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49. Oral history of Alan "Cathead" Johnston

Identifier:
4224.JohnstonAlan.AudioInt.4.14.16
Title:
Oral history of Alan "Cathead" Johnston
Date:
2016-04-14
Creator:
Johnston, Alan
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Fiddling, Street, Mel, Stringed instruments, Country music, McCoury, Del, 1939-, Goins, Melvin, 1933-, Country music radio stations, Folk music--West Virginia, Old-time music, Fiddle tunes, Banjo, and Bluegrass music
Location:
McDowell County (W. Va.) and Welch (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."]

50. Transcript of oral history of Alan "Cathead" Johnston

Identifier:
4224.JohnstonAlan.IntTranscript.4.14.16
Title:
Transcript of oral history of Alan "Cathead" Johnston
Date:
2016-04-14
Creator:
Johnston, Alan
Contributor:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Fiddling, Bowed stringed instruments, Banjo, Country music, Country music radio stations, Fiddle tunes, Street, Mel, Old-time music, Goins, Melvin, 1933-, McCoury, Del, 1939-, Bluegrass music, and Folk music--West Virginia
Location:
Welch (W. Va.) and McDowell County (W. Va.)
["Kim Johnson and Cody Jordan were participants in the 2020-2021 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. Jordan plays guitar in The Modock Rounders with Johnson, touring across the state and region, and is looking forward to expanding his knowledge of central West Virginia old-time banjo traditions.See our feature on Johnsons apprenticeship with Jordan here: https://wvfolklife.org/2020/09/04/2020-folklife-apprenticeship-feature-kim-johnson-cody-jordan-banjo-traditions-of-central-west-virginia/The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers up to a $3,000 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.The apprenticeship program grants are administered by the West Virginia Folklife Program at the West Virginia Humanities Council in Charleston and are supported in part by an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. West Virginia Folklife is dedicated to the documentation, preservation, presentation, and support of West Virginias vibrant cultural heritage and living traditions."]

51. Artist profile of Cody Jordan

Identifier:
4224.JordanCody.ArtistProfile.9.1.20
Title:
Artist profile of Cody Jordan
Date:
2020-09-01
Creator:
Jordan, Cody
Subject:
Fiddling, Folk music festivals, Old-time music, Banjo, Apprenticeship programs, Johnson, Kim (Banjoist), Fiddle tunes, and Folk music--West Virginia
Location:
Charleston (W. Va.) and Kanawha County (W. Va.)
["John D. Morris of Ivydale led an apprenticeship in old-time fiddle and stories of Clay County with Jen Iskow of Thomas as part of the 2018 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. John D. MorrisBorn in Ivydale, Clay County, into a family steeped in traditional music, David and John Morris learned from family and neighbors, including banjo player Jenes Cottrell and fiddler French Carpenter. After David returned from Vietnam in 1968, the brothers began organizing musical get-togethers and, in 1969, held the first Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival that same year. The festival became a major traditional music event in Clay County and filmmaker Bob Gates documented the 1972 festival in his film The Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival.Members of The Morris Brothers band included Pocahontas County old-time banjo player Dwight Diller and the late North Carolina harmonica player John Martin. Playing a mix of old-time, bluegrass, and country styles, including some of Davids original music, the group played together through the mid-70s, releasing an LP in the late 60s, Music As We Learned It, and two live shows on eight-track tapes. John, a traditional fiddler, and David, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, were involved in union and environmental activities from the late 1960s through the 1970s. They were also instrumental in establishing the first Vandalia Gathering at the Cultural Center in 1977.The Morris Brothers music was featured in Barbara Kopples 1976 film Harlan County, USA. David, who passed away in 2016, contributed music to Kopples 2015 film about Vietnam vets, Shelter.John lives in Ivydale and plays fiddle at music events across West Virginia. He is a rich source of information about the history of old-time music in central West Virginia, and one of the few native fiddlers of his generation to continue the older style of playing.Morris was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the nations highest honor in the folk and traditional arts, in 2020.Jen IskowJen Iskow is an artist, designer, musician, and community organizer based in Thomas, West Virginia. Born and raised in Rockville, Maryland, Jen grew up learning to play blues and punk music. It wasnt until she moved to Morgantown in 2009 for college that she was introduced to old-time music at the weekly Brew Pub jam hosted by Stewed Mulligan. After graduating from West Virginia University, she finally settled in Elkins, West Virginia and accepted a position as the Marketing Coordinator for the Augusta Heritage Center. Suddenly being surrounded by so many talented traditional artists, Jen was immersed into the music and inspired to learn to play fiddle. After studying under talented fiddlers such as Scott Prouty, Erynn Marshall, Jesse Wells, Ben Townsend, John Harrod, and more, Jen met John Morris at his house in Ivydale, and the rest is historySee our feature on Morris apprenticeship with Iskow here: https://wvfolklife.org/2018/11/09/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-john-morris-jen-iskow-old-time-fiddling-and-stories-of-clay-county/"]

52. Artist profile of John Morris and Jen Iskow

Identifier:
4224.MorrisJohnIskowJenn.ArtistProfile.6.16.18
Title:
Artist profile of John Morris and Jen Iskow
Date:
2018-06-16
Creator:
Iskow, Jen and Morris, John D.
Subject:
Banjo, Fiddling, Old-time music, Folk music--West Virginia, Fiddle tunes, Clay County (W. Va.), and Apprenticeship programs
Location:
Clay County (W. Va.) and Tucker 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/"]

53. 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, Old-time music, Festivals, and Bluegrass 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/"]

54. 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:
Bluegrass music, Banjo, 4-H clubs, Folk music--West Virginia, and Agricultural exhibitions
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/"]

55. 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, Banjo, 4-H clubs, Bluegrass music, and Agricultural exhibitions
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/"]

56. 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:
Bluegrass music, Banjo, Folk music--West Virginia, Agricultural exhibitions, and 4-H clubs
Location:
Lewisburg (W. Va.)