Our return trip to Tucson started with a visit to southwest Virginia, looking to hear Old-Time Country music. Our first stop was in the town of Marion, to visit the well-known Lincoln Theater. The Lincoln Theater was the location for the public television program, Song of the Mountain, a concert series showcasing Appalachian and Old-time music.
A few miles south on I-81 is Bristol VA/TN, the Birthplace of Country Music. Bristol has museums that show the history of country music and its early performers.
About 20 miles west of Bristol is the village of Hiltons, the home of the “Carter Family Fold”. The Carter Family Fold is a performance center, dedicated to the preservation and performance of old time country and bluegrass music. The original Carter’s were A. P. Carter, wife Sara and cousin Maybelle (mother of June Carter Cash, wife of Johnny Cash).
The night we were there, the performance was by The Carson Peters Band. Carson Peters is thirteen years old musical prodigy. Once you have heard him play the fiddle, you would think he has been playing for 20-30 years.
Bristol is only one of the places for old-time music on Virginia’s “The Crooked Road”. The Crooked Road starts in Rocky Mount, goes west 333 miles, passing through Galax, to Breaks Interstate Park on the Kentucky border. Along this road one can truly hear country music as it was played years ago.
Our next stop will be Memphis TN for jazz and ribs.