Raymond Fairchild

American banjo player from the Great Smoky Mountains. He was born March 15, 1939 in Cherokee, Swain County, North Carolina. He died October 13, 2019. He lived most of his life in and around Cherokee, NC, and was half-Cherokee Indian.
In the mid 1960s, he formed the Frosty Mountain Boys but soon changed their name to Maggie Valley Boys. In 1963 he signed with the Rural Rhythm label.
In 1975 he joined with The Crowe Brothers. They played together as a trio until 1991.
After parting with the Crowes, Raymond started up the New Maggie Valley Boys with his son, Zane. For the remainder of his life, Fairchild and his wife, Shirley, ran the Maggie Valley Opry House.
The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America named Fairchild Banjo Picker of the Year from 1989 to 1991. In 1989 he was inducted into that organization’s Hall of Greats.