Summary: Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, multi-instrumentalist and mountain dulcimer champion Duane Porterfield performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Duane, Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly profile the influential folk musician Jean Ritchie, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of his mother, Grand Ole Opry star Ramona Jones. Duane Porterfield is a retired law enforcement officer from Kansas…and no, he won’t be checking your tags for current registration. Like many others, Duane moved to Mountain View to enjoy the laid back lifestyle and welcoming music community. In 2014 Duane was attending the annual Walnut Valley Music Festival and was poked, prodded, and otherwise coerced into competing in the mountain dulcimer contest. Not necessarily prepared or planning to compete, he had to borrow an instrument from a local vendor. Turns out, he won first prize! He’s a fine fellow to boot and we are happy to feature him. Renowned folk musicians Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly profile influential folk music icons Jean Ritchie and the Ritchie Family, as well as explore the traditional Appalachian music and dance that the Ritchie Family helped to perpetuate into the modern American folk lexicon. This episode focuses on Jean Ritchie’s introduction of the mountain dulcimer to the New York City folk revival of the 1960’s, and features Jean Ritchie performing an haunting version of the traditional song “Pretty Saro.” Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a rare recording of Mark’s mother, Grand Ole Opry star Ramona Jones, performing the traditional song “Roving Gambler,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
