Bluegrass legend honored with ceremony in Hardin County
SAVANNAH, Tenn. — A bluegrass legend was honored with a special ceremony filled with music, food and nostalgia.
A ceremony was held at the Tennessee River Museum for the unveiling of a new music pathway marker.
This marker displays Howard Watts, better known as Cedric Rainwater.
“The was a bluegrass legend, he played the bass fiddle. He was with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, and then Hank Williams and the Drifting Cowboys. He played with Hank Snow, Patsy Cline. In 2007, he was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame,” said Beth Pippin, executive director for Hardin County Toursim.
Watts had a deep heritage in Hardin County.
Some of his relatives came out and shared fond memories. Several musicians also came together to perform some of his works.
“Music is how people connect, I think. Whether it’s country or the bluegrass, whatever you like, there’s a connection all across Tennessee. And having this trail with the Tennessee pathway markers, just kind of gives people that connection to find somewhere someone was from or find a place where someone performed,” said Pippin.
This new marker joins the trail of almost 100 others that tell the musical history of Tennessee.
“Our job for the department of tourist development is to drive travel–inspire travel to and within Tennessee, and music being a differentiator for our state. In 2018, we launched this program to highlight the people, places and events across the state that show Tennessee’s musical significance,” said Zach Ledbetter, director of outreach and engagement for TN Department of Tourist Development.
The music pathway markers are a statewide driving tour that represents hundreds of landmarks and spans seven genres of music, from the largest cities to the smallest communities.
If you love bluegrass music, the 47th annual Savannah Bluegrass Festival is going on Friday night and Saturday in Savannah.
To learn more about music pathways near you, click here.
For more Hardin County news, click here.
