Born around 1919 in Pulaski, Virginia, Matokie Slaughter was a gifted old-time musician who was best known for her clawhammer banjo style that combined both up and down picking. Slaughter played banjo regularly on local radio in the 1940s; since she seldom sang, many listeners assumed they were listening to a man play the instrument. Her tracks on a couple of clawhammer banjo anthologies released by County Records in the 1960s brought her to the attention of the old-time music community, and she appeared at countless festivals and old-time music events. Along with her sister, Virgie Worrell Richardson, and Alice Gerrard, she formed the Back Creek Buddies, whose delightful album Saro was released by Marimac Records in 1990. The unique and fascinating Matokie Slaughter passed away on December 31, 1999. ~ Steve Leggett