Carlton Haney: A Life and Legacy in Bluegrass and Country Music

Carlton Haney: A Life and Legacy in Bluegrass and Country Music is now on display in the Belk Library 4th Floor Atrium. The exhibit features photographs, documents, posters, and programs from the collection of Carlton Haney.

Carlton Haney (September 19, 1928, Reidsville, Carolina- March 16, 2011, Greensboro, North Carolina) was a noted festival organizer, promoter, and manager in the fields of Bluegrass and Country music. Nicknamed “The P. T. Barnum of Country Music,” Haney provided the prototype for modern Bluegrass music festivals and worked with many of the popular Country artists of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Haney was a driving force in Bluegrass and Country music and left a legacy remembered by many who attended his festivals and shows. As evidenced by his business card, Carlton Haney was a key player in the music industry, so much so that he barely needed an introduction—“Carlton Haney: ‘Nuff Said.”

Poster for the 1965 Fincastle Blue Grass Festival, the first multi-day bluegrass festival, from AC.815: Carlton and Charles Haney Papers. The collection was donated by Carlton's brother, Charles, and daughter, Bonnie

Published: Aug 27, 2015 12:00am

Tags: