Appalachia

NC Ballad Singer Sheila Kay Adams Named National Heritage Fellow

Laura Candler — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Mention the name Sheila Kay Adams to any traditional old time musician and you’re likely to elicit a reverent response. In the world of American ballad singers, Adams remains one of the pillars of tradition, drawing on her Madison County roots to perform and teach the old style of singing and banjo playing passed down in her family for generations. This week, her lifetime of nurturing and sharing traditional music earned her a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Why People Freak Out When They See A Crankie

Laura Candler — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:48:33 +0000

When traditional Appalachian musician Anna Roberts-Gevalt first showed ballad singer Elizabeth LaPrelle a crankie, Elizabeth was speechless.

“I really freaked out,” LaPrelle said. She was astounded not only because she had never seen one before, but also because it was such a powerful tool for storytelling.

Appalachian Music With Old Fashioned Stage Effects

Laura Candler — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:30:00 +0000

While many popular musicians today seek out the newest digital technology to enhance their performances, there’s a young musical duo from rural Virginia who are moving in the opposite direction. Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle call themselves simply “Anna and Elizabeth.” Both accomplished traditional Appalachian musicians on a variety of instruments, together they have resurrected a storytelling tradition called the “crankie,” whose technology outdates their combined age (which is 50).

Overmountain Men Blend History, Appalachian Music

Dave DeWitt and Isaac-Davy Aronson — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:20:27 +0000

Musicians David Childers and Bob Crawford bonded over a shared love of Appalachian music and history. The result is the second CD from their band "The Overmountain Men." Crawford is also the bassist for the Avett Brothers, while Childers has had a long career with the Modern Don Juans.

Ron Rash's Dark Stories From Appalachia

Shawn Wen and Isaac-Davy Aronson — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:05:11 +0000

Author Ron Rash has been chronicling the Appalachian way of life for nearly two decades. His poetry and fiction have earned him wide acclaim and a position alongside other esteemed writers from western North Carolina. He joins host Isaac-Davy Aronson to discuss his latest book of short stories: “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (HarperCollins/2013).

Deborah Hicks Escapes Appalachia, Returns As A Teacher

Shawn Wen, Frank Stasio and Christina Blyde — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:41:47 +0000

Deborah Hicks grew up in an Appalachian paper mill town she hoped to escape. Her education opened doors for her to leave and travel to other parts of a country, but she returned time and again to Appalachia as a teacher. Deborah has dedicated her life to educating those that need her most - focusing on young girls in poor neighborhoods. She is the founder and director of PAGE, Partnership for Appalachian Girls' Education, in Madison County.

Laurelyn Dossett Performs Appalachian Style Music

Alex Granados and Frank Stasio — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:54:38 +0000

Laurelyn Dossett's Appalachian style is well known. Music legend Levon Helm covered her song "Anna Lee" on two grammy winning projects, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops named their recent grammy nominated release after Dossett's song "Leaving Eden." Host Frank Stasio talks to her live at the UpStage Cabaret at Triad Stage about her upcoming shows, and she performs live in the studio.

New Wildlife Refuge Proposed for Western NC

Asma Khalid — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:00:00 +0000

North Carolina's Western counties are home to one of the country's rarest natural habitats, mountain bogs. As Asma Khalid reports, the federal government is on a mission to preserve this unusual landscape by creating a national wildlife refuge in Southern Appalachia.

Asma Khalid: If you've never visited a mountain bog, think of a mini swamp, but isolated and patchy. Mountain bogs breed diverse creatures, and sometimes even endangered species.

Gary Peeples works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Asheville.

Site Aims to be WikiLeaks for Appalachia

Isaac-Davy Aronson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Appalachia now has its own version of WikiLeaks. It's a website where government and corporate whistle blowers can anonymously share documents. Jim Tobias is co-coordinator of Honest Appalachia, which will focus on North Carolina and six other states.