The following summary of Greg's biography was compiled from several short narratives found in Greg's papers after his death. It's focus is on the aspects of Greg's life as a musician. I am unsure of the author or authors. A few tenses have been changed from the original documents to reflect his passing. The sections in [brackets] were added by me as clarifications and amplifications to this Biography section. Perhaps, these narratives were written for a newspaper article, or even as a promo for an upcoming music event Greg was attending. Greg seems to have written significant parts of it himself. Who knows? If anyone has any ideas on authorship or can help confirm, correct, or provide additional information, please let me know and I will include it. My apologies for any omissions as I am sure there are many others who influenced Greg's musical life who deserve to have their information included. This website will continue to evolve as I get more information. Your help is needed and your patience is appreciated. It is probable that the history described below ends several years before Greg's death in 2005. I can be contacted at greghoovenarchives@yahoo.com. Thanks, Karin. 

GREG HOOVEN'S MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY

Author(s)Unknown; [information in brackets by Karin Morra Magno]

In these rapidly changing times, we are often left perplexed by the enormity of life. It is soothing to know that there are still down to earth ideals and wisdom being passed on in musical form. That music is called today, as it was a century ago, Old-Time. It is a music that depicts us as individuals and can express the love, sorrow, harmony, and strife that we each carry deep within ourselves. It is the changing language of yesteryear, today, and tomorrow; an art form truly worthy of a place in our lives.

In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there is a special place where old-time music reigns. This is an area of world renowned for its’ musicians, fiddlers' conventions, and beautiful countryside. In the past two decades, Galax, Virginia has miraculously brought forth another great performer, Greg Hooven.

[Born and raised in the Galax area, Greg’s music career began many years ago at age ten when his parents, Donald and Martha, introduced him to the guitar. Soon after that, with his parent's help, Greg bought a second instrument, the banjo. Within a year, Greg added a third instrument, the fiddle, by borrowing one from a neighbor. Overtaken by his newly acquired  fiddle, by the next morning he was playing the folk ballad, John Henry, well enough for his parents to recognize it. He took those developing skills and began playing the music of his area anywhere he could. He was a regular at numerous jam sessions, festivals, dances and other get togethers where he could listen, learn, and play the music of the area. This couldn't have been done without the tireless support and efforts of Chester McMillian, his parents, and others, who before Greg could even drive a car, tirelessly took him to the many music lessons, jam sessions, dances, and festivals, all events that helped Greg develop his talent.  It was a typical Friday and Saturday night for Greg to attend local square dances and jam sessions in either the Galax area or further south in the neighboring Round Peak area of North Carolina.  Chester McMillian was also the one who generously provided Greg with free music lessons at his home for many years. Later Chester and Greg played together in one one of Old Time Music's great bands called Back Step. Several of their recordings are found within this web site on the Video Archives page. There were many other influences in Greg's musical life including his middle school music teacher, Ruby Webber who encouraged Greg in his musical pursuit. Also of influence were many of the legendary greats of Old-Time music including:  Khale Brewer, Fred Cockerham, Kyle Creed, Ernest East, Edgar Higgins, Rafe Brady, Roscoe Parish, Luther Davis, Thornton Spencer, and Benton Flippin. Along with his early mentors, it was these musicians who handed down their legacy to Greg. Out of all these great mentors, Greg stated it in a '98 newspaper article in the Staunton, VA News Leader, that it was Tommy Jarrell whom he most admired and considered his biggest influence as a fiddler. One on one, at the foot of master artisans such as these, Greg learned firsthand the wonderful music and sweet nuances that form the culture and identity of the Blue Ridge Mountains and foothills of Virginia and North Carolina.]

With teachers and mentors such as these, it is no wonder that Greg became one of the most sought after fiddlers of his day. While still a young musician, his credits included performances at the [Neptune Plaza in front of the] Library of Congress in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. These recordings are now preserved forever in the Archives of America Music Section at the Library of Congress. Other performances included The Golden Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway; the Barns at Wolf Trap Festival in Vienna, VA, the National Folk Festival in Lowell MA, [the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, VA] and regular performances for congressional leaders, and the Museum of American Frontier Culture in Staunton, VA.

Greg has also performed for the Brandywine Mountain Music Festival in Brandywine, PA; the Great Hudson River Festival in Valhalla, NY; the Chicago Festival of Life in Chicago, IL; the Doc and Merle Watson Festival [aka MerleFest] in Wilkesboro, NC; the Hiawatha Music Festival in Marquette, MI; and numerous other folk festivals around the country.

Hooven taught fiddle for the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, WV; the Fiddlehead Music and Dance Camps [founded by Trina Royer] in both Maryland and West Virginia; the California Traditional Music Society, Malibu, CA; the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, WA; The Black Mountain Festival of Music, Black Mountain, NC; and has given [numerous] instructional courses throughout the country.

[As both an individual performer and as a member of the legendary New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters, Greg was a mainstay at the Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, VA where individually he was a three time winner of the First Place Prize in Old Time Fiddle category . He was also twice honored with the prestigious Best All Round Performer Award at that event. He first received it in 1994, when he was the sole recipient of that award. He won it again in 2000 as a co-recipient, honored to share that award with his friend, Wayne Henderson.

From the Roanoke Times archives, published August 16^th, 2000:

 “Wayne Henderson and Greg Hooven were voted best all-around performers at the 65th annual Galax Old Fiddlers Convention in Felts Park late Saturday night. It is the first tie for best all-around in the convention's history.Henderson won the guitar competition and Hooven was first in old-time fiddle. “

[Greg also was an essential part of the New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters, a group that won the Old-Time Band category at Galax an unprecedented six times when Greg was their fiddler].

Greg’s performed with a long list of musical greats including Doc Watson, Dewey Balfa, Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong, Ted Bogan, Merle Watson, Pete Seeger, Janette Carter, June Carter, Johnny Cash, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Mike Seeger, Ralph Stanley, Tim O'Brien, and Molly O’Brien, and many more.

[Greg Hooven was immensely talented musically]. There was not a more authentic or fluent source for traditional music in his day than he. His unsurpassed Fiddling and Supernatural Southern Ballad singing had to be heard to be believed. 

[As Joe Wilson, now retired and the former Director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, said when asked to comment about this project and Greg: "Thank you for honoring the memory of our wild and wonderful lad, with us just a moment ago, never to be forgotten"].

From the Galax Gazatte, May 13, 2005 Obituary Notices -                    Steven Gregory Hooven, 36                                                                              
Steven Gregory Hooven, 36, of Galax, VA died Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at Twin County Regional Hospital.  He was born in Galax on March 9, 1969 to Donald W. and Martha Brooks Hooven.  Survivors include his mother, Martha Brooks of Grayson County; his father, Donald W. Hooven of Galax; a brother and sister-in-law, Kenyon Brent and Amy Hooven of Daleville; an aunt, Hazel Virginia Bedwell of Fries; several cousins; and many friends. A funeral will be held today, [Friday, May 13, 2005] at 11 a.m. in the Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Monta Vista Cemetery [located in East Galax]. The Rev. Fred Jennings and the Rev. Ted Barlett  will  officiate.