Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 6.04 Music
Session Abstract or Summary
Since the 1920s, West Virginia and West Virginians have provided a rich repertory for traditional country music. Fiddle contests, local and bluegrass festivals, live radio and television and recordings have provided practitioners with a means to showcase their down-home talents. This session will include a panorama of the sight and sound of West Virginia musicians from local amateurs, typified by Edden Hammons and his nephews Sherman and Burl; primitive professionals exemplified by Tweedy Brothers, David Miller, and Blind Alfred Reed; those who achieved success at the Wheeling Jamboree, such as Doc Williams and Lee Moore; other radio and TV personalities like Buddy Starcher and Sleepy Jeffers; and authentic folk and bluegrass figures typified by Aunt Jenny Wilson and the Lilly Brothers. Finally there are the numerous West Virginians who found success in Nashville typified by Hawkshaw Hawkins, Kathy Mattea and Brad Paisley. The presentation parallels the March 2015 release of the authors’ new book West Virginia’s Traditional Country Music in Arcadia’s “Images of America” Series.
Presentation #1 Title
West Virginia’s Traditional Country Music
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Since the 1920s, West Virginia and West Virginians have provided a rich repertory for traditional country music. Fiddle contests, local and bluegrass festivals, live radio and television and recordings have provided practitioners with a means to showcase their down-home talents. This session will include a panorama of the sight and sound of West Virginia musicians from local amateurs, typified by Edden Hammons and his nephews Sherman and Burl; primitive professionals exemplified by Tweedy Brothers, David Miller, and Blind Alfred Reed; those who achieved success at the Wheeling Jamboree, such as Doc Williams and Lee Moore; other radio and TV personalities like Buddy Starcher and Sleepy Jeffers; and authentic folk and bluegrass figures typified by Aunt Jenny Wilson and the Lilly Brothers. Finally there are the numerous West Virginians who found success in Nashville typified by Hawkshaw Hawkins, Kathy Mattea and Brad Paisley. The presentation parallels the March 2015 release of the authors’ new book West Virginia’s Traditional Country Music in Arcadia’s “Images of America” Series.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Emeritus Professor of History, University of Rio Grande
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Semi-retired Media Specialist, University of Rio Grande
West Virginia’s Traditional Country Music
Since the 1920s, West Virginia and West Virginians have provided a rich repertory for traditional country music. Fiddle contests, local and bluegrass festivals, live radio and television and recordings have provided practitioners with a means to showcase their down-home talents. This session will include a panorama of the sight and sound of West Virginia musicians from local amateurs, typified by Edden Hammons and his nephews Sherman and Burl; primitive professionals exemplified by Tweedy Brothers, David Miller, and Blind Alfred Reed; those who achieved success at the Wheeling Jamboree, such as Doc Williams and Lee Moore; other radio and TV personalities like Buddy Starcher and Sleepy Jeffers; and authentic folk and bluegrass figures typified by Aunt Jenny Wilson and the Lilly Brothers. Finally there are the numerous West Virginians who found success in Nashville typified by Hawkshaw Hawkins, Kathy Mattea and Brad Paisley. The presentation parallels the March 2015 release of the authors’ new book West Virginia’s Traditional Country Music in Arcadia’s “Images of America” Series.
