Newspage
Dale Jett Resigns from Carter Fold
Dale Jett resigned as the emcee and regularly performing artist at the
Carter Fold's weekly shows on December 8, 2007. The board voted to
remove him as a director at a later date. He had long been an admired
artist and was closely identified with the weekly shows. His absence
from the stage is keenly felt by us all.
A group calling itself the "Friends of the Fold" now falsely claims that
Dale was fired from the Fold's stage. But Dale was never asked to leave
the stage. Removing Janette Carter's son would be unthinkable. To the
contrary, he was urged to continue to share his artistry with the public
at the weekly shows and the annual festivals. He declined to do so.
In newspaper ads and on a website, these so-called "Friends" distort the
facts of Dale's quitting the stage, and in doing so they unfairly malign
the Carter Fold. This group is not affiliated in any way with the Carter
Fold, and is acting entirely on its own. The public should be aware that
any support or contribution to that group will in no way benefit the
Carter Fold.
We continue to regret Dale's having quit our stage. But in the interest
of truth, we must state the facts as they are. We all wish Dale the
best.
Above all, the board is dedicated to and will unceasingly continue to
perpetuate the heritage Janette Carter established of providing a venue
for the best in Old-Time Appalachian acoustical music performances, in a
family atmosphere, at a price affordable to all.
See the Entire Weekly
Carter Family Fold Shows
At Home Whenever You Choose!!
Friends and fans of the Carter Family Fold are now able to see each week's complete show
wherever they and their computers happen to be and whenever they choose!
For only $5.00, an entire weekly performance may be viewed not only once but twice or even more
frequently during the course of the following week. The shows are videotaped live at the Carter Family
Fold and made available to you at this special web site:
http://www.carterfoldshow.com/ .
This technical marvel is now available and is ready for your
first visit! If you can't be on hand to see the show yourself, this
definitely is next best!!
New Play About Jimmie Rodgers
to be Presented at Carter Fold
A new play by our area's physician-playright, Dr. Douglas Pote, has
begun a long run at the Barter Theatre (Abington, Virginia) and will be
presented for one performance only at the Carter Fold Friday,
November 16, 2007. Show time is 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available
only through the Barter Theatre Box Office.
Telephone number for the box office is (276) 628-3991. Further
information is available at the Barter Theatre's web site,
http://bartertheatre.com.
Coal Miners and Youth
Spotlighted in Major Benefit
Concert at the Carter Fold
September 23
The official release of the much-anticipated Music of Coal CD set
gets celebrated at the renowned Carter Family Fold Sunday, September 23,
with a special benefit concert by London, Kentucky native Darrel Scott and his father Wayne.
Presenting the concert is the Lonesome Pine Office on Youth.
Darrel Scott is one of the most respected, multi-talented musicians performing today. His electrifying musicianship and dynamic concert performances are matched by his great skills as a songwriter and singer. His songs have been recorded by the Dixie Chicks, Travis Tritt, and Patty Loveless, just a few of the artists who eagerly seek out Scott for his great ability to write number-one hits. His song “Never Leave Harlan Alive” has become one of today’s most-performed
songs.
“He is one of the great writers of our time," say The Dixie
Chicks. "He brings a complete package through perfectly crafted
lyrics, groove and melody. When you listen to his songs, you can
tell he has lived them,” they continue.
“Genius. Pure, unadulterated genius!" exclaims Michael Clark. "No one writes better than Darrel Scott!"
“Scott is one of those so-talented-you-want-to-smack-him guys! He’s among our town’s best singers, best songwriters, and best instrumentalists,”
says the Nashville Tennessean.
The concert will also feature Darrel’s father, Wayne, whom Darrel credits for his early musical training
(and for a great example of patience as a single dad raising three
sons).
Somehow Wayne always found money and time to set out on occasional weekends for Nashville and the “Grand Ole Opry”. There is also a story about young Darrel asking to borrow his dad’s Gibson Hummingbird guitar and taking it to a pond below the house to see if it would float! Wayne just shrugged it off saying, “At least he has a curiosity.”
Darrel's great love and pride for his dad and his dad’s music becomes clear when we learn that the first CD produced on Darrel’s new independent label, Full Light Records, was Wayne’s, “This Wearing Way," an old-school, mountain country album.
Scott’s respect for coal miners and their families was demonstrated when he gave “Never Leave Harlan Alive” to Lonesome Pine Office
of Youth to use on the Music of Coal CD royalty free, and by his
willingness to add one more dates to his already-too-busy schedule so as to kick off the official release of
Music of Coal, and its accompanying 75-page book.
There are 48 songs on the 2-CD set, and the book, written by producer Jack Wright,
is filled with pictures and historical information about the songs, artists, and coal mining life in central Appalachia.
Music of Coal was produced for Lonesome Records, a
non-profit, special project label focusing on Appalachian life and culture
and operated by the Lonesome Pine Office on Youth (LPOY).
Young people participating in LPOY programs learn about producing both music and books through this project and other projects to follow.
Recorded and mastered at the respected Maggard Sound Studio in Big Stone Gap, Virginia,
Music of Coal features songs dating back to 1900 with the Thomas A. Edison Orchestra’s “Down in the Coal
Mines,” as well as music that is as cutting-edge, fresh, and new as Foddershock’s “Dyin’ To Make A Livin’.”
Country music legend Tom T. Hall wrote and sings a brand new song, “Coal
Mining Man,” for this CD.
In fact, nearly half the songs on the second CD are new. Ralph Stanley and Dwight Yoakum team up for unforgettable harmonies, and CD 2 ends with Natalie Merchant’s powerful new interpretation of Florence Reese’s labor anthem, “Which Side Are You On,” reminding us of the lasting power of song. Merchant was so moved by the music and book that she returned her performance rights check to help fund the next recording project at LPOY.
The Songs of Coal Concert begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 23,
on the stage of the Carter Fold, located on the A.P. Carter Highway near Hiltons, Va. The first half of the
evening will feature regional artists who recorded songs for the 2-CD set. Veteran performers Dale Jett, Dorothy Myles, Ron Short, and Jack Wright will share the stage with 14-year-old Molly Slemp, who will perform a Jean Ritchie song, “West Virginia Mine Disaster.” Even though it was written many years ago, Ritchie’s song is as timely and potent as today’s headlines.
Nashville singer/songwriter, Suzanne Mumpower-Johnson, born in Appalachia, Virginia, will sing her powerfully drawn yet gentle portrait of a miner’s family entitled,
"Coal Dust Kisses."
Other artists are being added as the date draws near. Smithsonian folklorist Joe Wilson, author of The Guide to the Crooked Road, will serve as emcee for the concert.
Darrel Scott will take the stage around 5 p.m. He and his Dad will finish out the concert.
Tickets will be available at:
Lonesome Pine Office on Youth, Big Stone Gap, VA
Campbell’s Morrel Music, Johnson City, TN
Morrell Music, Bristol, TN
Matt Smith’s Music, Abingdon, VA
Jeff’s Morrell Music Shop, Kingsport, TN
Ralph Stanley Museum, Clintwood, VA
Dads CD’s, Wise, VA
Appalshop, Whitesburg, KY
Abraham Music, Harlan, KY
Tickets are $15, if purchased before the concert date, and $18 at the door. Children under 7 years of age will be admitted free.
For more information call Lonesome Pine Office on Youth, (276) 523-5064, ext. 10.
This is a unique and rare opportunity to hear some powerful music and
to witness the extraordinary talents of Darrel Scott.
This concert is sponsored in part by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, Melissa & Jerry Wharton, A& G Coal Company, and the Virginia Folklife Program.
New President for
Carter Family Memorial Music Center
The Board of the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Inc., elected Howard Klein
as its new President on May 5, 2007.
Howard Klein has had a long association with the Carter Family
Memorial Music Center (CFMMC). He was formerly Director for
Arts at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York, and was instrumental in helping Janette
Carter found CFMMC as a not-for-profit organization in 1979.
He continued to work with Ms. Carter over the years and, after her death, in January, 2006,
Mr.Klein volunteered to work with the organization as a consultant.
Howard Klein has degrees from the Juilliard School of Music in New York and was a music
critic for the New York Times. As arts grants officer with the Rockefeller Foundation for
20 years, he helped found 46 not-for-profit arts organizations, including the Sundance
Institute, the Eliot Feld Ballet, New World Records and Maurice Sendak’s “In The Night Kitchen”
Children’s Theater.
He has consulted for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Pew Charitable
Trusts, the Reader’s Digest Foundation, Opera America and the American Symphony Orchestra
League. He was a Management Consultant for the National Endowment for the Arts Advancement
Program for five years.
Mr. Klein’s wife, Patricia Windrow, a painter, has served on the Board of CFMMC
since its founding and developed many projects for Janette Carter, including formal
portraits of Ms.Carter, a children’s coloring book illustrating activities at the Carter
Fold (two editions), and portraits of Sara and A.P. Carter.
Mr. Klein, in accepting his new post said, “Janette Carter created a vibrant legacy
when she founded the Carter Fold. Her promise to her dying father to do what she could
to keep his music and that of the Original Carter Family alive, and her prodigious work
on behalf of her cause has benefited all of us. Carter Family songs are the mother lode
of traditional, old-time music, and they are part of the bedrock of Appalachian culture.
It is an honor for me to be able to work for this organization that Janette created.
We will continue her mission to further the music and the musicians she so heroically
championed.”
The Kleins make their home in Front Royal, in Warren County, Virginia.
Annual Festival Announced
This year's Carter Family Fold Festival and Crafts Show, the 33rd, will again be
presented on the first Friday/Saturday in August, August 3 and 4, 2007.
Complete details are available by viewing this
online version of the official festival
flyer. This file is in .pdf format, so you will need to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader if it
is not already present on your system.
Keep On the Sunny Side Again
On Stage July 25-August 12
The Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock, North Carolina,
will feature 21 performances of the tremendously popular musical about
the Carter Family in mid-summer 2007. Ticket prices will average $25,
with 326 seats available for each performance.
Nearly a quarter-million persons in in such states as Alabama, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri,
Illinois, and Georgia have seen the highly acclaimed production originally
staged by the Barter Theatre in Abington, Virginia.
Further information is available at
The Blowing Rock Stage Company
P.O. Box 2170
Blowing Rock, North Carolina 28605
(828) 295-9168
Carter Family Musical Returns to the Stage
The tremendously popular musical about the early days in the career of the Carter Family has
returned to the stage, at least for a limited run (through May 14), as the season opener for the Flat Rock Playhouse
in Asheville, North Carolina.
The highly acclaimed production, originally staged by the Barter Theatre in Abington, Virginia, previously has been
presented in such states as Alabama, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri,
Illinois, and Georgia following numerous performances at the Barter Theatre.
A comprehensive
feature story in the Ashville Citizen-Times provides much information about the
show itself, its history, and its special performance in Asheville.
Jerry Hensley Appears
December 16 in the
"Down The Road" Feature
Jerry Hensley regards himself as a native son of Poor Valley even
though he was born in Cleveland. Within two weeks of his birth, he was
paying his first visit to Carter Family territory and spent nearly every
summer of his young life in Maces Springs with family and absorbing
music.
He's especially proud of the fact that he's related to the Carter
Family in a pretty significant way: one of the five sons of his
great-grandfather was none other than A.P. Carter himself.
By the time he was four, he was already asking for a guitar. He
didn't get one until he was 12.
It didn't take long to develop the kind of virtuosity that was to take him onto many stages and
bandstands all over the world, working not only for Tommy Cash as one of his
"TomCats," but also for Johnny Cash and, later, for The Statler Brothers
until their retirement in 2002.
Solo Artists and Songwriters to be
Featured Monthly at Carter Fold
It's been a long-standing dream of Dale Jett, son of the late Janette Carter, to somehow help shine
the spotlight on outstanding solo performers or artists not part of a band or other performing
organization. Thanks to a grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities,
one which also is
part of a "We the People" grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities, his opportunity
has arrived.
Once a month, the regular Saturday night program at the Carter Fold will be augmented by a feature
to be known as "Down the Road."
"Like my grandfather [A.P. Carter], I strongly admire songwriters. And I collect music, as well as doing some songwriting myself.
There have been many fine artists that have been unable to be booked at the Fold because they weren't a "dance band," per se.
Considering the contribution that the Original Carter Family has made, that of Janette and Joe, and many others who played at the
Fold in its earlier years, I wanted to encourage songwriters and solo performers to continue this tradition at the Fold. Thus, the series," he
explains.
"We are deeply appreciative of the VFH's encouragement to
pursue this special project. We will be seeking additional funding from private
sponsors and hope to produce a future CD as a result of the sessions. All
proceeds from this will be used to continue the 'Down the Road' sessions," adds Dale, who, with wife Teresa,
will be the project staff designated to manage this segment of the
programs at the Fold.
A starting date and future schedules will be included on our Web site schedules page. Further information is available
by viewing an image of the new brochure recently produced about the
Down The Road sessions.
Carter Family Musical Returns to the Stage
The tremendously popular musical about the early days in the career of the Carter Family has
returned to the stage, at least for a limited run (through May 14), as the season opener for the Flat Rock Playhouse
in Asheville, North Carolina.
The highly acclaimed production, originally staged by the Barter Theatre in Abington, Virginia, previously had been performed
for over 150,000 persons in in such states as Alabama, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri,
Illinois, and Georgia following numerous performances at the Barter Theatre.
A comprehensive
feature story in the Ashville Citizen-Times provides much information about the
show itself, its history, and its special performance in Asheville.
Third Carter Family Song added to
Grammy Hall of Fame
The beloved theme song of the Carter Family, "Keep On The Sunny Side," is one of 25 new
additions to the Grammy Hall of Fame, according to an announcement from the Recording Academy
January 12.
Carter Family classics "Wildwood Flower" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" were inducted in 1999 and 1998, respectively.
Titles from all categories of recordings are chosen for the honor, now numbering 684. "The Recording Academy's
National Trustees established the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or
historical significance that are at least 25 years old. Hall Of Fame recordings are reviewed annually by a
special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts
and final approval is made by Recording Academy Trustees," explains the Academy's press release.
Other inductees this year include motion picture soundtracks from An
American in Paris, Gone With The Wind, original Broadway cast
recordings of Camelot and Hair, musical and dramatic selections
from the original soundtrack of The Wizard of Oz, and individual hit
recordings such as "Walk Don't Run," by The Ventures; "Good Night Irene," by
Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers; "Love Train," by The O'Jays; and "Downhearted Blues," by Bessie Smith.
A complete list of Grammy Hall of Fame inductees through 2005 can be viewed
by
clicking here. The complete news release announcing this year's Hall of Fame
inductees is available
here.
Official Funeral Arrangements
for Janette Carter Announced
HILTONS, VA - Jeanette Carter, 82, went to be with the Lord early Sunday morning at Wellmont-Holston Valley
Medical Center after a brief illness.
She was born July 2, 1923, a daughter of the late A.P. and Sara Dougherty Carter of Scott County,
Virginia.
She was a member of the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, the founder of the Carter Family Memorial Music
Center, Inc. and the Carter Family Museum, of which she took great pride.
She had received over the years, numerous awards and recognition, including the National Heritage Award,
for her dedication in preserving old-time and traditional music.
She was preceded in death by her son, Donald William Jett; her sister, Gladys Carter Millard and her brother,
Joe D. Carter.
Survivors include her daughter and son in law, Rita and Bob Forrester of Hiltons,
Virginia; her son and
daughter in law, Dale Jett and wife Teresa of Hiltons, Virginia; five grandchildren, Malissa Nowling, Justin Forrester,
Tyler Forrester, Yancy Pyne and Tucker Jett.; four great grandchildren, William Nowling, Madison Pyne,
Macey Pyne and Payton Pyne; the father of her children, James Livingston Jett of Bristol,
Virginia;
numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and others survive along with many "adopted" loved ones.
Her body will lie in state from 1 pm until 8 pm on Wednesday, January 25,
2006 at the Scott County Funeral Home, 280 Hwy 23N, Weber City, Virginia, and
the family will arrive at 4 pm to meet visitors. Burial will be private and the
public is asked to respect the family's privacy at this time. A public memorial
service will take place at 2 pm on Sunday afternoon, January 29, 2006 at the
Carter Family Fold at Hiltons, Virginia. Everyone wishing to attend those
services is asked to arrive by 1:55 pm.
Pallbearers are Tom Bledsoe, Blanard Collins, Bob Forrester, Raymond McLain, Dr. Joseph Smiddy, and John Wolfe.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following non-profit
organizations: Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church Building Fund, c/o Flo Wolfe,
Rt. 1 Box 76-A, Hiltons, Virginia 24258; Carter Family Memorial Music Center, PO
Box 111, Hiltons, Virginia 24258, or the Janette Carter Emergency Assistance
Fund - Mt. Empire Community College, 3441 Mt. Empire Road, Big Stone Gap,
Virginia 24219 Attn: MECC Foundation.
For additional information or reaction to the news of the death of Janette Carter, please click
here.
Janette Carter Has Passed Away
Despite heroic attempts to save her life, Janette Carter, 82, beloved
matriarch of the Carter Family, passed away at 6 a.m. (EST) Sunday, January 22, at
Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee. She had been unconscious
since Tuesday evening (January 17), when her health took a major downward turn. She had endured a combination of chronic illnesses, several surgical procedures over the last
several years, and Parkinson's Disease. Prior to being rushed to the hospital's
emergency room Tuesday, she had been undergoing physical therapy in a nearby rehabilitation facility
following a fall in her home Christmas day.
Daughter Rita Forrester reported Thursday that her mother, while still critical, had begun showing some
signs of improvement. Other complications overnight Friday, however, required
emergency surgery Saturday despite Janette's
weakness and medical instability.
Over the next 24 hours, two Code Blue events occurred. A team of physicians revived her after the first event but
were unable to bring her back after the second.
Final arrangements will be handled by the Scott County Funeral Home in Weber City, Virginia. Those arrangements
will be announced later, according to Rita Forrester.
As for the future of the Carter Fold, Rita Forrester says her mother's
objectives, policies, goals, and ambitions will continue
as before.
Janette Carter was one of three children born to A. P. and Sara Carter. A. P. Carter was the founder and
leader of the history-making trio that began recording in 1927. Three daughters born to Maybelle Carter,
the other member of the original trio, have also passed away. With the passing last March of her brother Joe, Janette
remained the last surviving child of members of the original Carter Family.
Janette followed her father's last wishes—to do all she could to preserve not
only Carter Family music but also the old-time folk and country music of the
Appalachians—by presenting country music performances at the site of the general
store her father operated in his final years. Over the next several decades,
those performances grew, becoming the Carter Family Fold, centerpiece of the
not-for-profit Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Inc. The Saturday night
performances have become the region's top visitor attraction.
Above: One of her favorite events of the year for Janette was her annual get-together with
long-time devoted friends, the McLain Family. This photo, taken December 10, 2005, shows Janette surrounded
by members of the McLain Family, as well as members of her own family and close
friends, prior to the McLain Family Band performance at
the Carter Fold that evening.
Janette's lifetime of hard work and struggles brought her countless awards and phenomenal national and international
recognition. The latest honor, and among the most significant, occurred last September when she was presented the Bess Lomax Hawes award
from the National Endowment for the Arts in recognition of her
lifelong efforts in the preservation and performance of Appalachian music.
Janette Carter's parents, A.P. and Sara, and her Aunt Maybelle Carter produced a
musical legacy internationally regarded as
pivotal in the establishment of the country music industry and have been in the Country Music Hall of Fame since 1970.
These are some of the tributes reported by newspapers upon learning of Janette's passing:
Kingsport Times-News,
The
Tennessean (Nashville),
Bristol Herald-Courier.
Among the many additional tributes appearing are these:
Associated Press,
Kingsport Times-News,
Bristol Herald-Courier,
Cybergrass,
CMT.com,
Hollywood Reporter,
Washington Post,
Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
Altville.com,
RamRadio.net,
Rolling Stone,
Vince Staten column in Kingsport Times-News, Richmond
Times-Dispatch,
Los Angeles Times (AP story) and where you may sign the Times
Guest Book if you wish. As others come to our attention, they will be added to this
list.
Another Fall Hospitalizes Janette Carter
Christmas Day 2005 started out to be a day of celebration and reunion of family members
for Carter Family matriarch Janette Carter. Enthusiasm and eagerness to be ready for visitors
caused Janette to bypass the cautions expressed by her caregivers to remain seated until they
were able to return in a minute or two. Janette attempted to walk over to
some clothing in order to complete dressing when, instead,
she took a tumble and broke her wrist.
Family members attending her immediately took her to the hospital, where she underwent surgery 30 minutes
after arrival. She is now in a rehabilitation facility attached to the hospital and will remain there for
the next two weeks, accordingto daughter Rita Forrester.
We Mourn the Passing of Will Keys
 Carter Fold staff and management joins the many thousands of fans of old-time banjo player Will Keys in mourning
the passing of this great musician who has been a much-loved regular performer virtually from the beginning of
the Fold. He had, in fact, been one of the original entertainers even when our Saturday evening shows were being held
in the A. P. Carter Store, now the Carter Family Museum. As a member of The Homefolks, Will has played at every
one of our annual festivals since the first one.
Will passed away November 4th, following a lengthy illness.
Recognized and celebrated as one of the greatest practitioners of old-time banjo picking, Will had a unique two-fingered
style that brought him in 1996 one of the highest forms of recognition in folk arts, a National Heritage Fellowship from the
National Endowment for the Arts.
We express our deep sadness and condolences to Will's family. We feel
your deep sense of loss.
We invite you to visit the web site established by his family in his honor.
Click here.
Carter Family Honored in Virginia Beach Legends Walk
The Carter Family and U.S. Naval Admiral Richard E. Byrd topped the list of native Virginians honored in
2005 with induction to the Virginia Legends Walk in ceremonies in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The Virginia Legends Walk honors Virginians by birth or residence, who have made significant contributions to
the nation and the world.
The ceremonies October 20 also included a question-and-answer session with local school children during which
Carter Family descendant Rita Forrester joined a nephew of Admiral Byrd in discussions about the legacies of
their famous relatives.
Other inductees this year included explorer William Clark, celebrated African-American businesswoman
and first woman to charter and serve as president of a bank Maggie Lena Walker, author William Styron,
author Tom Wolfe, and oceanographic innovator Matthew Fontaine Maury, Confederate cavalryman James Ewell
Brown “Jeb” Stuart, frontiersman George Rogers Clark, and Triple-Crown Thoroughbred racing legend Secretariat.
The most influential group in country music history, The Carter Family transformed country music in
the 1930s, produced scores of country music classics, and created the “Carter Lick,”
a style of guitar playing that continues to dominate instrumental components of country music.
Comprised of A.P.(1891–1960), his wife, Sara (1898–1979), and sister-in-law Maybelle (1909–1978),
The Carter Family played locally throughout the Clinch Mountain region in southwestern Virginia before
auditioning and then recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company during historic recording sessions in
Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee in 1927.
The group's first six singles recorded included “The Wandering Boy” and “Single Girl, Married Girl” and became huge successes.
Over the next seven years The Carter Family would record the majority of their popular songs including
“Wildwood Flower,” a song later named by National Public Radio as one of the 100 "most important American musical
works of the twentieth century." Other standards include “Keep On The Sunny Side,” “Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone,”
and “Can The Circle Be Unbroken.” Hundreds of modern country and bluegrass singers have covered
The Carter Family’s timeless music.
The Carter Family moved over to Decca Records in 1936, which led to a series of radio contracts with stations along the
Mexican and Texas border. The stations’ locations increased their ability to broadcast further distances, and
The Carter Family sound was heard throughout the nation.
In 1952, The Carter Family signed with Acme Records where A.P., Sara, and their daughter Janette would
record almost 100 songs through the next four years.
Fourteen years later The Carter Family became the first group to be elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Sharing the honors with The Carter Family, Admiral Byrd, born in Winchester, Virginia in 1888,
graduated from the United States Navel Academy in 1912. During World War I, he commanded an air
station in Nova Scotia and eventually would command all naval operations during World War II as Chief of Staff.
An excellent aviator, he developed the technique of nighttime landings of seaplanes on the ocean.
Beyond naval aviation, Adm. Byrd is recognized internationally as an early pioneer of polar exploration
in the Arctic and Antarctica regions. His first polar expedition was to the Arctic, where he claimed a
vast territory for the U.S. On May 9, 1926, he navigated a plane over the North Pole, a feat that
earned him the Medal of Honor.
In 1927, Admiral Byrd flew across the Atlantic Ocean with a three-man crew just one month after
Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight. Turning his attention south, Adm. Byrd lead four major expeditions to
Antarctica from 1928 through 1947, including a 1929 flight over the South Pole.
Favorable publicity and="Sunny"> public supportiral Byrd recognized when he appropriately
named his Antarctic research base "Little America."
During his second trip to Antarctica, Admiral Byrd spent five months alone researching, often enduring
temperatures as low as –76 degrees Fahrenheit. That experience was the subject of his self-penned book,
Alone, published in 1938. Shortly before his death in 1957, Admiral Byrd directed Operation Deep Freeze,
the first phase of the United States military’s operations in the Antarctic region.
Admiral Byrd and The Carter Family were two of 40 eligible Virginians qualified this year for Virginia
Legends Walk induction. Hundreds of nominations from around the world were submitted. Ballots were sent to a
statewide network of almost 800 judges, including college and university presidents,
heads of historical societies and museums, history professors, librarians and news media representatives.
All voting went directly to the auditing firm of KPMG, Virginia Beach, for independent tally.
The Carter Family received 56.7% of the total votes for candidates. Adm. Richard E. Byrd received 52.2% of the total
votes.
Virginia Beach officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of resort visitors and area residents have toured
Virginia Legends Walk since its introduction in 1999. The Walk was created as a permanent living monument to honor
great Virginians and is located one block from the Virginia Beach oceanfront at 13th Street.
Virginia Legends Walk has seven U.S. Presidents (from George Washington to Woodrow Wilson), five celebrated
generals, nine internationally known musicians, and other key historical figures from the Commonwealth.
A complete list and biographies of those honored through the years can be found online at
http://va-legends.com/. Nominations are now
being accepted for the 2006 candidates by completing the online application
(also at http://va-legends.com/) or by calling (800) 333-6397.
Janette Carter Returns Home
Janette Carter returned home Saturday, October 22, and appeared at the Carter Fold
performance that evening.
She remains weak, however, and will require considerable rest and relaxation before returning to
her full routine, according to daughter Rita Forrester. Just being back home absolutely delights her,
and she expresses her sincere thanks for the many good wishes from friends and fans.
Janette Carter Hospitalized
Carter Family matriarch Janette Carter is now in the second week of a hospital stay at Holston Valley Medical Center
in Kingsport, Tennessee.
She was admitted Thursday, September 29th, with weakness and inability to walk.
An extensive series of tests revealed she was suffering from a severe urinary tract infection
and that she evidently had passed a gallstone.
She remains very weak and is still unable to stand or walk without
assistance. She has begun a regimen of physical therapy, and her doctors are hopeful that she might be released this weekend, but they haven’t ruled
out a longer stay.
She is anxious to get home and has even asked her doctors if she might get a “pass”
to come to the Fold on Saturdays. Please keep her in your prayers.
Irish Tourists Enjoy a Special Carter Fold Performance
The special invitation for local friends of the Carter Fold to attend a special Monday
(October 10) performance
at the Carter Fold was to give a visiting group of tourists from Ireland an opportunity to see how
some of their musical heritage has come to play its role in American folk and country music.
The special event was a huge success for the Carter Fold staff as well as for the tour group.
A feature story in the Kingsport Times-Press describes the event and may be read by clicking on
this link.
You might be asked to register at the web site, but there is no charge for doing so.
N E A Awards Ceremony Honors Janette Carter
Janette Carter was one of 12 individuals to received the nation's highest honor in folk and traditional
arts awarded Thursday, September 22, in Washington, D. C., by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Chosen for Janette's lifelong efforts at promoting and preserving Appalachian music and art, the award presented to
Janette was the Bess Lomax Hawes award. The ceremony took place at the Canon House Office Building Caucus Room.
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National Endowment for the Arts
Chairman Dana Gioia presents the Bess Lomax Hawes Award to Janette Carter in recognition of her dedication
to the preservation of traditional and Appalachian folk music. |
U.S. Senator John Warner (R-VA) joins NEA Chairman Dana Gioia in congratulating
Janette Carter following the award presentation. Approximately 200 persons, including several Members of
Congress and congressional staff members, attended the ceremony. Eleven others received NEA recognition
this year. Awardees "were chosen for their artistic excellence, cultural authenticity, and contributions to their field. The traditions
they represent range from Navajo weaving, to Hawaiian chanting, and Mexican American paper-cutting to Cajun fiddling." |
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A group photo of all the 2005 Awards recipients.
By choosing this link, you may review not only all the information
about this prestigious award, but also a list of all who received this recognition.
Longtime friend and Carter Family colleague Kevin Lamb of peermusic Nashville attended the
ceremony and graciously provided these photographs. He commented afterwards, "peermusic is proud of our 78 year affiliation with the Carter Family.
Janette's work in promoting her father's music has led to a strong heritage of preserving Appalachian music.
Her work will influence generations to come, exposing them to a rich musical history dating back to
our ancestors in Ireland, England and Scotland. These influences are not only the foundation of country music,
they continue to form Country Music as we know it today. This recognition by the National Endowment for the Arts
is not only well deserved, but in my opinion is long overdue." |
Appreciation to Kevin Lamb also for providing a PDF file of
this page from the ceremony program book which
describes the contributions made by Janette Carter throughout her lifetime.
Katrina Survivors to be Helped by Carter Fold Visitors
Opportunities for Carter Fold visitors as well as local residents now have expanded opportunities to
help those affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
Between now and December 17, the Carter Fold will be accepting dropped-off donations of canned food at
the regular Saturday night performances as well as during the week when the Fold is open and undergoing
construction work.
Also accepting dropped-off donations of canned fold is the Birthplace of Country Music Museum at the
Bristol Mall (open during Mall hours). Those attending the Thursday night Pickin' Porch shows may also drop off
canned food as donations for Katrina victims.
All donations will be routed through the Second Harvest Food Bank in Abingdon, Virginia.
In line with the regular policy of the Carter Fold, admission to the annual Christmas show (December 17 this year)
will be free to those bringing donations of canned food.
Don Jett, son of Janette Carter, Passes Away
Janette Carter, daughter Rita Forrester, youngest son Dale Jett, and many other family members are mourning the sudden death of
Donald William Jett, 63, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, who died Wednesday, July 20, 2005, at Palmetto
Health Baptist Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.
Don was Janette's oldest child and had been struggling to recover from surgery several weeks prior to his death.
Janette Carter Receives Major Award from NEA
Janette Carter is one of twelve recipients of the nation's highest honors in folk and traditional arts. In its
(June 15, 2005) announcement, the National Endowment for the Arts also stated that Janette is being given the
Bess Lomax Hawes award in honor of her lifelong efforts in the preservation and performance of Appalachian music.
Janette will be presented the award in Washington, D.C., at a ceremony September 22.
The public is welcome at two of the events related to the award, the actual presentation on Thursday,
September 22, and a concert Friday, September 23. The presentation will be between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at
the Canon House Office Building Caucus Room. The concert will be at the Lisner Auditorium on the campus of
George Washington University between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Complete details may be found on the NEA web site or by
clicking on this link.
Janette Carter Returns to Home and
Fold
Janette Carter, who lost her balance and fell in her
dining room at home, has completed her resulting hospitalization and rehabilitation.
She's also been able to return to a limited range of her duties and
performances at the Carter Fold on Saturdays.
Janette, 81, had just changed into the clothes she was to wear at the
April 30 Carter Fold performance and was
about to be picked up for the short drive from her home to the Fold when she apparently moved too quickly
and was unable to prevent the tumble. Her grandson discovered her on the floor and began the sequence of events
that brought aid. Hospitalization and a stint in a rehabilitation facility
followed.
PBS' American Experience Airs Carter Family
Special
The national Public Television Service series American Experience begins airing its documentary
about the original Carter Family Monday, May 9. Various local stations on the network may schedule their
showings at other times.
The program's titled The Carter Family: Will The Circle Be Unbroken and has an extensive web site
rich in information not only about the production itself but also about the family and descendants.
The program tells the story of the three Virginians whose
recordings beginning in 1927 helped establish what today has become the
country music industry. A.P. Carter, his wife Sara, and sister-in-law
Maybelle Carter and their 300-plus recordings even today are tremendously
popular world wide, respected everywhere as the solid foundation of country
music.
Actor Robert Duvall narrates the documentary. Nashville Public Television affiliate WNPT's Kathy
Conkright wrote, directed, and produced the program. It features seldom-seen
archival materials, interviews with Carter descendants and contemporary
artists ranging from Ralph Stanley to Joan Baez, Gillian Welch, Rodney
Crowell, and Marty Stuart.
At the time the Carter Family began
making its records for the Victor Talking Machine Company, later RCA Victor
Records, there was no "country music industry." There was no Music Row with
publishing companies, staff producers, song pluggers, promotion personnel,
radio exposure. A.P. discovered songs and stories that he made into songs by
setting out on long treks into the mountain communities where he'd look,
listen, observe, and then compile. He'd bring the results back to Maces
Springs and then would rehearse the material with Sara and Maybelle. Then,
working with pioneering recording and publishing executive Ralph Peer,
they'd do the recording.
The genius of that original trio arises from the fact
that there was no one to copy or to model themselves after. Their work was
original. That work remains today as some of the most beloved,
most-appreciated musical artistry in history and world wide.
A complete transcript of the program
is available on the American Experience web site.
Joe Carter Passes Away
Following a struggle with liver cancer, Joe Carter, 78, passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2005, shortly before 5 p.m. One of
three children born to A.P. and Sara Carter, Joe was a beloved personality and performer at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons,
Virginia.
He and his sister Janette spent most of their lives in the southwest corner of Virginia, where their parents and Maybelle Addington Carter
formed the world-famous Carter Family trio that began recording in 1927.
Although the family was aware of the imminence of Joe's death, his passing has deeply affected Janette and the rest of
the tightly knit family.
Funeral services took place Sunday afternoon at the
Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, a short distance from the Carter Family
Fold in Hiltons, Virginia. Flowers or a donation to the Mt. Vernon United
Methodist Church Cemetery Fund at the following address are welcome.
Mt. Vernon United
Methodist Church Cemetery Fund
c/o
Mrs. Flo Wolfe
Route 1, Box 76A
Hiltons, Virginia 24258
Links to some press and broadcasting reports related to Joe's passing are included here:
The
Kingsport Times News
CBC
(Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) News
Carter Family Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) during this year's Grammy Awards week
presented lifetime achievement awards to the members of the original Carter Family. The special
ceremony February 12 also honored Eddy Arnold, Art Blakey, Morton Gould, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jelly Roll Morton, Pinetop Perkins, and the Staple Singers
Janette Carter Named Hall of Honor
Recipient
Janette Carter received in absentia the 2005 Mountain Empire Community
College Foundation Hall of Honor at a presentation reception and
dinner May 6, according to an announcement from the college in Big
Stone Gap, Virginia.
"Since 2001, the MECC Foundation has spotlighted individuals who
have made an impact on our region and/or the development of Mountain
Empire Community College," reads the announcement. "This year’s
recipient, Janette Carter, is an ambassador for traditional music
through her diligent efforts to promote and preserve the rich
musical heritage of far southwest Virginia.
"Since
its inception in 1972 she has supported the MECC’s Home Craft Days
Music Festival and has been a featured performer on the campus many
times. She is a recognizable face in traditional and mountain music
not just locally but nationally and internationally. She represents
the region with pride and dignity, and her love of these mountains
and its music is woven into the fabric of her soul," continues the
announcement.
Donations and proceeds from the event will establish the Janette
Carter Emergency Financial Assistance Endowment providing emergency
assistance to students who experience a sudden and unforeseen change
in their financial circumstance. Emergency assistance often means
the difference between staying in school and dropping out.
All donations and proceeds will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a grant from Scholarship America.
Because of her fall at home the previous Saturday evening and the subsequent hospitalization, Ms. Carter was unable to attend the gala event on Friday, May 6, 2005 in the Goodloe Center of Phillips-Taylor Hall on the MECC campus.
Dale Jett CD Now Available
Details about his new release by Carter Family grandson Dale Jett will soon appear here. His long-awaited CD is going to be available
at the Carter Fold concession and elsewhere. Feel free to get one of the first copies by contacting Concession Manager Flo Wolfe
at this address or phone number:
Route 1, Box 76A
Hiltons, Virginia 24258
Phone: (276) 386-6910
Condolences Over Death of Beloved Friends
of the Fold Ralph Blizard and Knoxie Johnson
Regular visitors to the Carter Family Fold Saturday performances join the staff and management in expressing deep sorrow and the
sincerest condolences to the families of two devoted friends and supporters, Ralph Blizard and Knoxie Johnson, both of whom
were buried Sunday, December 5, 2004.
"Knoxie always made pies when John and June, Dixie and Tom T., or Marty and
Connie visited or for any occasion when we had lots of company for Fold events," recalls Rita Forrester, daughter of
Fold Director Janette Carter. "We'll miss her (and her pies) more than we can say. Ralph Blizard was an old-time fiddler,
first cousin to Nig Hensley, and great friend to the Fold. He had served on the Tennessee Arts Commission, and he was
a recepient of the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Award. Ralph was instrumental in establishing
Blountville, Tennessee's Friday night jam sessions at Anderson House, and he was tireless in promoting the
arts and our musical heritage to the children of the region. Ralph was a true southern gentleman, and his dignity
elevated the status of old-time music in the eyes of everyone who met him."
Keep On The Sunny Side
Concludes!
Performances of Carter Family Drama
Finishes its Astoundingly Successful
Run with Final Performances in March at the Fold
The sensationally popular,
astoundingly authentic musical drama depicting the early days in the career
of A.P. Carter, wife Sara, and sister-in-law Maybelle Carter has completed a superb tour of the South and Midwest with
its final three
performances at the Carter Fold over Easter weekend. Producers of the show,
the Barter Theatre, will not be presenting the musical again in the near
future. Over a half-million persons saw the production, some attending more
than once.
The highly acclaimed
production featured performers from the company that have thrilled audiences ever since the
famous Barter Theatre in Abingdon opened the show last year. The production
was taken on the road beginning last November for performances in such states as
Alabama, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Georgia. Nearly all performances were sold out.
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