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["On the evening of Wednesday, January 16, 2019, The West Virginia Folklife Program hosted a showcase of their Folklife Apprenticeship Program, featuring master gospel and blues musician Doris Fields (aka Lady D) with apprentice Xavier Oglesby, and master old-time fiddler John D. Morris with apprentice Jen Iskow. The free event was held from 5:30-7:30pm at the historic MacFarland-Hubbard House, headquarters of the West Virginia Humanities Council (1310 Kanawha Blvd. E), in Charleston. The evening included musical performances by the two pairs and a question-answer session, followed by a reception.Doris Fields, who performs as Lady D, is known as West Virginias First Lady of Soul. A West Virginia native, she began singing in church choir as a child and has performed original and traditional blues, gospel, R&B, and soul across the state and country, including for the Obama for Change Inaugural Ball. Xavier Oglesby grew up singing in the black Pentecostal church and has performed in local a capella and theatre groups. He recently recorded voiceovers for the New River Gorge African American Heritage Auto Tour. Both Fields and Oglesby reside in Beckley.John D. Morris, of Ivydale, is an acclaimed West Virginia fiddler and tradition bearer who has been honored by the Augusta Heritage Center, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, the West Virginia Fiddler Award, and a National Heritage Fellowship for his role in sustaining the tradition. Jen Iskow, of Thomas, is a West Virginia University alumni, community organizer, artist, and designer at Beartown Design Studio. She has studied with numerous masters of Appalachian old-time fiddle.The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers a stipend to West Virginia master traditional artists or tradition bearers working with qualified apprentices on a year-long in-depth apprenticeship in their cultural expression or traditional art form. These apprenticeships aim to facilitate the transmission of techniques and artistry of the forms, as well as their histories and traditions. 2018 was the first year of the biennial Folklife Apprenticeship Program.Read more about the apprenticeship pairs on the West Virginia Folklife blog:https://wvfolklife.org/2018/12/03/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-doris-fields-aka-lady-d-xavier-oglesby-blues-black-gospel/https://wvfolklife.org/2018/11/09/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-john-morris-jen-iskow-old-time-fiddling-and-stories-of-clay-county/"]%

1. Doris Fields aka Lady D and Xavier Oglesby sing "We Shall Overcome" as part of an Apprenticeship Showcase at the West Virginia Humanities Council

Identifier:
4224.ApprenticeshipShowcase.Video.006.1.16.19
Title:
Doris Fields aka Lady D and Xavier Oglesby sing "We Shall Overcome" as part of an Apprenticeship Showcase at the West Virginia Humanities Council
Date:
2019-01-16
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
African Americans--Appalachian Region, Apprenticeship programs, Rhythm and blues music, Concerts, Gospel music, Soul music
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["On the evening of Wednesday, January 16, 2019, The West Virginia Folklife Program hosted a showcase of their Folklife Apprenticeship Program, featuring master gospel and blues musician Doris Fields (aka Lady D) with apprentice Xavier Oglesby, and master old-time fiddler John D. Morris with apprentice Jen Iskow. The free event was held from 5:30-7:30pm at the historic MacFarland-Hubbard House, headquarters of the West Virginia Humanities Council (1310 Kanawha Blvd. E), in Charleston. The evening included musical performances by the two pairs and a question-answer session, followed by a reception.Doris Fields, who performs as Lady D, is known as West Virginias First Lady of Soul. A West Virginia native, she began singing in church choir as a child and has performed original and traditional blues, gospel, R&B, and soul across the state and country, including for the Obama for Change Inaugural Ball. Xavier Oglesby grew up singing in the black Pentecostal church and has performed in local a capella and theatre groups. He recently recorded voiceovers for the New River Gorge African American Heritage Auto Tour. Both Fields and Oglesby reside in Beckley.John D. Morris, of Ivydale, is an acclaimed West Virginia fiddler and tradition bearer who has been honored by the Augusta Heritage Center, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, the West Virginia Fiddler Award, and a National Heritage Fellowship for his role in sustaining the tradition. Jen Iskow, of Thomas, is a West Virginia University alumni, community organizer, artist, and designer at Beartown Design Studio. She has studied with numerous masters of Appalachian old-time fiddle.The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers a stipend to West Virginia master traditional artists or tradition bearers working with qualified apprentices on a year-long in-depth apprenticeship in their cultural expression or traditional art form. These apprenticeships aim to facilitate the transmission of techniques and artistry of the forms, as well as their histories and traditions. 2018 was the first year of the biennial Folklife Apprenticeship Program.Read more about the apprenticeship pairs on the West Virginia Folklife blog:https://wvfolklife.org/2018/12/03/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-doris-fields-aka-lady-d-xavier-oglesby-blues-black-gospel/https://wvfolklife.org/2018/11/09/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-john-morris-jen-iskow-old-time-fiddling-and-stories-of-clay-county/"]%

2. Doris Fields aka Lady D and Xavier Oglesby sing "Down By the Riverside" as part of an Apprenticeship Showcase at the West Virginia Humanities Council

Identifier:
4224.ApprenticeshipShowcase.Video.007.1.16.19
Title:
Doris Fields aka Lady D and Xavier Oglesby sing "Down By the Riverside" as part of an Apprenticeship Showcase at the West Virginia Humanities Council
Date:
2019-01-16
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Apprenticeship programs, Rhythm and blues music, Concerts, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Gospel music
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["On the evening of Wednesday, January 16, 2019, The West Virginia Folklife Program hosted a showcase of their Folklife Apprenticeship Program, featuring master gospel and blues musician Doris Fields (aka Lady D) with apprentice Xavier Oglesby, and master old-time fiddler John D. Morris with apprentice Jen Iskow. The free event was held from 5:30-7:30pm at the historic MacFarland-Hubbard House, headquarters of the West Virginia Humanities Council (1310 Kanawha Blvd. E), in Charleston. The evening included musical performances by the two pairs and a question-answer session, followed by a reception.Doris Fields, who performs as Lady D, is known as West Virginias First Lady of Soul. A West Virginia native, she began singing in church choir as a child and has performed original and traditional blues, gospel, R&B, and soul across the state and country, including for the Obama for Change Inaugural Ball. Xavier Oglesby grew up singing in the black Pentecostal church and has performed in local a capella and theatre groups. He recently recorded voiceovers for the New River Gorge African American Heritage Auto Tour. Both Fields and Oglesby reside in Beckley.John D. Morris, of Ivydale, is an acclaimed West Virginia fiddler and tradition bearer who has been honored by the Augusta Heritage Center, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, the West Virginia Fiddler Award, and a National Heritage Fellowship for his role in sustaining the tradition. Jen Iskow, of Thomas, is a West Virginia University alumni, community organizer, artist, and designer at Beartown Design Studio. She has studied with numerous masters of Appalachian old-time fiddle.The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers a stipend to West Virginia master traditional artists or tradition bearers working with qualified apprentices on a year-long in-depth apprenticeship in their cultural expression or traditional art form. These apprenticeships aim to facilitate the transmission of techniques and artistry of the forms, as well as their histories and traditions. 2018 was the first year of the biennial Folklife Apprenticeship Program.Read more about the apprenticeship pairs on the West Virginia Folklife blog:https://wvfolklife.org/2018/12/03/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-doris-fields-aka-lady-d-xavier-oglesby-blues-black-gospel/https://wvfolklife.org/2018/11/09/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-john-morris-jen-iskow-old-time-fiddling-and-stories-of-clay-county/"]%

3. Doris Fields aka Lady D and Xavier Oglesby sing "When the Saints Go Marching In" as part of an Apprenticeship Showcase at the West Virginia Humanities Council

Identifier:
4224.ApprenticeshipShowcase.Video.008.1.16.19
Title:
Doris Fields aka Lady D and Xavier Oglesby sing "When the Saints Go Marching In" as part of an Apprenticeship Showcase at the West Virginia Humanities Council
Date:
2019-01-16
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Apprenticeship programs, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Rhythm and blues music, Concerts, Gospel music
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)

Listen to Audio

4. Oral history of TK Blockstar aka Shardinae Adams

Identifier:
4224.BlockstarTK.AudioInt.10.9.20
Title:
Oral history of TK Blockstar aka Shardinae Adams
Date:
2020-10-09
Creator:
Adams, Shardinae
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
African Americans--Appalachian Region, Hip-hop--United States, Women rap musicians
Location:
Fairmont (W. Va.), Charleston (W. Va.), Las Vegas (Nev.)
["Shardinae Adams (b. Detroit, MI, January 1, 1993) is a Fairmont, West Virginia-raised hip-hop artist currently living in Las Vegas, NV. She is the owner of Blockstar Entertainment. In 2019, she was named one of Generation West Virginias Beacon Award winner for her community service work including backpack drives for Fairmont school children.In this interview Adams speaks about her music career, influences and writing process, childhood and adolescence as a ward of the state, life mentors, volunteer work, and future plans."]%

5. Transcript of oral history of TK Blockstar aka Shardinae Adams

Identifier:
4224.BlockstarTK.IntTranscript.10.9.20
Title:
Transcript of oral history of TK Blockstar aka Shardinae Adams
Date:
2020-10-09
Creator:
Adams, Shardinae
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Hip-hop--United States, Women rap musicians, African Americans--Appalachian Region
Location:
Fairmont (W. Va.), Las Vegas (Nev.), Charleston (W. Va.)

Listen to Audio

6. Oral history of Rev. Ronald English

Identifier:
4224.EnglishRonald.AudioInt.9.4.19
Title:
Oral history of Rev. Ronald English
Date:
2019-09-04
Creator:
English, Ronald
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily, Wilson, Rick
Subject:
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968, Restorative justice, African American Baptists, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Charleston (W. Va.), Civil rights movements, Racism, Mindfulness (Psychology)
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["Rev. Ronald English of Charleston, West Virginia was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1944. He grew up in the community surrounding the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Atlanta and his family was close with the family of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. English is a graduate of Morehouse College and served as ministerial assistant to Drs. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sr. He delivered a prayer at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Rev. English was called to the First Baptist Church of Charleston in 1972 where he served for 21 years. He now serves as an interim minister in Charleston and is a consultant in healing and restorative justice.In this interview with state folklorist Emily Hilliard and American Friends Service Committee West Virginia Economic Justice Project director Rick Wilson, Rev. English speaks about his relationship with Dr. King, his work as a pastor and community leader in Charleston, and his mindfulness practice."]%

7. Transcript of oral history of Rev. Ronald English

Identifier:
4224.EnglishRonald.IntTranscript.9.4.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Rev. Ronald English
Date:
2019-09-04
Creator:
English, Ronald
Contributor:
Wilson, Rick, Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
African Americans--Appalachian Region, Charleston (W. Va.), Racism, Civil rights movements, Mindfulness (Psychology), King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968, African American Baptists, Restorative justice
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)

Listen to Audio

8. Oral history of W.I. Bill Hairston

Identifier:
4224.HairsonBill.AudioInt.12.15.20
Title:
Oral history of W.I. Bill Hairston
Date:
2020-12-15
Creator:
Hairston, Bill
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
School integration, Folklore, Hairston, Bill, Racism, 4-H clubs, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Segregation in education, Storytelling
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)

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9. Oral history of Bill Hairston, 1 of 2

Identifier:
4224.HairstonBill.AudioInt.001.9.10.19
Title:
Oral history of Bill Hairston, 1 of 2
Date:
2019-09-10
Creator:
Hairston, Bill
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Hairston, Bill, African Americans--Appalachian Region, School integration, Old-time music, Fiddle tunes, Saint Albans (W. Va.), Racism, Big Coal River Valley (W. Va.), Storytelling, Folklore, Folk music--West Virginia, 4-H clubs, Fiddling, Banjo, Appalachian dulcimer and autoharp music
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)

Listen to Audio

10. Oral history of Bill Hairston, 2 of 2

Identifier:
4224.HairstonBill.AudioInt.002.9.10.19
Title:
Oral history of Bill Hairston, 2 of 2
Date:
2019-09-10
Creator:
Hairston, Bill
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Saint Albans (W. Va.), 4-H clubs, Fiddling, Storytelling, Folk music--West Virginia, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Banjo, Big Coal River Valley (W. Va.), Walker, John Homer, Hairston, Bill, Folklore, Fiddle tunes, Racism, School integration, Old-time music, Appalachian dulcimer and autoharp music
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["W.I. Bill Hairston, 71, is a storyteller, old-time musician, and pastor (Westminster Presbyterian Church) living in Charleston, West Virginia. He was born in Phenix City, Alabama, and his family moved to Saint Albans, West Virginia in 1960 when he was 11. Through his storytelling, Hairston, as he says in the interview, combines the Appalachian culture that he was exposed to on the Coal River, to the African-American culture that he is a part of. For 35 years, he served as music coordinator at the Stonewall Jackson Jubilee, and is currently the coordinator of the Vandalia Gatherings West Virginia Liars Contest. Hairston is an active member of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild, the Kentucky Storytelling Association, and the Ohio Storytelling Network, the National Association of Black Storytellers, and serves as the West Virginia liaison to the National Storytelling Network. He has performed in concerts, festivals, libraries, corporate meetings, conventions and schools throughout the region and the country. This interview is a follow-up to Emily Hilliards September 10, 2019 interview with Hairston. In this interview, Hairston discusses his participation in the last segregated Black 4-H Camp at Camp Washington-Carver, and the first integrated 4-H Camp at Jacksons Mill. He also speaks about his summer job with the Department of Natural Resources and his involvement in the United Methodist Youth Fellowship when he was young."]%

11. Transcript of oral history of W.I. Bill Hairston

Identifier:
4224.HairstonBill.AudioInt.12.15.20
Title:
Transcript of oral history of W.I. Bill Hairston
Date:
2020-12-15
Creator:
Hairston, Bill
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
4-H clubs, Racism, Storytelling, Segregation in education, School integration, African Americans--Appalachian Region, Folklore
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)
["W.I. Bill Hairston, 71, is a storyteller, old-time musician, and pastor (Westminster Presbyterian Church) living in Charleston, West Virginia. He was born in Phenix City, Alabama, and his family moved to Saint Albans, West Virginia in 1960 when he was 11. Through his storytelling, Hairston, as he says in the interview, combines the Appalachian culture that he was exposed to on the Coal River, to the African-American culture that he is a part of. For 35 years, he served as music coordinator at the Stonewall Jackson Jubilee, and is currently the coordinator of the Vandalia Gatherings West Virginia Liars Contest. Hairston is an active member of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild, the Kentucky Storytelling Association, and the Ohio Storytelling Network, the National Association of Black Storytellers, and serves as the West Virginia liaison to the National Storytelling Network. He has performed in concerts, festivals, libraries, corporate meetings, conventions and schools throughout the region and the country. In this interview, Hairston speaks about growing up in one of three Black families in the Lick Skillet area of Saint Albans along the Coal River, his interest in and work with rural West Virginia old-time musicians and 4-H camps, his friendship with Frank and Jane George, experiences with racism in West Virginia, and his work and mission as an Appalachian storyteller."]%

12. Transcript of oral history of W.I. Bill Hairston

Identifier:
4224.HairstonBillIntTranscript9.10.19
Title:
Transcript of oral history of W.I. Bill Hairston
Date:
2019-09-10
Creator:
Hairston, Bill
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Storytelling, African Americans--Appalachian Region, School integration, 4-H clubs, Old-time music, Folk music--West Virginia, Hairston, Bill, Appalachian dulcimer and autoharp music, Racism, Walker, John Homer, Folklore
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.)