Virtual Waysides

Wythe County occupies an important place on the landscape of American music. Native son Kelly Harrell was born in Draper’s Valley, and recorded for the Victor and OKeh labels in the mid to late 1920s. Harrell is most well-known for writing “New River Train” popularized by Bill Monroe; “I Was Born 10,000 Years Ago,” recorded by Elvis Presley; and “Away Out on Read more...

The traditional string music of the mountains has deep roots in Tazewell County. County historians describe fiddles and banjos playing for dances as much as 200 years ago (one account speaks of a dance which continued “until the musician was heartily tired of his situation”). Many musicians whom people still remember were never recorded. One who was, was fiddler John Read more...

Fostering one of the more diverse music scenes of any county in Southwest Virginia, Smyth County was the homeplace of master musicians working in several traditional music genres, including a cappella ballad singing (Saltville’s Texas Gladden and Marion’s Horton Barker and John M. “Sailor Dad” Hunt were nationally known) and old-time music (especially multi-instrumentalist Hobart Smith, from Saltville; banjo-player Jack Reedy, from Seven Mile Ford; and guitarist Read more...

Formed in 1786, Russell County borders many Southwest Virginia counties, sharing its largest stretch of border with Washington County. Russell County has been split several times over the years, but still has many communities and towns including Castlewood, Cleveland, Honaker, Lebanon and St. Paul. These towns and areas weave a tapestry of mining history and beautiful overlooks and hikes, including Read more...

Founded as a city in 1887, Radford is located just off I-81 between exits #105 and #109, is bordered on three sides by the New River and is home to Radford University. Radford has contributed to the heritage music scene over the years, and most notably is the home to the Radford Fiddle & Banjo Jam. Created in 2000, the Read more...

Pulaski County was formed on March 30, 1839, and was mostly an agricultural community with farmers from Scotland, Ireland and Germany. The immigrants had come to the area from the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania in the mid to late-18th century. Claytor Lake is a 4,500-acre lake surrounded by mountains that offers various watersport opportunities for visitors. The New River Trail Read more...

Known as the home of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Montgomery County is also the home to many historically important heritage musicians as well as a thriving dance scene. Rickie and Ronnie Simpkins hail from this area and have an extensive playing history with many bands. Rickie Simpkins is a bluegrass fiddler and mandolinist who had both solo albums and Read more...

Bluegrass, America’s “folk music in overdrive,” has deep roots in Buchanan County. As bluegrass was taking shape in the early 1950’s, Bill Napier emerged as one of the outstanding guitarists, first with the Stanley Brothers and later with Charlie Moore, developing a complex technique known as “cross-picking.” Another Buchanan native, Walter Hensley, won fame as the Banjo Baron of Baltimore. Read more...

Situated in one of the most unspoiled areas in Virginia, Bland County is known for its picturesque beauty and recreational amenities. About 74,000 acres of the county is located in the Jefferson National Forest and 56 miles of the Appalachian Trail creep through Bland’s scenic terrain.1 The mountains, rivers, and creeks provide leisure and tourism opportunities for families, adventurers, and Read more...