HAPPY VALLEY, N.C. – The third annual Happy Valley Jamboree, a free heritage festival which celebrates local culture through music, camping, children’s activities, and homemade entertainment is being held Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Sept. 4 beginning at 7 p.m. It ends Sunday, Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. It is held at the Jones Family Farm on Highway 268 in Happy Valley, north of Lenoir.

Each year, jamboree organizers have selected individuals for recognition who have contributed to the folk culture of the Yadkin Valley. This year, the honorees are musicians and friends of the jamboree, Max Waters and Linda Cabe. Past honorees have included Christine Horton, Jack Thompson, and Marjorie Roberts.

Waters will be honored at 7 p.m. on Friday; Cabe will be honored at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Those are the only times they’ll be playing (at least formally). A list of the full itinerary can be found here.

Cabe, who has lived in Wilkes County for about 50 years, is in the Wilkes Heritage Museum Hall of Fame. According to their biography of Cabe, “In mid-1990 she became fascinated with the old-time music her friends were playing and, as a result, was introduced to Emily Spencer, one of the best old-time musicians and teachers in the area who taught stringed instruments for years through Wilkes Community College. Linda drove to Sparta every Monday night and learned to play claw hammer-style banjo and became acquainted with many musicians throughout the region. For 3 1/2 years she played with a group in Ashe County doing civic events, benefits and playing for each of the nursing homes and adult day care facilities almost every Saturday.”

Cabe has played at numerous locations in North Carolina and the Virginias and taught in the Junior Appalachian Music (JAM) program in Alexander County.

Asked what drew her to music, Cabe offered, “I’ve always liked music. I didn’t get into old time traditional music until later in life.” She said the lessons in Sparta lit a spark. “That’s when I got interested in it. When I got this old music, I really liked it. Those lessons is where it all began.”

Happy Valley is one of her favorite places to play she shared. “I love the music, but it was also about the people. Happy Valley is a kind of unique place. We go to lots of festivals, but it’s a beautiful place along that stream. There are beautiful jam sessions along that water. There’s some good times, camping and fellowship with the people.”

She continued, “I think music is a universal language. I have friends from Japan and Switzerland who love the old-time banjo method. So what I’m saying is it brings people together no matter what land your from.”

Endurance, she insists, is the hallmark of a traditional musician. “Sometimes you get to a place and just put a band together. Back in the early days we put one together and took first place.” She added, “I enjoy the music so much and just being with people and getting together and playing with people.”

Noting that many of the people she learned from and played with in the past have passed away, she exclaimed, “We have it to pass it on.” Thinking of days before the digital age when a person could pull up lyrics on a cell phone or tablet, Cabe recalled, “The old timers, when they went to a fiddler’s convention and heard a song they liked, they had to remember it and play it. They didn’t have those modern devices. We play the music.”

Max Waters is also a testimony to endurance and longevity. In a previous interview, Waters shared, “Herb Miller, who was a member of the first quartet in which Lenoir native George Younce sang, introduced me to traditional southern gospel music when I was an 18-year-old boy.” For 60 years he has been accompanying groups and singers in Gospel music.

Lenoir musician Kay Crouch said, “Max is the consummate southern gospel pianist. His playing is heavily influenced by many genres outside of gospel music but it is his joy and contagious enthusiasm that delight his audiences and colleagues alike.” Kay’s husband and band mate added, “Max is the consummate artist who plays his instrument flawlessly and totally understands ensemble playing. Max’s joy and enthusiasm is more than contagious. It is a pure delight to share the stage with him.”

Waters shared, “I was born in the Kings Creek community of Caldwell County in 1948 and today live in the Kings Creek community not a quarter mile from where I was raised. Having traveled around the world numerous times I can say without hesitation that, as far as I am concerned, no place compares with the quality of life we experience in this part of God’s green earth.”

A veteran of the Vietnam War, Waters spent some of his time playing for funerals of fallen soldiers. Waters recalled, “The body wasn’t there of course, but always the boots.”

He shared, “Music is a religious presentation. A way of communicating with those that are kind enough listening to what I have to share. You have to appreciate the audience.” He explained, “The environment is controlled by the audience. If the audience has been having a bad day or not receptive or more involved in talking with one another than enjoying the music, I have found that it’s beneficial to communicate with the audience. Often its helpful to pick out an individual that is receptive and have a dialogue with them during a performance. George Younce gave me a tip as young singer not knowing anything about anything. He said, ‘When there’s a solo part, the other three wold turn to the soloist.’ It was a silent signal that that should be the focus of the music at that particular point.”

Waters is a humble man. Alluding to the award from the Happy Valley Jamboree, Waters said, “I’m very uncomfortable with this. I’m the least of the least. The professionals I’ve been around I’ve learned from. I’d hear a run and wonder how you do that. They’d show me. The kindness allowed me what little I’ve been able to achieve. Their kindness and willingness to share their sacred knowledge makes the big difference in what I’m able to do.”

Though humble, he certainly has a sense of humor. He spent much of his playing time on the road with the Gospel group The Messengers. He also recalled fondly Larry and the Singing Winebargers. “I spent 15 years traveling and playing. We were always the group that did the introduction for the professionals to sing. They were using us to test the sound system.”

That won’t be happening in Happy Valley over the Labor Day weekend. Cabe and Waters will not be the crash-test dummies for the sound system. Instead, they’ll be the focus. Waters is up to it. He shared, “Every song turns out to be a mini message in a powerful format. Some people will come listen to gospel music that would never put their foot in a church door. Gospel has the essence of blues, country and some traditional music. It’s not the same every time. And for me anyway, it is forever challenging.”

© Michael M. Barrick, 2026.