Ralph Stanley Museum
Alan Maggard
John Deere's The Crooked Road - Ep. 1
Molly Slemp
Gerald Anderson and Spencer Strickland
Larnell Starkey
Wayne Henderson
Jimmy Edmonds
John Deere's The Crooked Road - Ep. 5
Old Fiddlers Convention and Rex Theatre
Eddie Bond
John Deere's The Crooked Road - Ep. 3
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Ralph Stanley Museum
<p>Dr. Ralph Stanley has spent his life making music almost everywhere, but still calls Southwest Virginia his home. See and hear his music and his history as part of the Stanley Brothers and his later solo career.</p> -
Alan Maggard
<p>Alan Maggard continues his father Charlie's work at Maggard Sound in Big Stone Gap, recording traditional, gospel and bluegrass music, including some Grammy-award-winning albums and CDs.</p> -
John Deere's The Crooked Road - Ep. 1
<p>The origins of American country music, and its connection to land and place. See JohnDeereFurrow.com and JohnDeereHomestead.com for more information.</p> -
Molly Slemp
<p>Molly Slemp was only 11 when she recorded the ballad "West Virginia Mine Disaster," but she began singing at age 3. She's left Southwest Virginia for college in Tennessee, but still comes home to share her sweet and haunting voice with folks back in Norton and Big Stone Gap.</p> -
Gerald Anderson and Spencer Strickland
<p>Gerald Anderson's guitar and Spencer Strickland's mandolin blend together as harmoniously as their work together for many years as luthiers, first in Wayne Henderson's workshop and now in their own luthier shops. Gerald lives near Troutdale and Spencer near Lamsburg.</p> -
Larnell Starkey
<p>Larnell Starkey and the Spiritual Seven Gospel Singers are a family gospel singing group based at Chestnut Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Wirtz, VA. Their soul-stirring R&B sound resonates with audiences, creating a hand-clapping, joyous experience for all who attend.</p> -
Wayne Henderson
<p>Wayne is not only Southwest Virginia's most famous luthier but also a talented guitar player. His annual music festival awards a Henderson guitar to the best picker and raises funds to support the teaching of Appalachian music in schools.</p> -
Jimmy Edmonds
<p>Jimmy Edmonds is a virtuoso musician and instrument maker in Galax. Jimmy can't remember not being able to play the fiddle, and he prides himself on making instruments that hold up to the demands of session playing in studios.</p> -
John Deere's The Crooked Road - Ep. 5
<p>Jimmy Edmonds is a virtuoso musician and instrument maker in Galax. Jimmy can't remember not being able to play the fiddle, and he prides himself on making instruments that hold up to the demands of session playing in studios.</p> -
Old Fiddlers Convention and Rex Theatre
A week-long music competition and the oldest and largest fiddlers convention in the world, where music in the campgrounds is enjoyed as much as music on the stage. The Rex Theater hosts a Friday evening radio show, Blue Ridge Backroads Live. -
Eddie Bond
Eddie plays old time fiddle, banjo and autoharp, and knows hundreds of handed down tunes. He's lead singer and fiddler for the New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters, and lives in Fries. -
John Deere's The Crooked Road - Ep. 3
Emily Spencer plays banjo and sings in the Whitetop Mountain Band along with husband Thornton and daughter Martha, and teaches old time music in the public schools near Whitetop.
