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Congratulations, Ron!

To be a good citizen is to contribute to the community whereyou live, Short noted. There’s no higher calling, he said, andof all the awards he and Roadside have won for their work,“there’s probably no better honor than one coming from yourfellow citizens.”

He gave the award plaque to his parents, Thadys and MabelShort of Wise. The values they taught grounded him andequipped him to pursue this work, he said.

WISE COUNTY OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR!

As reported by the Coalfield Progress — The word “citizen” is ofgreat importance to Ron Short. And it’s taken on a new layer ofsignificance since that Saturday night, when the Wise CountyChamber of Commerce named him the county’s 2008Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Ron is a Big Stone Gapresident and Dickenson County native who is well known locallyand nationally as a singer/songwriter, playwright, actor andmusic producer who’s dedicated more than 30 years to helpingthe world better understand the Appalachian region.

Congratulations Ron Short; we are very proud of you!

It’s spring again and the museum isa-buzz with activity! The 2009season kicked off on March 1st asthe museum re-opened to the public.Our programs this year feature anumber of returning favorites, suchas our holiday wreath-makingworkshop, the "Mystery in theMountains" whodunit evening, andthe popular "Lunch on the Lawn"summer music series. We will alsointroduce several new workshops forchildren and adults that celebrate thehistory and culture of SouthwestVirginia. These include a children'stoy-making class and "The Art ofBonsai," a hands-on tutorial in anancient tradition.

It’s Spring Again!

"Gathering in the Gap" is a musicfestival to celebrate the rich traditionof old-time and bluegrass musicfound in Southwest Virginia.Activities include competitions, jams,and performances by local andregionally known musicians. Theday's events will culminate in a main-stage concert by various professionalperformers. Come on out!

A Publication of Southwest Virginia Museum AMONG FRIENDS

NEWSLETTER | MAY 2009

May 23, 2009

A Publication of Southwest Virginia Museum AMONG FRIENDS

Adam has appeared on WCYB's Family Focus,CMT, BCMA's Pickin Porch, and the CarterFamily Fold, not to mention many otherbluegrass featured radio broadcasts. Adam hasbeen honored to be a featured performer inNashville along side accomplished artists suchas The Little River Band, Kim Karnes andPenny Gilley. Now at 10 years old he plays oldtime and bluegrass fiddle music as someonedecades his senior. He is influenced most byBobby Hicks and of course Hunter Berry ofRhonda Vincent and the Rage, but being 10 hestill loves to play basketball, baseball,playstation and has become somewhat of aWW2 historian. Adam is a 5th grader andresides in East Tennessee with his Mom, Dadand little sister, Sarah Grace.

Born on a tobacco farm in London, Ky., in1959, and raised in E. Gary, Indiana,Darrell was part of a musical family. Hisfather Wayne, a steelworker by trade but asongwriter in his heart, moved his clan toSouthern California when Darrell was 11.Soon Darrell and brothers Denny, Dale,Don and David were part odf their dad’sband, getting on-the-job training in countrymusic as they played its hits on the stagesof roadhouses and taverns as far north asAlaska.

Darrell eventually left the band andCalifornia, paying some more musical duesin Toronto and in Boston and earning adegree in poetry from nearby TuftsUniversity, where he also studied literature.With his lyric skills sharpened and hisabilities on guitars, banjo and otherinstruments already road-tested, Darrellfollowed his muse to country music'sGround Zero, Nashville. His key to enteringMusic Row's inner circles was, at first, hisstring-slinging skills -- starting in 1992, heappeared on albums by alt. countrymavericks Guy Clark (for whom he later

produced two CDs) and Steve Earle,Randy Travis, Patty Loveless, and dozensmore.

Darrell has continually found the time andenergy to expand his musical activities. In2003, he launched his own label, Full LightRecords, and his first move as owner wasto produce a traditional, mountain countryalbum for his father, This Weary Way, thatfinally showcased Wayne's original songs.For the past two years, Darrell has beenthe "artist in residence" with OrchestraNashville (members appear on ModernHymn's "Joan of Arc"), creating what hecalls "diverse musical happenings -- theodder the better," mixing the string sectionwith such guests as Sam Bush, jazzguitarist Bill Frisell, and other musiciansfrom many genres.

At the ripe old age of 6, Adam decided he wantedto play the fiddle. He began taking lessons fromScott Gould at the School of Music in Kingsport,TN. His dad, being a bluegrass musician himself,then started letting Adam play a few songs onstage with his band and from there he took off.Adam, born and raised in Abingdon and BristolVirginia, had a pretty normal childhood until theday his dad brought home an old fiddle to berepaired. He showed an instant interest in the oldinstrument.

Darrell Scott is Coming to the Gap!

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ADAM LARKEY AND MOUNTAIN TIMEThe Gathering in the Gap Music Festival draws nigh!

A Publication of Southwest Virginia Museum AMONG FRIENDS

Ron Short, singer, musician, songwriter,playwright, and actor, is from the SouthernAppalachian Mountains of SouthwesternVirginia. Born near Clintwood, Virginia, Short,like many Appalachian people, has at timesventured far from his home looking for work buthe has always been drawn back to hischildhood home where he grew up listening tothe hymns, ballads, traditional tunes,recitations, and stories of his large extendedfamily and close neighbors in his ruralmountain community.

Born in upstate New York's AdirondackMountains, the Fox siblings (Kim, Barb andJoel) were introduced to bluegrass asyoungsters by their parents. By the late1980s, they had established themselves onthe northeastern bluegrass circuit. Theirintricate, exciting vocals and Kim Fox'sincreasingly mature songwriting eventuallyearned her Merle Fest's prestigious "ChrisAustin Songwriting Competition Award".Throughout the first half of the 1990s, thegroup continued to build its reputation bysigning with California's Sierra Records.The label released Follow My Lead andfollowed it shortly thereafter with When ItComes To Blues, consisting almost entirelyof Kim's songs, one of which, "The Dream",reached #1 on Bluegrass Unlimited's singleairplay chart. At the same time, the bandbegan receiving recognition from theInternational Bluegrass Music Association(IBMA) and National music critics. The 90'salso saw the band moving its home base toNashville, TN, where Kim was mentored bycountry and bluegrass hit maker, LarryCordle.As the new century dawned, the Foxes

began shaping a new approach tobluegrass and acoustic music. The band 3Fox Drive became the outgrowth of thatvision. The band performed three times onthe Grand Ole Opry, including aperformance at the historic Ryman Theatre.Awards are beginning to pile up at their feet-- Kim and Barb contributed to the IBMA'sRecorded Event of the Year (2001) awardwinning, Follow Me Back To the Fold (atribute to women in bluegrass) cd, and in2006, 3 Fox Drive received IBMA EmergingArtist nomination and the Album of the Yearstatuette for their participation inCelebration of Life. Signing to KochRecords in 2005 brought 3 Fox Drive theirgreatest accomplishment to date -- therelease of Listen to the Music. The albumcharted on both the Billboard andBluegrass Unlimited charts. GreatAmerican Country (GAC) feature the videofor the single "This Little House of Mine" forover a year.

Ron's energetic performances, versatilemusicianship, and soaring voicecombine with compelling, plain-spokennarrative and biting commentary aboutthe everyday matters of life and love toproduce an entrancing live performancethat is musically fresh, thoroughlyentertaining, and, finally, moving.

3 Fox Drive is coming to the Gap!

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RON SHORT

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Doug and Telisha Williams have had anincredible year. Not only have they seencontinued success for their debut album, RopeAround My Heart, but they've shared stageswith some real legends. Lucinda Williams,Darrell Scott, and Charlie Louvin have all had D& T kick off their shows.

Honest grit mingled with a humble respectcomes through in songs of redemption,struggle and sacrifice on their new record RopeAround my Heart. Doug and Telisha gathered astellar group of musicians to lend their talents,including Darrell Scott, Dennis Crouch, KennyMalone, Eamon McLoughlin and BeckiWilliams. The project was produced, recorded,mixed and mastered by Miles Wilkinson.

The Whitetop Mountain String Band is afamily-based band from the highestmountains of Virginia. Whitetop, Virginia isan area rich in the old time music tradition,and this band has deep roots in mountainmusic. The members have done much topreserve the Whitetop region’s style of oldtime fiddling and banjo picking and arelegnedary musicians and teachers of thestyle. All the same time, WhitetopMountain String Band shows are veryversatile and entertaining containingeverything from fiddle/banjo instrumentalsto powerful solos and harmony vocals onblues, classic country, honky tonk,traditional bluegrass numbers, old timeyballads, originals, and four part mountaingospel songs. Shows also include flat footdancing. The band is well known for theirhigh energy and charisma on stage.

Whitetop Mountain Band has performed atmany venues throughout the United Statesfrom festivals to concerts, competitions,and colleges. The Smithsonian FolklifeFestival, National Folklife Festival, WorldMusic Institute in NYC, Carter Family

Festival, Dock Boggs Festival, World Fair,Virginia Arts Festival, Floydfest, Ola BelleReed Festival and Merlefest are a few ofthe many festivals where the band hasperformed. They recently were featured onthe NCTA Crooked Road Music tour ofCalifornia, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho, andin September 2007, members toured theUnited Kingdom and Ireland playing theCornish Bluegrass Festival and OpenHouse Festival in addition to venuesthroughout England, Wales, and Ireland. InJanuary 2008, members of the band playedat the Illawarra Folk Festival and TamworthCountry Music Festival in New SouthWales, Australia.

With their open, inviting personalitiesand intriguing stage presence, the duo isquickly growing their fan base. Firsttimers at their live shows feel like oldfriends and part of the family after just asong or two. A single set of their musiccan bring audience members to theirfeet in applause, to their knees in prayer,and back to the bar to buy another beer.

White Top Mountain String Band!

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DOUG AND TELISHA WILLIAMS

A Publication of Southwest Virginia Museum AMONG FRIENDS

The Mountain Blues Tribute Band bringstogether five veteran musician/performers tocelebrate the blues traditions of the Blue RidgeRegion and Southwest Virginia. Severaltradition musicians will be honored, includingSteve Tarter, Harry Gay, Lesley Riddle, ArchieEdwards and Big Stone Gap native, Carl Martin.The members of the Mountain Blues TributeBand have considerable musical skill and atremendous ability to communicate the largerhistorical and cultural themes and context ofthe music.

Historian and musician Gregg Kimball is theDirector of Publications and EducationalServices at the Library of Virginia.

SHAPE NOTE SINGING withALEXANDER GARDEN & FRIENDS

A team, led by Alexander Garden, will teachthe shape note-singing workshop. Shapenote singing is unique and is enjoying aresurgence after fading almost away.Group Setting.

OLD-TIME BANJO WORKSHOP withMARTHA and EMILY SPENCER

Martha and Emily Spencer of WhitetopMountain Stringband will teach the old-timebanjo workshop. Emily has been playingand teaching her unique style ofclawhammer banjo for over 20 years; shehas passed this traditional music to herdaughter, Emily. Both have done much topreserve the Whitetop region�s style of oldtime fiddling and banjo picking and arelegendary musicians and teachers of thestyle. Participants in this workshop willhave the opportunity to examine old-timebanjo history, influences and continuity ofculture in Appalachian music. The

moderated workshop will be 45 minutes ina small group setting.

SONGWRITING WORKSHOP withDARRELL SCOTT

DON'T MISS THIS EXCITING ANDUNIQUE OPPORTUNITY !!! Thesongwriting workshop will be taught byaward winning songwriter, Darrell Scott,whose own songwriting style is highlyinfluenced by his Appalachian roots. As anexample of Scott's contextualizedsongwriting, his song "You'll Never LeaveHarlan Alive" uses his personal history andculture (Scott's family came from thecoalfields of "Bloody Harlan", Kentucky) toexplore the themes of the social andnatural environment that are so prevalent inAppalachian songs. Darrell will examinethe connection of "place" in themes forsongwriting in his workshop. Participantswill have an opportunity to discusssongwriting in a one-on-one environmentwith Darrell Scott. The moderatedworkshop will be 1 1/2 hours in a smallgroup setting.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Mike Baytopis a blues musician and President and Founder ofthe Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation.Jeffrey Scott is a farmer in Culpeper County,Virginia. Eleanor Ellis, a native of Louisiana, hasperformed at clubs, festivals and concerts in theUnited States, Canada and Europe. Singer SherylWarner was one of the first few women to attendthe Virginia Commonwealth University JazzStudies Program.

Festival Workshops!

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The Mountain Blues Tribute Band