Carlos Deford Bailey, of Nashville, TN, is a harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. A performer starting at the age of 5, Carlos is the son of Nashville rhythm and blues legend Deford Bailey, Jr., and the grandson of pioneering Grand Ole Opry Star Deford Bailey, Sr. As a child, the first song Carlos performed was “Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay” by Otis Redding. He was later inspired by The Jackson Five and began entertaining in talent shows, at PTA meetings, and community centers. In junior high school, Carlos was the lead male vocalist for the school choir, performed at school assemblies, and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the start of all football games. Carlos is also a longtime choir member of Greater Bethel Church.
Over the past two decades, Carlos has dedicated himself to maintaining the legacy and harmonica playing of his grandfather. “My grandfather was the legendary DeFord Bailey, who was an early star on the Grand Ole Opry, known as the “harmonica wizard” and was the first African American star,” Carlos explains. “I was around my grandfather when I was a child and into my twenties. He played harmonica, banjo, bones, and fiddle. The harmonica playing of my family has been a part of my performances and recordings for a long time. I am proud to have been teaching now for 15 years, specifically the harmonica history and style. I was first invited to teach by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and then by the National Museum of African American Music. I have taught many hundreds of school children about harmonica and about my family.”
As part of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program this year, Carlos will be teaching apprentice and grandson Torris Wilson Jr. his family’s style of country and blues harmonica. “Very few people play the DeFord Bailey harmonica style that imitates train sounds, animals etc. and that reflects the early influences of country music, as well as the blues,” Carlos says. “This music is part of the rich history of country music and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Our family history and music are deeply connected to this music history.”
For Torris, this is an opportunity to strengthen his musical abilities and connect him to his family’s legacy. “I would like to learn to play the harmonica in the style of my family. I would like to work with my grandfather because he is great at what he does. My goal is to become fluent and be able to play some hit and traditional songs. It is very important in our family because we have a legacy through my great grandfather.”
