Appalachian Swing! is one of the most influential albums in the whole of bluegrass music, primarily because of the stunning playing of
Clarence White. With his vibrant, innovative flat-picking,
White helped pioneer a new style in bluegrass; namely, he redefined the acoustic guitar as a solo instrument instead of confining it to just background status. The sound was revolutionary upon its release in 1964 and the music still sounds alive, even timeless, because of the strength of
White's vision and talent. He was one of the greatest musicians in bluegrass history and the fact that
Appalachian Swing! still sounds fresh makes his tragic death all the more painful.