Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 1.12 Food, Culture, and Representation in Appalachia
Presentation #1 Title
“Moonshine and Music”
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This paper will explore the theme of moonshine and moonshining in Hillbilly, Country, and Bluegrass music. Since the early years of these genres the production, transportation, and distribution of illegal liquor has loomed large as a popular theme. Hillbilly music pioneer Fiddlin’ John Carson gave his banjo-picking daughter Rosa Lee the stage name “Moonshine Kate.” One of Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers most popular recordings/on-stage skits was one entitled “A Corn Licker Still in Georgia. As the music grew in popularity, moonshine numbers became as standard for Country and Bluegrass stars as the obligatory gospel number. The standard “Good Old Mountain Dew” has been performed over the years by such diverse artists as Grandpa Jones, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Doc Watson, Emmylou Harris, and Elvis Costello. The theme has remained popular with relatively recent songs such as “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle and “Tear My Stillhouse Down” by Gillian Welch. These songs tell us much about the significance of moonshine in the rural and mountain South, offer important insights into methods of production and distribution, and show the evolution of the illegal liquor business since the early 1900s.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Dr. Daniel S. (Dan) Pierce is Chair of the Department and Professor of History at UNC Asheville. He is the author of Corn From a Jar: Moonshining in the Great Smoky Mountains (Great Smoky Mountains Association, 2013), Real NASCAR: White Lightning, Red Clay, and Big Bill France (UNC Press, 2010), and The Great Smokies: From Natural Habitat to National Park (UT Press, 2000).
“Moonshine and Music”
Drinko Library 402
This paper will explore the theme of moonshine and moonshining in Hillbilly, Country, and Bluegrass music. Since the early years of these genres the production, transportation, and distribution of illegal liquor has loomed large as a popular theme. Hillbilly music pioneer Fiddlin’ John Carson gave his banjo-picking daughter Rosa Lee the stage name “Moonshine Kate.” One of Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers most popular recordings/on-stage skits was one entitled “A Corn Licker Still in Georgia. As the music grew in popularity, moonshine numbers became as standard for Country and Bluegrass stars as the obligatory gospel number. The standard “Good Old Mountain Dew” has been performed over the years by such diverse artists as Grandpa Jones, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Doc Watson, Emmylou Harris, and Elvis Costello. The theme has remained popular with relatively recent songs such as “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle and “Tear My Stillhouse Down” by Gillian Welch. These songs tell us much about the significance of moonshine in the rural and mountain South, offer important insights into methods of production and distribution, and show the evolution of the illegal liquor business since the early 1900s.
