BLUEFIELD, Va. — Southwest Virginians have an ear for music, and the “Crooked Road Royalty” photo and film exhibit at Bluefield College showcases and pays tribute to the long history of picking and singing in the Appalachian Mountains.
The exhibit is part of the Baptist-affiliated college’s year-long symposium celebrating the history, culture, traditions and people of Appalachia. It is free to the public on the second floor of Bluefield’s Easley Library, now through Nov. 17.
The ‘Crooked Road Royalty’ exhibit on display at Bluefield College, now through Nov. 17.
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Virginia’s Crooked Road heritage trail was created by the state in 2003 to highlight the region’s unique musical contributions. The 300-mile route winds through 10 counties in Southwest Virginia.
“The story of American country music is filled with singers and pickers from the Crooked Road region,” said Andrew Pauly, exhibit researcher. “Even today’s young country music stars know songs that were first recorded by the early Southwest Virginia artists.”
The “Crooked Road Royalty” exhibit highlights the careers of the Hill Billies, the Stoneman Family, the Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers, four Virginian powerhouse groups that helped build the American country music industry. The exhibit includes rare film footage and photographs of historic Crooked Road musicians.
Bluefield’s year-long “Celebration of Appalachia” includes lectures, concerts, exhibits, discussions, movies, theatre, field trips and other educational and entertaining activities — all open to the campus community and the public.
The Carter Family, one of country music’s legends, is featured in the “Crooked Road Royalty” exhibit.
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“From the people, the work ethic, the loyalties and the challenges, to the natural beauty, the traditions, the music and the food, Appalachia is a fascinating and beautiful culture,” said Bluefield president David Olive. “Author Jeff Biggers once said, ‘You can’t understand America until you understand Appalachia.’ Our desire through this year-long symposium is to increase the understanding and appreciation for the region in which we live. We hope everyone will join us in this educational and entertaining venture, in this celebration of Appalachia.”
Other events in the “Celebration of Appalachia” emphasis include:
- Billy Dean concert, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m., Harman Chapel.
- Dinner, lecture, discussion and book signing with Jeannette Walls, best-selling author of The Glass Castle, an Amazon “Top 10 Book of the Decade,” Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m., Shott Hall, $20 admission. The lecture and discussion will be repeated on Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. in Harman Chapel. Admission is free.
- Lecture by Concord University’s Terry Mullins, Appalachian studies historian and author, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.
- “Thugs, Hillbillies and Heroes: The Untold Story of Bluefield’s Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency,” presented by John A. Velke III, author of The True Story of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. , Shott Hall.
- Instrumental music concert, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. , Harman Chapel.
- “Opera Theatre: Scenes from Appalachia,” Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Harman Chapel.
- “From Seeds to Songs,” a music workshop hosted by Andrew McKnight and Beyond Borders, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m., Harman Chapel.
- “Beyond Appalachian, Beyond Blues, Beyond Folk,” a music concert, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Harman Chapel.
- “An Appalachian Christmas,” presented by BC’s Masterworks Chorale, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m., Harman Chapel.
- “Appalachian News,” an art show presented by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph’s Bill Archer, Dec. 9-Feb. 16, BC Art Gallery, Lansdell Hall.
The “Crooked Road Royalty” exhibit is produced by the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum with funding from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. It is open through Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays; from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays; and from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
For more information “A Celebration of Appalachia,“ contact Bluefield’s public relations office [email protected] or at 276.326.4212.
Chris Shoemaker ([email protected]) is director of marketing and public relations at Bluefield College.