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John Lilly of West Virginia is our featured artist this week. He’s an instrumentalist and songster whose latest album features a dozen songs about U.S. states. His range of styles and subjects reflects his experience in old time, bluegrass, and classic country music.

Hobart Jones, courtesy John Lilly

This week we take a trip down memory lane to a few of the earliest mountain and classic country music recordings. And our journey back brings us to West Virginia’s John Lilly, an artist who spans categories. He started with old time songs and tunes, was a member of the famed Green Grass Cloggers dance troupe, and all the while reveled in the sounds of Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams and other classic country performers. He says his years making music with Tennessee fiddle Ralph Blizard were crucial to his development as an instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. We find out more about that in our interview. And we hear songs from John Lilly’s recording output, somewhat modest in number but very impressive in style and quality.

Playlist

1. Ida Red

Galax Bogtrotters

Old Time Jubilation 2. Lover's Return

Galax Bogtrotters

Old Time Jubilation 3. Little Darling Pal Of Mine

Carter Family

Anchored In Love 4. The Coo Coo Bird

Clarence Ashley

Greenback Dollar 5. In The Jailhouse Now

Jimmie Rodgers

Essential Jimmie Rodgers 6. In The Jailhouse Now

Webb Pierce & Willie Nelson

In The Jailhouse Now 7. Break 1 - Buck Dancer's Choice

McGee Brothers

Sam & Kirk McGee Live 1955-67 8. Pan American

Hank Williams

The Complete Hank Williams 9. Short and Sweet

John Lilly

Cold Comfort 10. Interview - John Lilly

John Lilly

ATBR recording 11. Peach Pickin' Time In Georgia

John Lilly & Ralph Blizard

Blue Highway 12. Sally Ann

Benton Flippen & The Smokey Valley Boys

Old Time, New Times 13. M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I

John Lilly

State Songs 14. Midnight On The Water

John Lilly & Ralph Blizard

Blue Highway 15. Break 2 - Plunkin' Rag

Hubert Davis

Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys 16. The West Virginia Hills

John Lilly

State Songs 17. They Tore The Cabin Down

John Lilly

Thinking About The Weather 18. Interview - John Lilly 19. New Lost John

Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers

Southern Ramble 20. Dear Old Sunny South By The Sea

John Lilly & Ralph Blizard

Blue Highway

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atbr #john lilly #jimmie rodgers #hank williams #ralph blizard

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Elizabeth LaPrelle (left) and Anna Roberts-Gevalt appear at the Blue Ridge Music Center on Saturday, October 7, 2017. They’re two of the artists spotlighted on this week’s Across the Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge Music Center

This week’s show brings us a fun listening opportunity in southern mountain fiddling. We hear a couple of great old time fiddlers – Bobby Taylor and Ralph Blizard – and their mentors, Clark Kessinger and Arthur Smith. Hear all four fiddlers on tunes fast and slow, with a couple of fiddle songs thrown in. Plus, a wonderful collection of old time and classic-sounding bluegrass songs in the second part of the show. Then there’s a wrap-up in the third part with fiddler, banjo picker and tunesmith Jane Rothfield, a great song about who’s really the fool from Trevor McKenzie of western North Carolina, and a reach back to early bluegrass with Red Allen. Can’t miss with this show filled with engaging music and conversation.

Playlist

1. Leather Britches

Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers

Southern Ramble 2. Smith's Rag

Arthur Smith And His Dixieliners

Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners 3. Adieu False Heart

Arthur Smith And His Dixieliners

Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners 4. What Does The Deep Sea Say

Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers

Southern Ramble 5. Durang's Hornpipe

Bobby Taylor

Pickin' In The Parlor 6. Redbird

Clark Kessinger

The Legend of Clark Kessinger 7. Break 1 - Cherry River Line

The Ale Raisers

Ale Broke Loose In Georgia 8. Liza Up A 'Simmon Tree

Elizabeth LaPrelle

Lizard In The Spring 9. Soldier And the Lady

Elizabeth LaPrelle & Anna Roberts Gevalt

Anna & Elizabeth 10. My Georgia Mountain Home

Hawk Proof Rooster

Got A Little Home 11. Precious Jewel

Frank Bode

Been Riding With Old Mosby 12. I'm Gonna Sing, Sing, Sing

Charlie Monroe & His Kentucky Pardners

His Recordings 1938-56 13. I'm Nowhere Bound

Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers 14. Mountain Sally Ann

George Pegram

George Pegram 15. The Herd

Jane Rothfield

Out Of Thin Air 16. Chinquapin Hunting

Hen's Teeth

Off The Cuff And On The Fly 17. Way Down The River

Jane Rothfield

Out Of Thin Air 18. Fools And Babies

Trevor McKenzie

Generational Things 19. Summertime Is Past And Gone

Red Allen

Lonesome And Blue

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atbr #bobby taylor #ralph blizard #clark kessinger #arthur smith #jane rothfield #trevor mckenzie #red allen

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Brothers Sam (l.) and Kirk (r.) McGee with Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, early stars of the Grand Ole Opry whose music continues to influence roots music players today.

Grand Ole Opry

This week’s Across the Blue Ridge gives us a sense of the continuity of an important southern American fiddling tradition. Host Paul Brown traces the influence of Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith and the McGee Brothers, early Grand Ole Opry stars, on fiddlers of later generations. Along the way, we hear great fiddling from John Dykes, Chubby Wise, Ralph Blizard, Benton Flippen and Andy Edmonds. Also on this week’s show, samples of some great new recordings from Courtney Granger; Joe K. Walsh; Zoe & Cloyd; Arnie Naiman; and Gillian Welch.

Episode 46 Playlist

1. Billy In The Lowground

Sam & Kirk McGee

Live 1955-67 2. Milk 'Em In The Morning Blues

Sam & Kirk McGee

Live 1955-67 3. Cheatham County Breakdown

Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners

Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners 4. What Does The Deep Sea Say?

Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers

Southern Ramble 5. Lost Indian

Ralph Blizard & The New Southern Ramblers

Southern Ramble 6. Tennessee Girls

Dykes' Magic City Trio

78 RPM disc 7. Break 1 - Bonaparte's Retreat

Mac Benford

Half Past Four 8. Pretty Little Girl

Benton Flippen & The Smokey Valley Boys

Benton Flippen Old Time New Times 9. More Pretty Girls Than One

Benton Flippen & The Smokey Valley Boys

Benton Flippen Old Time New Times 10. House Of David Blues

Andy Edmonds

Me And My Fiddle 11. Dark Hollow

Buckstankle Boys

Round Peak Home 12. Stone's Rag

Chubby Wise

An American Original 13. Break 2 - That There Boogie

Karen Collins & The Backroads Band

No Yodeling On The Radio 14. Lovin' On Backstreets

Courtney Granger

Beneath Still Waters 15. Never More Will Roam

Joe K. Walsh

Borderland 16. South River Dam

Arnie Naiman

My Lucky Stars 17. Lazy Man Blues

Zoe & Cloyd

Equinox 18. Dry Town

Gillian Welch

Boots No. 1: The Official Revival Bootleg

fiddlin’ arthur smith and the mcgee brothers #john dykes #chubby wise #ralph blizard #benton flippen #andy edmonds #courtney granger #joe k. walsh #zoe & cloyd #arnie naiman #gillian welch

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