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Category Archives: music
Appalachian Artists Oral History Project- Dr. Moon
The newest addition to our Appalachian Artists Oral History Project is a very well known street musician in Virginia’s New River Valley. Many people know him from the colorful hat he wears, or the various outfits he wears in hopes … Continue reading
Posted in music, New River Valley, people
Tagged Chris Saunders, Dr. Moon, street performer
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Collection Spotlight- Butch Robins Collection
Butch Robins, raconteur, professional musician, philosopher, author, businessman, teacher, and friend. I have written about him in this blog several times, and am happy to say that we now have a new archival collection helping to preserve his legacy. The … Continue reading
Posted in bluegrass, Local events, music
Tagged banjo, bill monroe, Butch Robins, the bluegrass band, world international blue grass band
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Appalachian Artists Oral History Project- Marshall Page
The newest addition to our Appalachian Artists Oral History Project is Marshall Page. Marshall is a quiet and unassuming man who works here at Radford University, and I always enjoy talking to him- and I am always surprised at the … Continue reading
Posted in Grand Ole Opry, Marshall Page, McConnell Highlights, music
Tagged country music, Grand Ole Opry, Marshall Page, Parrott Virginia
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Rex McGee- Banjo Playing Enigma
I first became aware of Rex McGee somewhere in the early 1990s at the first Merlefest that I ever attended. At the time the festival was pretty small but it was packed to the gills with music and workshops. These … Continue reading
Posted in bluegrass, music
Tagged Banjo Masters, Banjo Newsletter, Bela Fleck, Bud Bennett, Rex McGee, Ryan Cavanaugh
2 Comments
Banjo Construction Photos- Form vs. Function
I like banjos. There….I said it. I guarantee that is a true statement too. I like to play them, I like to hear them, I like to learn about them and I just plain like to look at them sometimes. … Continue reading
Posted in bluegrass, McConnell Highlights, music
Tagged bacon and day, Banjo Masters, banjo mute, banjos, gibson, nechville, recording king, resonator, stelling, tone ring
1 Comment
Banjo Masters Interview Series
For the past two years, our Archives department has been conducting interviews of master banjo players and builders. As of now we have published interviews of Butch Robins, Sammy Shelor, Jens Kruger, and Tom Nechville. This is a fascinating and … Continue reading
Posted in bluegrass, McConnell Highlights, music, people
Tagged banjo, Banjo Masters, Fred Boyce, John Bullard
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New Interview- Tom Nechville- Banjo Building’s Mad Scientist
Tom Nechville- Banjo Building’s Mad Scientist https://vimeo.com/173492693 A few years ago when I came up with the idea to interview various banjo masters, I intended to focus on both players and builders that I felt were innovative, influential, and … Continue reading
Posted in bluegrass, McConnell Highlights, music, people
Tagged archives, banjo, Banjo Masters, Nechville Banjos, Noam Pikelney, Steve Martin, Tom Nechville
6 Comments
A.J. Gaither- Home Made Musician
A.J. Gaither is not technically an Appalachian, he lives in Arkansas actually. He does though, live by the Appalachian belief in using what you have, repurposing things to make up for what you don’t have and making the best of your … Continue reading
Posted in music, people
Tagged A.J. Gaither, AJ Gaither, cigar box guitars, home made instruments, Sophie Sassafras
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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Alison Brown
Today I am highlighting a very non-traditional selection. The music today is mostly jazz with enough Celtic thrown in and a nod to Doc Watson so I feel it appropriate enough- besides, I love jazz music played on a banjo … Continue reading
Posted in McConnell Highlights, music, people
Tagged Alison Brown, jazz banjo, Joe Craven
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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Conversations With North American Banjo Builders
This month’s highlight selection is very different from all of the others. This week I am featuring volume 1 of a 9 DVD series in three parts. This series is composed of interviews of banjo builders. AND HISTORIANS!! (I have … Continue reading