July 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The Mount Rushmore of Smithville!
Founders of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival have been honored with a special tribute commissioned by family of the late James G. “Bobo” Driver.
Members of the Driver family gathered on stage of the Fiddlers Jamboree Saturday afternoon for the public unveiling of a bronze casting marker as a lasting memorial to Congressman Joe L. Evins and his friends and colleagues Berry C. Williams and James G. “Bobo” Driver, who established the festival in 1972. The marker will be placed on the grounds of the courthouse.
Congressman Evins, a native of DeKalb County and resident of Smithville, was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1946 and served 30 years and 15 terms until his retirement. The festival began as an idea of Congressman Evins and his close friends Williams, the first Jamboree event organizer, and Driver who helped plan, prepare, and promote the first Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival July 1-2, 1972 on a stage built on the steps of the DeKalb County Courthouse. A total of 714 musicians from 16 states flocked to Smithville with an audience of approximately 8,000 people that first year.
To help get the Jamboree started Driver, who in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s had bands of his own, sent out hundreds of letters to country music performers and supporters whom he had met during his musical career. He asked them to perform and be recognized for carrying on traditional country music. He particularly wanted young performers to be rewarded for their talent and efforts. Bobo helped with the Jamboree for almost 20 years as the Registrar. He was particularly interested in recognizing the talent and efforts of young performers of traditional country and bluegrass music. The Jamboree’s National Championship Country Musician Beginners Award is named in his honor. In 1993, the Jamboree was dedicated to Mr. Driver. The Board of Directors also named the James G. (Bobo) Driver memorial trophy to be presented to the winner of the National Champion of Country Musician Beginners which continues today.
The Fiddlers Jamboree lost these three pioneers of the festival beginning with Williams who passed away in 1976, Congressman Evins in 1984, and Driver in 1992 but their legacy lives on.