can .”
Nelson has played a few thousand concerts . For many years , he play literally every weekend Spring through Fall .
For a short time , Nelson ventured into the arena of bagpipes , which was short lived before he went back to the banjo and guitar .
Vogel State Park in Union County , the Folk School in Brasstown , NC , and the Old Courthouse in Blairsville are three of many favorite venues . He played the Sorghum Festival .
Nelson recalls Doc Watson ( American guitarist and songwriter , a singer of bluegrass , folk , country , blues and gospel music ) once said if you are playing for a group and they clap , it is like a warm handshake .
“ That ’ s a nice feeling ,” said Nelson . “ I just enjoy playing . I ’ ve said for years , there may be people who play better than I do , but they do not enjoy it any better than I do .”
A majority of the music Nelson plays is no longer on the free radio frequencies , but was quite popular many years ago - and still is with those who listened to it , as many will say , back then .
Nelson pays attention to what he wears , having a performance outfit to fit the occasion . It is different than just normal wear . A favorite piece is a four pocket vest with nothing to scratch a guitar .
The length of performance is typically 45 minutes to an hour .
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