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Kentucky Historical Society
Warren May Honored with Homer Ledford Award
Frankfort, KY (Sept. 29, 2009)— Warren May, a professional furniture and instrument maker who currently lives and works in Berea, has been named the recipient of the Homer Ledford Award. The award, presented by Colista Ledford, Homer’s widow; the Kentucky Historical Society; and the Kentucky Arts Council honors artistic excellence and dedication to Kentucky musical traditions.
Homer Ledford became one of Kentucky’s best loved and most well-respected luthiers. During his lifetime, Ledford created 47 banjos, 23 mandolins, 21 guitars, 18 ukeleles, 13 dulcitars—an instrument Ledford invented and patented—three dulcijos, four violins, two bowed dulcimers and almost 6,000 standard dulcimers. Several examples of Ledford’s work are in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
May received the Homer Ledford Award Sept. 26 at “Made to be Played” at the Old State Capitol, day of food, hands-on activities, family history and music presented by the Kentucky Folklife Program, a partnership of KAC and KHS. The day-long festivities marked the close of the “Made to be Played” exhibition at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History and the birthday of Ledford.
“I could go on and on about Warren’s accomplishments,” said Colista. “He’s ambitious, hard-working, a good family man. I could never tell you all the good things about Warren. I’m so delighted to present to him the Homer Ledford Award.”
May, who was born in Carroll County and was the youngest of 10 children. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Kentucky University, where he was trained in classical woodworking. May has more than 30 years of experience in professional furniture and dulcimer making, and has made more than 13,000 Appalachian dulcimers—the official instrument of the commonwealth.
“I’m just glad to be a part of this wonderful tradition. I tried to play a little guitar, but once I saw a dulcimer I was sort of hooked on that,” said May. “Homer’s 1881st dulcimer is the one I sort of looked at and then I had to carve out my own tradition—in fact I had to do a little more carving on mine, a little more handwork on mine to make them my own special instruments. It’s been a great ride.”
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An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, since 1836, has provided connections to the past, perspective on the present, and inspiration for the future. KHS operates the Old State Capitol, the Kentucky Military History Museum, and its headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Since 1999, the thirty-million-dollar Center has welcomed more than one million visitors. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit the Web site at www.history.ky.gov.
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