Travis D. Stimeling
288pp / 22 images
PB 978-1-946684-27-1
$28.99
Epub 978-1-946684-28-8
$28.99
PDF 978-1-946684-29-5
$28.99
Sounding Appalachia Series
Summary
Songwriting in Contemporary West Virginia: Profiles and Reflections is the first book dedicated to telling the stories of West Virginia’s extensive community of songwriters. Based on oral histories conducted by Stimeling and told largely in the songwriters’ own words, these profiles offer a lively overview of the personalities, venues, and networks that nurture and sustain popular music in West Virginia.
Stimeling is attentive to breadth and diversity, presenting sketches of established personalities like Larry Groce, who oversees Mountain Stage, and emerging musicians like Maria Allison, who dreams of one day performing there. Each profile includes a brief selected discography to guide readers to recordings of these musicians’ work.
Contents
Acknowledgments
A Note on Sources
Introduction
Part I: Charleston—West Virginia’s Songwriting Capital
Ron Sowell
Larry Groce
Julie Adams
John Lilly
Dina Hornbaker
Mike Pushkin
Colleen Anderson
Mike Arcuri
Roger Rabalais
Part II: The Ohio Valley—Rivers of Song
Todd Burge
Lionel Cartwright
Taryn Thomas
Patrick Stanley
Jim Savarino
Part III: The Eastern Panhandle—Roots and Branches
Adam Booth
Chelsea Mcbee
Part IV: The Southern Coalfields—The Spiritual Home
Elaine Purkey
Shirley Stewart Burns
Roger Bryant
Scott Holstein
Part V: The Tamarack Scene—Beckley, Bluefield, Lewisburg
Doug Harper
Clinton Collins
Mark Spangler
Andrew Adkins
Part VI: Morgantown—Songwriting in the University City
Maria Allison
Pam Spring
Chris Haddox
Steve Smith
Dan Cunningham
Interviews
Author
Travis D. Stimeling is associate professor of musicology at West Virginia University, where he also directs the WVU Bluegrass and Old-Time Bands. His previous books include Cosmic Cowboys and New Hicks: The Countercultural Sounds of Austin’s Progressive Country Music Scene, The Country Music Reader, and Fifty Cents and a Box Top: The Creative Life of Nashville Session Musician Charlie McCoy, published by WVU Press.
Reviews
“Travis Stimeling has painted a representative, pointedly contemporary portrait of West Virginia songwriters.”
Jewly Hight, author of Right by Her Roots: Americana Women and Their Songs
“West Virginia’s hills are alive with the sound of music. And with Travis Stimeling as Mountain State music tour guide, audiences can now explore the work of songwriters who call these coalfields, creeks, and cities their home.”
Joni Deutsch, creator of Change of Tune on West Virginia Public Broadcasting