Dwight Lamb

American old-time fiddler and button accordion player, born in Moorhead, Iowa, in 1934. Dwight “Red” Lamb is a master of Danish fiddle and accordion traditions, as well as Missouri Valley old-time fiddling, and known for his unusual left-handed fiddle style. His Danish grandfather, Chris Jerup, also a fiddler and button accordion player, learned from his own father, Kræn Jerup, in Vendsyssel, Denmark.

With more than 60 years’ commitment to collection, recording, preservation, and teaching, Lamb has mentored generations of regional and international musicians. His international reputation came about late in life when his inclusion of old Danish buttonbox tunes on the album Joseph Won A Coated Fiddle (And Other Fiddle And Accordion Tunes From The Great Plains) (1999) attracted interest in Denmark. In 2010-11, Danish accordionist and fiddler, Jensen & Bugge, invited Lamb to Denmark, and in 2015, the Danish National Commissioner of Musicians awarded Lamb their highest honor, the Rigs Fiddler (Silver Coat) Award, for his work in returning Iowa’s Danish music to its homeland.