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["Thomas Alan Cathead Johnston (b. 1952) is a bluegrass and country musician from McDowell County, WV. He is a former bassist in Mel Streets band The Swing Kings and his songs have been recorded by Del McCoury, Tommy Webb, and others."]%

1. Photo of songwriter and musician Alan "Cathead" Johnston

Identifier:
4224.JohnstonAlan.Photo.001.4.14.16
Title:
Photo of songwriter and musician Alan "Cathead" Johnston
Date:
2016-04-14
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Stringed instruments, Folk music--West Virginia, Bluegrass music, Old-time music, Country music
Location:
Welch (W. Va.), McDowell County (W. Va.)
["Thomas Alan Cathead Johnston (b. 1952) is a bluegrass and country musician from McDowell County, WV. He is a former bassist in Mel Streets band The Swing Kings and his songs have been recorded by Del McCoury, Tommy Webb, and others."]%

2. Portrait of songwriter and musician Alan "Cathead" Johnston

Identifier:
4224.JohnstonAlan.Photo.002.4.14.16
Title:
Portrait of songwriter and musician Alan "Cathead" Johnston
Date:
2016-04-14
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Bluegrass music, Country music, Stringed instruments, Folk music--West Virginia, Old-time music
Location:
Welch (W. Va.), McDowell County (W. Va.)
["The Opossum Hollow String Band is composed of guitarists Keith Long and Martha Cordray, mandolin player Joe Cordray, and banjo player Jimmy Robbins.Learn more about the Pickens Maple Syrup Festival here: http://pickenswv.squarespace.com/maple-syrup-festival/"]%

3. The Opossum Hollow String Band plays at the Pickens Old Opera House during the Pickens Maple Syrup Festival

Identifier:
4224.PickensMapleSyrupFest.Photo.001.3.18.17
Title:
The Opossum Hollow String Band plays at the Pickens Old Opera House during the Pickens Maple Syrup Festival
Date:
2017-03-18
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Banjo, Festivals, Bluegrass music, Old-time music
Location:
Pickens (W. Va.)
["From the Mountain Music Trail: \"The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys are among West Virginias longest-running bluegrass bands. The group first organized in 1968 around the foursome of Richard Hefner (banjo/tenor vocal), his brother Bill Hefner (guitar/mandolin/baritone vocal), their late uncle Glenn Dude Irvine (mandolin) and the late Harley Carpenter (guitar/lead vocal). They took their name from Black Mountain in their native Pocahontas County. For five years the group worked a weekly radio show on WVAR, in Richwood. They also made regular appearances at local events and regional bluegrass festivals. They recorded their first album in January 1971, Pure Old Bluegrass, and in the mid-1970s they followed up with a pair of albums: Million Lonely Days and Talk of the County. More recent albums include Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys 1968-1973, Live at Midnight, Live at The Opera House, and Live at Greenbrier Valley Theatre.As with many bluegrass bands, the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys have had changes in personnel over the years. Richard Hefner remains as the lone original member. Hefners traditional bluegrass banjo playing and tenor vocals have contributed both continuity and much of the high lonesome sound for which the band has become so well-known. He has displayed his banjo skills many times as a victor in contests and at the Vandalia Festival. Chris Nickell from Monroe County, contributes driving lead and rhythm guitar work as well as lead vocals. Rick Carpenterson of founding member Harley Carpenterpicks a fine mandolin and sings lead and baritone vocals. Bass player Mike Smith, of Culloden, has worked with such notables as Larry Sparks, Dave Evans, and the Goins Brothers.\"Read more: https://mountainmusictrail.com/the-black-mountain-bluegrass-boys/"]%

4. Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys play at the 2016 West Virginia State Fair, 1 of 3

Identifier:
4224.WVStateFair.Photo.020.8.17.16
Title:
Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys play at the 2016 West Virginia State Fair, 1 of 3
Date:
2016-08-17
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
4-H clubs, Agricultural exhibitions, Folk music--West Virginia, Banjo, Bluegrass music
Location:
Lewisburg (W. Va.)
["From the Mountain Music Trail: \"The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys are among West Virginias longest-running bluegrass bands. The group first organized in 1968 around the foursome of Richard Hefner (banjo/tenor vocal), his brother Bill Hefner (guitar/mandolin/baritone vocal), their late uncle Glenn Dude Irvine (mandolin) and the late Harley Carpenter (guitar/lead vocal). They took their name from Black Mountain in their native Pocahontas County. For five years the group worked a weekly radio show on WVAR, in Richwood. They also made regular appearances at local events and regional bluegrass festivals. They recorded their first album in January 1971, Pure Old Bluegrass, and in the mid-1970s they followed up with a pair of albums: Million Lonely Days and Talk of the County. More recent albums include Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys 1968-1973, Live at Midnight, Live at The Opera House, and Live at Greenbrier Valley Theatre.As with many bluegrass bands, the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys have had changes in personnel over the years. Richard Hefner remains as the lone original member. Hefners traditional bluegrass banjo playing and tenor vocals have contributed both continuity and much of the high lonesome sound for which the band has become so well-known. He has displayed his banjo skills many times as a victor in contests and at the Vandalia Festival. Chris Nickell from Monroe County, contributes driving lead and rhythm guitar work as well as lead vocals. Rick Carpenterson of founding member Harley Carpenterpicks a fine mandolin and sings lead and baritone vocals. Bass player Mike Smith, of Culloden, has worked with such notables as Larry Sparks, Dave Evans, and the Goins Brothers.\"Read more: https://mountainmusictrail.com/the-black-mountain-bluegrass-boys/"]%

5. Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys play at the 2016 West Virginia State Fair, 2 of 3

Identifier:
4224.WVStateFair.Photo.021.8.17.16
Title:
Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys play at the 2016 West Virginia State Fair, 2 of 3
Date:
2016-08-17
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Folk music--West Virginia, Bluegrass music, Agricultural exhibitions, 4-H clubs, Banjo
Location:
Lewisburg (W. Va.)
["From the Mountain Music Trail: \"The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys are among West Virginias longest-running bluegrass bands. The group first organized in 1968 around the foursome of Richard Hefner (banjo/tenor vocal), his brother Bill Hefner (guitar/mandolin/baritone vocal), their late uncle Glenn Dude Irvine (mandolin) and the late Harley Carpenter (guitar/lead vocal). They took their name from Black Mountain in their native Pocahontas County. For five years the group worked a weekly radio show on WVAR, in Richwood. They also made regular appearances at local events and regional bluegrass festivals. They recorded their first album in January 1971, Pure Old Bluegrass, and in the mid-1970s they followed up with a pair of albums: Million Lonely Days and Talk of the County. More recent albums include Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys 1968-1973, Live at Midnight, Live at The Opera House, and Live at Greenbrier Valley Theatre.As with many bluegrass bands, the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys have had changes in personnel over the years. Richard Hefner remains as the lone original member. Hefners traditional bluegrass banjo playing and tenor vocals have contributed both continuity and much of the high lonesome sound for which the band has become so well-known. He has displayed his banjo skills many times as a victor in contests and at the Vandalia Festival. Chris Nickell from Monroe County, contributes driving lead and rhythm guitar work as well as lead vocals. Rick Carpenterson of founding member Harley Carpenterpicks a fine mandolin and sings lead and baritone vocals. Bass player Mike Smith, of Culloden, has worked with such notables as Larry Sparks, Dave Evans, and the Goins Brothers.\"Read more: https://mountainmusictrail.com/the-black-mountain-bluegrass-boys/"]%

6. Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys play at the 2016 West Virginia State Fair, 3 of 3

Identifier:
4224.WVStateFair.Photo.022.8.17.16
Title:
Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys play at the 2016 West Virginia State Fair, 3 of 3
Date:
2016-08-17
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Folk music--West Virginia, Banjo, Bluegrass music, 4-H clubs, Agricultural exhibitions
Location:
Lewisburg (W. Va.)