Biography
Little information survives concerning the singular string trio from Georgia that cut a mere six sides for Okeh during the 1920s. Their lineup of musical saw, guitar, and fiddle appears to stand alone in traditional music, aside from the exhaustive instrumental explorations later pursued by avant-garde free-improvisation ensembles. Albert Everidge bowed the saw while his brother Vander Everidge supplied guitar, the latter delivering the brisk picking that distinguishes “Blue Grass Twist” and “Bibb County Grind.” Completing the group was fiddler Melgie Ward, whose vigorous foot-tapping earned lasting notice; although such rhythmic accompaniment was normally welcomed in the style, the studio engineer reportedly placed a pillow beneath Ward’s foot to prevent the sound from overwhelming the recording. Albert’s sons Alton, Al, and Reuben Everidge all took up music, extending the family’s string-band work across subsequent generations. Occasional accounts suggest the South Georgia Highballers continued performing sporadically around Macon into the 1970s, yet no additional recordings from the group have surfaced.