Milt Appleby was a beloved New England fiddler known for his authentic old-time sound and vast repertoire of traditional tunes. Born in 1928, Appleby grew up in a musical family and began playing fiddle at an early age. He became a fixture in the New England folk music scene, particularly known for his mastery of the distinctive "Downeast" style that blends influences from Canadian Maritime, Irish, and Scottish traditions.

Appleby was not only a remarkable performer but also a dedicated teacher and preserver of traditional fiddle music. Throughout his life, he collected and maintained hundreds of tunes that might otherwise have been lost to time. His playing was characterized by a warm tone, rhythmic drive, and a deep respect for the traditional forms of the music.

As a mentor to younger musicians, Milt shared not just techniques but stories and the cultural context behind the music. He was known for his generosity in teaching and his encyclopedic knowledge of tune histories. Though he passed away in 2017, his influence continues through the many fiddlers he inspired and the recordings that preserve his distinctive musical voice.