In 1974, Ithaca, NY was the northernmost outpost for the Appalachian Fiddle Music Revival that began in the late 60's. Bubba George grew directly out of two root-sources that co-existed in the Ithaca Old Time Music Scene. Number one was the internationally known Highwood String Band, based in Trumansburg, NY. The Highwoods played a more traditional, high-energy brand of fiddle tunes learned right from the source. The other, more renegade, bohemian fiddle band was the calypso/funk/soul influenced Correctone Stringband. Both these bands played often locally, and future members of Bubba George: Jeb Puryear, Rich Stearns, Shane Lamphier, and Jordan Puryear (ranging in ages 8-15 in 1974), had plenty of chances to be corrupted and counter corrupted by the irresistable sounds they heard at local dances and parties.
Being Intelligent Progressive Hippie Children of Intelligent Progressive Hippie Parents, and being taught to think for themselves at their cutting edge Progressive Hippie School, Jordan, Jeb, Shane, and "Stearns" soon found themselves devoting the Lion's Share of their time to playing guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, at home, at parties, and on the street. Jeb's and Jordan's brother Ward often played bass with them as well. Because they were so young and cute and naturally talented, their reputation and their ability grew simultaneously at an accelerated pace, soon becoming the talk of the town, and revered as prodigies by the very musicians who influenced and taught them. At a young age, they liked to stay up all night, eat fat meat and drink hard liquor with the best of them. They played breakdowns at breakneck speeds for hours, dusk till dawn, and travelled around on the Southern Fiddle Festival Circuit, combining the influences of the great fiddlers they heard with the feel of rock&roll, reggae, and punk. The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Talking Heads, and Tommy Jarrell all took their turns pounding in their nails.
In the mid-eighties, the four friends, along with Jennie Stearns, Jim Miller and long time fiddling friend Tara Nevins, joined forces to start another band. Donna the Buffalo grew directly out of Bubba's roots as well as Jennie's and Tara's. Richie simultaneously was working with another new fiddle roots/rock fusion band, The Horse Flies, who became internationally known and loved for their "Neo-Primitive" Hoe Down sound. In 1991-92, under the leadership of Jeb and with the combined efforts of the Bubbas, Donna, and members of the Flies as well as many others, The Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance was born as a way to come together as a community to fight the spread of AIDS and to celebrate arts & education. Bubba George continues into the year 2000 having played over a quarter of a century together, and has finally put out their long awaited debut CD, Live at the Fingerlakes Grassroots Festival on Live + Kickin' Records.
