
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 30, 1993                   TAG: 9306300169
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BLUEGRASS FIDDLER, DJ DIES AT 87

Luther Columbus "Smokey" Ward, a nationally known bluegrass fiddler and disc jockey, died Monday. He was 87.

In a 1984 interview with "Bluegrass Unlimited," Ward, of Martinsville, described himself as a blacksmith forced to go into show business because people stopped using horses.

He said in that interview that he helped bluegrass musicians the Osborne Brothers, Jim and Jesse McReynolds and Jimmy Martin get their starts.

"I'm proud of the little dickenses," he said.

He said he once won the National Champion Fiddler's Contest and was Mr. DJ, USA in 1954.

A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Tomlinson Funeral Home of Ridgeway.

by CNB