Bluegrass promoter Treva Chrisco passes away

Mrs. JD (Treva) Chrisco, 98, formerly of Seagrove area, passed away Friday, Aug. 11, at Autumn Care of Marshville.

Chrisco was known for her love of bluegrass music and was a strong supporter. She had a weekly column — “Country Music Notes” — which ran for over 20 years in the now discontinued newspaper, the Randolph Guide. She also had articles published in several national music magazines including Bluegrass Unlimited, Pickin’, and Muleskinner News.

Chrisco worked to promote NC music events including bluegrass festivals and fiddlers’ conventions. In an age before computers, internet and digital photography, she created band mailing lists for promoters, wrote promotional pieces for their events, and took thousands of pictures that she had to mail to be developed and then reprinted to share with others. She did all this on a volunteer basis with no monetary gain.

 “In my opinion, her contribution to Bluegrass music was huge,” photographer G Nicholas Hancock of Coleridge said.

From 1971-2021,  Chrisco received several awards for her hard work and dedication from the Albemarle Fiddlers’ Convention, the Montgomery County Bluegrass Festival, the Mooresville Fiddlers’ Convention, the Granite Quarry Fiddlers’ Convention and the Seagrove Fiddlers’ Convention.

Vivian Hopkins, former president of the NC Bluegrass Association shared, “As long as I can remember in going to Bluegrass events and especially fiddlers’ conventions, I remember Mrs. Chrisco always being there, sitting near the front, watching the competitions intently, taking it all in. I always enjoyed reading her articles. Her writing inspired me in my own endeavors as a freelance writer. 

“She is remembered fondly by members of the Granite Quarry NC Civitan Club and was highly respected by Mr. James Mathis, the Civitan's original Fiddler's Convention coordinator. In 1982, Mrs. Chrisco was the first woman to be recognized by the Granite Quarry Civitan Fiddler's Convention committee for her contributions to Bluegrass and Traditional Old Time music. From all of us, she will be sorely missed.”

Chrisco also served as the NC representative for the Tom T Hall and Lewis Family Fan Clubs. Well-loved and respected, she grew to know many other professional musicians personally such as Larry Cordle, Carl Story and Jim Eanes.

Treva was buried with her husband, JD “Bo” Chrisco, a WWII veteran, in the National Cemetery in Salisbury.

Chrisco was the last surviving member of her 1942 graduating class of Coleridge High School.