"S” is for Sherrill, Homer Lee [1915-2001]. Musician. “Pappy” Sherrill, a traditional fiddler, is known primarily to South Carolinians for his long musical association with the banjoist DeWitt “Snuffy” Jenkins that dated back to 1939. In the 1930s Sherrill made his radio debut at the age of thirteen on a Gastonia, North Carolina station. In 1939 he moved to Columbia and joined Byron Parker’s Hillbillies [or Mountaineers]. He made recordings with them for Bluebird and DeLuxe records. In 1940 he acquired the nickname “Pappy” when his son was born. From 1939 until 1990, Sherrill’s career was closely entwined with that of Jenkins. They recorded albums for Folk-Lyric, Rounder, and Old Homestead. One of the Rounder albums included his signature tune, “Cherry Blossom Waltz.” Homer Lee Sherrill was honored with the South Carolina Folk Heritage Award.
Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.