A few months ago the girls were contacted by the North Carolina Arts Council. The organization is making an effort to reach out to millennials who perform traditional music.
Last week the girls were invited to attend the Millennial Traditional Artists Gathering in Black Mountain NC. The NC Arts Council hosted the event in the hopes that they might help millennial music makers with marketing, grants, and a whole host of other things.
The girls let me tag along and let me tell you we had a great time! We learned a lot and met some wonderful folks to boot. It was very refreshing for the girls to meet and interact with people their age who have the same goal of keeping traditional music alive.
A very bright spot in the day was meeting Wayne Martin, Executive Director of the North Carolina Arts Council.
In 1998 Pap and his brother Ray were awarded the NC Folk Heritage Award for their musical achievements. Wayne was the person who presented the award to them. He was pleased as punch to meet two of Pap’s granddaughters and even happier to know they were helping keep the music Pap taught them alive for future generations.
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
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22 Comments
Leon Estes
December 11, 2017 at 5:44 pmYes, I agree it is good that the girls are continuing the legacy started by their Grandfather and Great-Uncle. Tell them “Thank you” from me!
Ken
December 10, 2017 at 4:04 pmTipper,
One of these days some Rich Dudes will come along and Sponsor them girls. And when they do, don’t forget us pawpers. I’m glad to call you all MY FRIENDS. …Ken
Granny Sue
December 10, 2017 at 11:33 amThis is so wonderful to read! They are on their way, Tipper–thanks to very good grounding they’ve received at home and from your extended family. Thank goodness there are young ones like them who will take up the torch for the traditions that make Appalachia unique.
June Jolley
December 9, 2017 at 5:21 pmWay to go girls! I am so proud of you!
Jim Casada
December 8, 2017 at 5:51 pmA pair of lovely young millenials
Who sing old-time favorites (perennials).
All of us in this on-line sounder,
Hail them and their mother founder.
So claps and kudos for the twins.
Chattering and singing like a pair of wrens.
Lousy poetry (and if anyone wonders about “sounder” it’s a group of pigs just as we all are piglets enjoying this blog day by day) but hopefully you get my drift. Congratulations on this latest step onward and upward for Chitter and Chatter.
Just one dire word in the background. If Momma Tipper doesn’t tell you about some special recognition of her own pretty soon, I’m gonna up and spill the beans. In other words, Tipper, I’ve done and thrown down the gauntlet. Quit hiding your light under a bushel!
Jim Casada
David Templeton
December 8, 2017 at 4:41 pmYou and your husband did real good. So few youngsters have worked to further mountain folkways. God bless you, all.
Sherry Whitaker
December 8, 2017 at 12:31 pmWow & congratulations! Glad y’all are being honored for keeping this music alive & passed on to us and the world!
Tamela
December 8, 2017 at 12:15 pmCongratulations to the girls and their rightfully proud parents! Maybe we could hear from the girls their impressions of the day.
Charline
December 8, 2017 at 11:49 amThis is a wonderful endeavor to inspire these young artists!
Bill Buntin
December 8, 2017 at 11:44 amCongrats to all of you!! Keep up the great work and for sharing the accomplishments of the girls.
Truly a continuation of a great legacy!!
Bill
Ron Banks
December 8, 2017 at 11:25 amCongrats to the girls. I know they have a bright future ahead of them. It’s so good to see the younger ones doing their part to keep Appalachaian music and traditions alive.
Black Mtn NC is one of my favorite places. My family came out of that area back in the 1800’s.
b. Ruth
December 8, 2017 at 11:08 amTipper,
There is an old saying, some use it in a different way than I am going to use it here….”What goes around, comes around!” In other words Pap’s success is followed around the family wheel.
We now we have the rest of the family, you and the girls! Maybe some day in the future the success of the girls will be followed around the family wheel by their children and grandchildren…
Now then, who would doubt that this hard working musical family would not be successful!
Thanks Tipper for all you do…
PS…Is it snowing your way yet?
Not here on my hill in ET and none much is expected, maybe a flake or three…but sure looks like the whole sky could fall with a foot or three! Ha
Ron Stephens
December 8, 2017 at 10:55 amThere should be another name for young folks keeping traditional ways. They don’t fit the mold of what a ‘millenial’ is. And thankfully so.
Congratulations young ladies. Hopefully there will always be doors that open for each of you leading ever to a fulfilled life with no regrets. You have a goodly heritage that has equipped you to.
Ed Ammons
December 8, 2017 at 10:18 amI know you’re proud
of them two girls,
As proud as you can be.
And I am proud along with you
if you will allow me!
Shirl
December 8, 2017 at 9:15 amThe council should help the girls market their first Cd worldwide. What an honor to be invited! I’m glad they let you tag along.
Don Casada
December 8, 2017 at 8:58 amWe all love those lovely young ladies (not to mention their lovely young Mama). So proud to call every one of you’uns cousins.
Charles Ronald Perry, Sr.
December 8, 2017 at 8:40 amCongratulations to all of you
Ed Karshner
December 8, 2017 at 8:24 amThat is fantastic and congratulations. What a great recognition.
We are still enjoying their CD and have also been listening to the Christmas CD. So, as we would say down home, “Them Art Council folks ain’t telling me nothin’ I don’t know.”
Awful proud.
Sheryl Paul
December 8, 2017 at 8:17 amWhat an honor, Congratulations
Susan C
December 8, 2017 at 8:13 amCongratulations to those fine young ladies for carrying on the Appalachian and family tradition. I’m also thankful that the NC Arts Council is interested in keeping traditional music alive and honors those young people who are doing just that.
On another note, we’re enjoying our first snow in Bryson City today. Merry Christmas to all.
Gayle Larson
December 8, 2017 at 8:07 amWhat a great opportunity for the girls.
Because of folks like you and the girls we can keep the good things going.
You truly are appreciated.
Miss Cindy
December 8, 2017 at 8:02 amMillennial Traditional Artist, now that’s a mouth full! What an honor for them to be invited to participate in this meeting of like ages to come together over the music they love.
The thing this get together super special is meeting the man who gave Pap the Heritage award. It must have been a super special day!