Sonny Reighard – Morningsong at the Folk School
My first presentation this week was well received. I spoke about the rich colorful language of Appalachia. I’m plumb foolish about the subject.
The next morning Sonny Reighard was in charge of Morningsong. As always he put on a wonderful performance. Pap said Sonny was the best entertainer he’d ever seen.
As I sat and enjoyed the music, jokes, and stories I couldn’t help but think Sonny’s talking proved about every point I shared during my presentation on language. Hearing his wonderful Appalachian accent was sort of like the icing on my cake or the cherry on my presentation 🙂
Here’s a short clip from Morningsong.
If you’d like to know more about Sonny go here.
Last night’s video: Who’s Who at Celebrating Appalachia.
Tipper
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I hope he doesn’t get mad at me for this revelation but Sonny is only a nickname. Ernest Floyd Reighard is his full name. Or alternatively Earnest.
I’d love to hear some of your presentation too. I went to youtube and watched the video there too. I wish you could here me talk.
Great presentation!
Would love to meet this wonderful fun loving man. His rendition of Cripple Creek brought sweet memories of my daddy on Sunday afternoon playing the banjo singing going up cripple creek!!
So happy for you that your presentations are going well. I knew they would.
Everyone have a great day. Get out and enjoy this cooler weather.
I love him!
Oh my Tipper, I bet your are having such a great time at the folk school this week. Such funny stories. I know they have been just as excited to hear your presentations also. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Several years ago I sent a bio and a sample recording (maybe from Hickory Studios in Nashville) to the folk school. I offered to do a free concert of original Americana songs written by me, a native of this area. I had performed across Canada, eastern US and two tours of Scotland and England and one tour of Ireland.
I was amazed when my offer was refused.
Don, that is a real shame and their great loss. I’ve heard you play and you are an amazing musician 🙂
Thank you! Your whole family is full of talent! I know you are so proud! Am proud of my two grands….both are talented musicians. My granddaughter is Counseler with the Georgia State Council for the Arts. She plays violin & piano.
I have found out lately that speaking the Appalachian language or having a southern accent can create problems. The machines that now answer the phone and instead of a live person don’t understand what I am saying!
I may have Sonny confused with someone else. In the past while watching the Cumberland Highlanders show, they did an interview with a left handed banjo player that lived up in the Jonson city area ( is there a Mountain City) of Tennessee at his home. His old style but modern convenience home was way back in the mountains away from everything. I thought his name was Sonny.
Randy, it’s a different Sonny 🙂
Thank you for sharing that wonderful gentleman! What a treasure! ❤️
So glad for you that your presentation was well received. I would not have expected anything else. And I can see what Pap and you said about Sonny. I like good clean fun that doesn’t have any stingers in it. I reckon it is mostly safe to poke fun at oneself. I’m going to look him up – if I don’t forget! Break a leg with your other presentations. You might just get overwhelmed with requests to go here and there and everywhere. Just please don’t go too far not state gone too long. On a completely different note, it looks to me like the floor in that room is sanded rather than finished. That would be real old-fashioned.
Ron, if it is not alright to poke fun at yourself, I am in big trouble! I show no mercy for myself. Most of my life I worked with men that liked to tease or “ pick on” one another. None of it was done out of meanness. I guess it was a “man thing.” We all thought the world of each other and it was just our way of saying we like you. We picked on one boy pretty hard and he would laugh and tell use, “I wish y’all didn’t love me as much as y’all do,” but he knew it was all in fun and he got as a big of a kick out of it as we did. We would have fought a buzz saw to take up or help one another.
He’s such a character. I love the quilt behind him. Wondering if that was a group effort for the folk school?
Mary, I don’t know the exact story behind that one, but it likely was a group effort. The Folk School offers quilting classes year round 🙂
I remember your interview on Sonny & he is absolutely delightful. Seeing your post today was a great way to start my day. I’m so glad you are speaking at the school during their anniversary celebration. Wish I could be there to enjoy the fun & education.
That was so funny! Thanks for letting us get a peek. I am sure everyone has been enjoying your presentations, as well. I really enjoyed your Hotdog Supper video and your Who’s Who video too. I have to try your cheesecake recipe. It sounds delicious and so easy.
What a delightful way to start my day! Reminded me of my daddy—the best storyteller I’ve ever known. Thanks Tipper.
It’s no wonder Pap thought Sonny was a great entertainer. I’m not surprised your presentation was well received, as we all knew it would be.
I’m so glad you shared that video! It was a wonderful way to start my day. I’d love to see him perform sometime.
Funny guy…love the sound of clawhammer banjo playing.
I saw this clip yesterday on YouTube. what a funny guy. Loved it!
Oh, there’s nothing like a good storyteller!
I’ve listened to Fred Bradley’s stories about the Cherokee for over 30 years and there’s a grace and a rhythm to the telling that is artful, making each tale more than just a bunch words strung together in a clever way. Sonny Reighard obviously shares that gift, as well. And so do you, Tipper. It’s what drew me to your writing and to your videos in the first place. With you, though, it’s something really special. You could be talking to people all over the world, or a roomful, or just one person, and you’re the same YOU, if that makes any sense. You share your culture, your knowledge, your memories and your life, without it being a performance. I really hope this comes across as a compliment because I don’t have the easy way of expressing myself that you do.
Entertainment like that is priceless!!!! I myself liked the Dunn story. As Sonny played, I could feel the feet want to flat foot. Morning song is a mighty fine way to start a morning! Y’all are truly blessed to be surrounded by such great mountain people! It’s cool and cloudy here in WV, but I’ll take it cause fall is gonna be here before we know what happened…God bless you all and especially Granny!!! She’s an angel!!!
What a wonderful way to start the morning! Saved your interview with Sonny to watch later. So happy your presentation went well.
I’m so glad all went well during your presentation at the Folk School. If I was on your side of the state Id been there to cheer you on. Sonny was so funny! I laughed this morning and enjoyed hearing his banjo pickin too. Thank you Tipper for sharing all that you do to celebrate Appalachia and the people who make it a great culture.
Talk about entertaining and talented! How fun!! I hope to someday make it to your town and the JCC Folk School for some classes.
That was absolutely wonderful! I could listen to him for hours. Thanks for sharing!
What a great guy! It’s 6AM and thanks to the Blind Pig I started the day laughing.