Music of West Virginia

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West Virginia's folk heritage is a part of the Appalachian folk music tradition, and includes styles of fiddling, ballad singing, and other styles that draw on Ulster-Scots music.

West Virginia consists of a mostly rural region, although its few relatively urban centers are prominent spots of musical innovation. The Capitol Music Hall, in Wheeling, is the oldest performing place of its kind in the state, and has hosted a wide variety of acts, from national tours to the local Wheeling Symphony Orchestra.

Other music institutions in West Virginia include the Mountaineer Opera House in Milton. The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1939, as the Charleston Civic Orchestra, before becoming the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in 1943. The first conductor was William R. Wiant, followed by the prominent conductor Antonio Modarelli, of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. ^[1]

The town of Glenville has long been home to the annual West Virginia State Folk Festival.

Music history

West Virginia's historical contributions to musical development include WWVA Jamboree, a radio show that began in 1933 and soon became a very prominent regional show, based out of the Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling. WWVA, the radio station that has long broadcast WWVA Jamboree, hosts the Jamboree in the Hills every July in St. Clairsville, Ohio, just across the border from Wheeling.^[2]

The town of Oak Hill was the site of country legend Hank Williams' death, which is commemorated by a plaque in front of the public library in Oak Hill.^[3]

Music festivals

All Good Music Festival [1], Masontown Appalachian String Band Festival [2], Clifftop Dvorak/Gershwin Black History Month Festival [3], Charleston Elkhenge Music Festival [4], East Dailey Festivall Charleston [5], Charleston Gardner Winter Music Festival [6], Morgantown Heritage Music Blues Fest [7], Wheeling

Mountain Stage NewSong Festival [8], Charles Town PattyFest [9], Morgantown Stonewall Jackson Heritage Arts & Crafts Jubilee [10], Weston Upper Potomac Dulcimer Fest [11], Shepherdstown Vandalia Gathering [12], Charleston West Virginia State Folk Festival [13], Glenville Riverside Blues Festival, Elkins, WV Augusta

The Pink Moon Festival (Rock Camp, WV)

Famous musicians

See also: List of people from West Virginia

The Samples Brothers, bluegrass old time mountain music Hasil Adkins, rockabilly musician Leon "Chu" Berry, jazz saxophonist Byzantine, melodic death metal band Blur-E-Vision, Hip hop Lyricist/Producer/CEO of MABP Darkness Remains, melodic death metal/grindcore band Hazel Dickens Bluegrass singer from Mercer County The Lilly Brothers, bluegrass musicians Lynn Davis, rock musician Johnny Mercury, rockabilly/country music singer/guitarist/songwriter Hawkshaw Hawkins, countrysinger Johnny Staats, bluegrass mandolin Robert Shafer, bluegrass|flatpicking music electric/acoustic guitar Little Jimmy Dickens, country singer Shawn Jonas, Hardcore vocalist. Russel Fluharty, dulcimer player Hammons Family Pocahontas county old-timey musicians, including fiddler Edden Hammons[4] Johnnie Johnson, piano player and blues musician Karma to Burn, progressive alternative-metal band

Kathy Mattea, country singer John & Emery McClung Brothers & old timey musicians ca. 1930 Sylvia O'Brien, a renowned banjoist Tim O'Brien, bluegrass musician Molly O'Day, pioneering country vocalist Brad Paisley, country singer and songwriter The Pistol Whippers, Psychobilly band Don Redman, jazz arranger and clarinetist Nat Reese, a blues performer Michael W. Smith, contemporary Christian music star Steve Whiteman, energetic lead singer of Kix Melvin Wine, recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship Frankie Yankovic, polka musician Jesse Smith, founding member and drummer for widely influential Christian metal band, Zao. Bill Withers, Legendary R&B Artist Bobaflex, nu metal band.

References

• Byron, Janet (1996). Country Music Lover's Guide to the U.S.A. (1st ed. ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-14300-1. 
• "The Orchestra". West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20051217215539/http://www.wvsymphony.org/orchestra.php. Retrieved January 9, 2006. 
• West Virginia Old-Time Musicians
• West Virginia Music Hall of Fame
• Brandon E. Davis

Notes

1. ^ West Virginia Symphony Orchestra
2. ^ Byron, pgs. 323 - 324
3. ^ Byron, pg. 324
4. ^ "The Edden Hammons Collection", WVU Press Sound Archives Series, ASIN B00004S8ZH