When you hear “Dave” and “Top 10″ in the same sentence, most Americans immediately think of late night TV. Precious few of us would think… Uncle Dave Macon.

But that is exactly what The Murfreesboro Post did, publishing The Top 10 facts about Uncle Dave Macon in advance of the annual Uncle Dave Macon Days festival, set to begin July 13 in Murfreesboro, TN.

Many of these facts will be well known to fans of the legendary banjo player, comedian and entertainer - and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame - but a few may be unknown, such as #9.

9. Uncle Dave’s father was Confederate Civil War Capt. John Macon. In 1883, the elder Macon purchased the Broadway Hotel in Nashville, which was the unofficial headquarters of southern entertainers and minstrels. This is where Dave Macon is said to have learned much of his performance style. The family moved to Readyville in 1885 after John Macon was stabbed to death near the hotel. Uncle Dave was a witness to the murder.

Read the full piece on The Murfreesboro Post site. Thanks to our friends at The Fretboard Journal who found this article online.

The Murfreesboro Post in Tennessee had a story on Monday announcing Jesse McReynolds as the recipient of the Uncle Dave Macon Heritage Award for 2007. This honor is given annually in the memory of the great Uncle Dave, with past honorees including such luminaries as Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Mac Wiseman and Rhonda Vincent.

The award is described by the Heritage Award web site thusly.

Each year the Board honors that individual who has spent a lifetime in the perpetuation and preservation of traditional, “roots” music.

Jesse will accept his award on July 14 at the Uncle Dave Days festival in Murfreesboro, TN. He will perform at the event, and serve as Grand Marshall for the yearly Motorless Parade through Murfreesboro.

Congratulations to Jesse for this much-deserved tribute, and thanks to our banjo pickin’ buddy Rick Briggs for the heads up.