Ketch Secor
From an early age, Ketch had a love for music and by 18 years old was launching out into a life of music. He has publicly shared his enduring appreciation and affection for Doc Watson and his family. At the 2024 MerleFest, Ketch and Willie Watson shared their memory of being discovered on the streets of Boone, NC by Nancy Watson who then went and retrieved her father, Doc. Ketch is no stranger to Gallagher guitars. Ketch and Old Crow Medicine Show have been supporters from the early days of the rebirth of Gallagher Guitar Co. and it is common to see that “G” on the stage with them.
Old Crow’s eighth studio LP, Jubilee, serves as something of a companion piece to Paint This Town—a 2022 release. After kicking off with “Ballad of Jubilee Jones” (a soul-stirring anthem of resilience for the working people of the world), Jubilee slips into tender reminiscence on “Miles Away” (Co-written by Secor and bluegrass virtuoso Molly Tuttle) —a sweetly reflective track graced with guest vocals from Old Crow co-founder Willie Watson. “We hadn’t recorded with Willie in 12 years, and it made sense to bring him back for a song that has to do with seeing old friends again,” says Secor.
“In a lot of people’s minds folk music seems to be relegated to a place of supposed purity, but we’ve always wanted our folk music to be the soundtrack to real living rather than something stuck behind the glass in a museum,” says Ketch. As Ketch reveals, Old Crow’s boundless passion for imbuing a timely vitality into traditional music has played a major part in the band’s longevity. “Being the type of songwriters and performers that we’ve always been, we tend toward the topical material and what’s going on right now—the issues currently faced by our species, our country, our beloved Southlands,” he says. Indeed, Ketch makes contributions to his community in many ways including social causes, education, and youth.
Gallagher Guitar Co. is honored to support the music of Old Crow Medicine Show and to count them as friends. Ketch owes a Gallagher Parlor-50. The band also has a Doc Watson model, of course, and a Gallagher Maple Jumbo.
