Category Archives: people

Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Bela Fleck

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Bud Bennett

Does anyone not recognize the name Bela Fleck? A show of hands? No one? OK good.  Bela Fleck has touched so many types of music and musicians in his 55 years of life that he is probably known throughout them … Continue reading →

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- The Bristol Sessions

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Bud Bennett

In 1927, Texas fiddlers Eck Robertson and Henry Gilliland recorded a record for the Victor Talking Machine Company.  This was the first “country” record made and it ended up being very important, only the company dubbed the genre “hillbilly” music. … Continue reading →

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Rest in Peace Pete Seeger

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Bud Bennett

While driving to work this morning I heard the news that Pete Seeger died yesterday at the ripe old age of 94.  Pete Seeger was called a lot of things in life – among them musician, author, peace advocate, teacher, … Continue reading →

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Carolina Chocolate Drops

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Bud Bennett

I just heard that Dena Epstein died last week (11/14/13) at the age of 96.  I am going to assume that her name was not necessarily recognizeable to most people but I am pretty sure that the fruits of her life’s … Continue reading →

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Roger Sprung is Here

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Bud Bennett

When I think back the many years to the time when I went to the Galax Fiddlers Convention for the first time, one memory stands out.  People were everywhere, walking, talking, playing music; venders were selling vintage instruments, food, t-shirts … Continue reading →

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Butch Robins Part 2

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Bud Bennett

(Used with permission from Bud Bennett, photographer) I started the first part of the Butch Robins posting with a story about how and when I met Butch.  Since this is the second part of the posting I will now continue … Continue reading →

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Highlights of McConnell Library’s Appalachian Music Collection- John Hartford

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Bud Bennett

(Used with permission from C.L. Garvin, photographer.) When I was younger, I had a very good friend, Billy.  Billy was a lot older than me and he loved bluegrass music.  He would play and loan his bluegrass records to me, … Continue reading →

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Butch Robins PART 1

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Bud Bennett

This will be part 1 of a multi-part post on local legend Butch Robins. In 1981, while a student at VPI, I had a show at WUVT, the college radio station there.  The show was from 6:00-9:00 AM Monday mornings … Continue reading →

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Bascom Lamar Lunsford- the man who wrote Good Old Mountain Dew

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Bud Bennett

Last semester I found myself talking to an Appalachian Studies class about Appalachian Music and used the song Good Old Mountain Dew as an example of a traditional song.  After the class, as I walked back to my office I … Continue reading →

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Billy Jim's Fiddle

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Bud Bennett

There is a poem by Stephen Vincent Benet that I have loved since the very first time I heard it.  In fact, it made such an impression on me I tried to memorize it.  I got pretty far with that, … Continue reading →

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