Lester McCumbers

Who is Lester McCumbers?

Lester McCumbers is an old-time fiddler from Nicut, West Virginia. His students include Erynn Marshall and Jake Krack.

He also makes fiddles, sometimes using local woods.

He utilizes the "pancake grip" when holding his fiddle; that is, he rests the fiddle against his chest rather than under his chin, with the palm of his hand flat against the bottom of the fiddle's neck.

In December 1937, at the age of 16, McCumbers married the singer Malinda McCumbers, with whom he performed for many decades. They had nine children together, some of whom are also musicians. Their son Roger, who played banjo, died in 1998 at age 43.

McCumbers often performs with his wife and children, as well as the banjo player Kim Johnson, who lives near him. He is a frequent visitor to the Appalachian String Band Music Festival in Clifftop, Fayette County, West Virginia, where he has won first prize in the fiddle competition for his age group.

McCumbers was featured in The New York Times in 1999.