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, International Blues Challenge award winning Dulcimer maven Bing Futch performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Bing, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of authentic Ozark fiddler Sam Younger. Bing Futch is a new breed of talent in the world of the mountain dulcimer. While he performs traditional dulcimer tunes, his influences from all areas of music have been adapted to his dulcimer playing, including the use of effects pedals and other whiz-bang electronic stuff. He is a regular contributor and instructor at the Annual Dulcimer Jamboree at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Bing was recently won best guitarist at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee and yes, he was playing his dulcimer. Author, folklorist, and songwriter Charley Sandage presents an historical portrait of the people, events, and indomitable spirit of Ozark culture that resulted in the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and an enduring legacy of music and craft. This episode focuses on the roots music aspect of the Ozark Folk Center State Park, and it’s mission to preserve the old Ozark ways. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a rare recording of authentic Ozark fiddler Sam Younger, performing the traditional song “Turkey in the Straw,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
