Ozark Highlands Radio

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 carry listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. On this week’s show, thumb picking guitar legacy Thom Bresh performs live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of Ozark original Greg Moody. Thom Bresh has led an incredible, multi-faceted life in the entertainment business. To start, his birth father is guitar royalty, Merle Travis. Thom was raised in California during the golden age of television and worked as a stuntman/actor during his youth. He went on to become one of the premier practitioners of his fathers “thumbpicking” style of guitar. Harnessing a quick wit and an equally quick set of ten fingers, there is nothing like a Thom Bresh performance. Seriously. 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. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a rare recording of Greg Moody singing the traditional folk song “Going Down This Road Feeling Bad,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

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. In this episode, Award winning modern acoustic minstrels Kelly & Donna Mulhollan perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Kelly and Donna, author Brooks Blevins answers the question “Who are the Ozarkers,” and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of Ozark folk musicians The Copeland Kids. Still on the Hill is comprised of Kelly and Donna Mulhollan who make their home in Northwest Arkansas. The duo has been performing together since the early 90’s and have created their own sound blending traditional Ozark music with modern flair and style. Take a musical sojourn into the lives of the real Ozarkers that Kelly & Donna portray in their own colorful style. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. In this episode, the author and historian explores the question “Who are the Ozarkers.” Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a rare recording of The Copeland Kids from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

Traditional old time stringband The Ozark Highballers perform live at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with the Highballers, a performance from the acoustic trio Backwoods Arkansas, Brooks Blevins: “Where are the Ozarks?,” and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment features Percy Copeland. Ozark Highballers are one of the most authentic “old school” bands today. And by “old school” we mean turn of the 20th century times. Captained by fiddler Roy Pilgrim, the 4 piece band (fiddle, banjo, harmonica, and guitar) has a sound straight out of a Ken Burns documentary sound track. Close your eyes and you’ll be transported to a time when music seemed simpler, yet the skill and precision to play it, much more complex. Backwoods Arkansas is comprised of Mountain View, AR musicians Don “Pappy” Melon, Billy Wayne Martin and Gresham McMillon, all of whom are regular performers at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Their performance features traditional tunes of the region and of course, traditional jokes and humor. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian answers the tricky question “Where are the Ozarks?” Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a recording of famed Ozark harmonica player Percy Copeland performing the traditional song “Turkey in the Straw,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

National mountain and hammered dulcimer champions past & present perform live at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, Brooks Blevins: “Where did the word ‘Ozark’ come from?,” and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment features Buddy Lancaster. Dulcimer Jamboree Weekend is an immensely popular annual workshop at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. It features three days of performance and instruction from some of the finest dulcimer players (mountain and hammered) in the United States. This program features highlights of the weekend performances including; Jeff Hames, Duane Porterfield, Jess Dickinson, Larry Conger, Russell Cook, and local duo Jack and Mary Geiger. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents an exploration of the roots of the term “Ozark.” Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features an archival recording of Stone County native fiddler Buddy Lancaster playing “Bear Creek Hop,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

Louisiana singer-songwriter Wendy Colonna performs live at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Wendy, a performance from Robert Louis Cole, Brooks Blevins profiles folk song collector Oscar Gilbert, and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment features Fate Morrison. Wendy Colonna hails from Louisiana and now makes her home in Austin, Texas. Wendy has a style that combines many influences, most notably; blues and soul but most decidedly, real. Robert Louis Cole lets it all go on stage. He’s a no holds barred singer and musically on edge, which is good. A Denver native, one can’t help but hear the strong influence musicians like Tom Waits and bluesman Robert Johnson have had on him. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents a profile of Oscar Gilbert, husband of famed folk singer Ollie Gilbert, and an original Ozark folk musicologist. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a recording from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives of legendary Ozark fiddler Fate Morrison playing a traditional fiddle dance tune. *Full show available for streaming on 2/16/16

Mountain dulcimer guru and folk balladeer Bryan Bowers performs live at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, hear the band "Harmony." Brooks Blevins profiles the legendary Ozark bard Almeda Riddle, and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment features Lucy & Waco Johnson. Bryan Bowers takes the auto harp to places not known to exist. Sounds strange, but it’s true. He possesses a powerful and soulful voice, and is a regular contributor to the Annual Auto Harp Weekend at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. His version of “Little Liza Jane” is a sound to behold, indeed. Bryan is joined by the group Harmony (noted below) for a number of tunes. Harmony has been a mainstay on the Ozark Folk Center Stage for many years. Featured on A Prairie Home Companion's "Talent from Towns Under 2000" contest, their vocals, as one might suspect, center around stellar three part harmony. The group features the talents of Ozark Highlands Radio host Dave Smith on vocals, guitar, fiddle, and "banjolele," among other instruments. Husband and wife duo Robert and Mary Gillihan round out the trio with guitar, mandolin and bass, as well as brilliant vocals. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents a profile of renowned Ozark folk singer Almeda Riddle. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a recording of authentic Ozark folk musicians Waco & Lucy Johnson singing “Shadow of the Pines,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

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 carry listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, traditional American folk music and dance power couple Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Aubrey & Elwood, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of Ozark folk originals Dave Newburn and Charley Sandage. Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly are regular contributors at a number of Ozark Folk Center State Park workshops as well as numerous traditional and old time music gatherings across the United States. The husband and wife team were heavily influenced by Kentucky folk musician, Jean Ritchie. Both are multi instrumentalists but Aubrey takes it one “step” further with her incredible rhythmic dancing ability. 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 features a perspective on how the founding of the very first Arkansas Folk Festival affected the Stone County, Arkansas region. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a rare recording of Ozark folk originals Dave Newburn and Charley Sandage performing the song “Going Back to the Red Clay Country,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

Springfield, Missouri based modern folk minstrels and Ozark originals Cindy Woolf and Mark Bilyeu perform as the Creek Rocks recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Cindy and Mark. Cindy Woolf & Mark Bilyeu are now collectively known as The Creek Rocks.  Cindy and Mark bring traditional Ozark music into the modern acoustic world.  This husband and wife duo formed a few years back after both enjoyed successful careers as musicians based out of Springfield, MO.  Cindy a solo performer and Mark, former member of Big Smith, found a kinship on multiple levels.  Their performance at the Ozark Folk Center State Park features a number of traditional and regional songs from the recorded archives of folklorists Max Hunter and John Quincy Wolf. “‘Wolf Hunter’ is the debut CD by The Creek Rocks from Springfield, Missouri. The title is an amalgam of the names of the two folklorists whose collections provided the raw materials for the songs on the album -- John Quincy Wolf of Batesville, Arkansas and Max Hunter of Springfield, Missouri. Cindy Woolf was raised in Batesville, along the southern foothills of the Ozarks Mountain region, and Mark Bilyeu hails from Springfield, located atop the Ozarks Plateau. They began their musical collaboration in 2003 with Mark at the helm for Woolf’s debut CD “Simple and Few.” They married each other in 2013, shortly after the release of Cindy’s third solo CD, “May.” Joining them on Wolf Hunter are bassist Jason Chapman, also known from The Chapmans, the award-winning family bluegrass band; and percussionist Jay Williamson, who is a sixteen-year veteran of another family band, Big Smith, of which Mark was a founding member as well. Big Smith released seven CDs during their tenure, and Mark has a solo album to his credit, 2005's ‘First One Free.’” - http://www.thecreekrocks.com/#about-section Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents a brief history of the very first "Arkansas Folk Festival," that has been held annually in scenic Mountain View, Arkansas since 1963. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a vintage recording of folk balladeer and Ozark original Glen Branscum singing the rare spiritual “Some Hath Fathers,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

Old Crow Medicine Show founder Willie Watson performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Willie Watson, a performance from up and coming folk artist Grace Stormont, Brooks Blevins: Ghost of the Ozarks Tale (part 3,) and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment featuring Almeda Riddle. Willie Watson is a folk singer. It’s even the title of his latest solo release. Willie was once part of the popular band Old Crow Medicine Show but has recently embarked on a solo career that finds him singing, playing guitar, banjo and harmonica. Interpreting tunes from a wide variety of influences including Ledbelly and Charley Jordan among others, Willie proves he’s right where he belongs. Grace Stormont moved to Mountain View, Arkansas to be part of the local music scene. She has embraced the music community beyond anyone’s expectations (except maybe her own.) With a powerful voice, a veteran sense of timing and feel, Grace performs with a skill beyond her age of just 15. She’s also a big Willie Watson fan, so this worked out great. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents the conclusion of his three part series "Ghost of the Ozarks," about the infamous Connie Franklin murder trial. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a hauntingly beautiful acapella recording of roots music legend Almeda Riddle singing the classic song “Amazing Grace,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

"Hello Stranger" featuring Carter Family legacy Dale Jett perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in scenic Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Dale Jett, Brooks Blevins: Ghost of the Ozarks Tale (Part 2,) and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment featuring The Simmons Family. Dale Jett is a proud bearer of the Carter Family musical legacy. Son of Jeanette Carter and grandson of A.P. and Sara Carter, Dale performs songs from the Carter Family song book with his group “Hello Stranger.” With his wife Teresa on bass, and Oscar Harris on auto harp, Dale keeps the music of his family tradition alive and relevant. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents the second of his three part series "Ghost of the Ozarks" about the infamous Connie Franklin murder trial. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a recording of The Simmons Family singing the traditional song “Bright Morning Stars are Rising,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. The segment also features a recent cut of the song done by Pam Setser (Simmons,) illustrating the legacy of music in Ozark culture.

This week, New York based folk duo Jay Ungar & Molly Mason perform live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Jay & Molly. A performance from Ozark Originals The Lazy Goat String Band. “He was a Bronx kid. She grew up in Washington State. He was raised on pop music of the 1940s and ’50s. She had a fondness for traditional fiddle music and ’30s and ’40s popular tunes. He hung out in Greenwich Village coffeehouses and roamed North Carolina and Tennessee in search of traditional players. She played clubs and colleges on the West Coast and took a liking to the jazzy sound of the Swing Era. Since joining forces—both artistically and romantically (the two would marry in 1991)—Jay Ungar and Molly Mason have become one of the most celebrated duos on the American acoustic music scene. It started with a chance meeting in the late 1970s. Jay and Molly were each performing at the Towne Crier, a rural New York club. They hit it off musically and played together from time to time until Molly headed off to Minnesota to work in the house band of a new radio show: Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. Meanwhile, back in New York, Jay put together a band with fellow fiddlers Evan Stover and Matt Glaser and guitarist Russ Barenberg. When Fiddle Fever, as the collaboration was called, needed a bassist, Molly signed on. The group recorded two classic LPs, now available on CD as The Best of Fiddle Fever (Flying Fish Records). On radio and television, Jay and Molly have appeared on CBS Good Morning, The Rosie O’Donnel Show, All Things Considered, A Prairie Home Companion, and the BBC’s Transatlantic Sessions. And they have no shortage of future musical projects.” - https://jayandmolly.com/about/ The Lazy Goat Stringband is comprised of Scott and Samuel Blake (father & son) on guitar and claw-hammer banjo and Emily Phillips on fiddle. They have been regular performers at Ozark Folk Center State Park for the past several years and one of the more popular groups in the region. Their attention to the authenticity of their sound is just as keen as their eye on making music a fun endeavor. Had he known, Ken Burns might have used some of their recordings in The Civil War, they would be right at home. Brooks Blevins gives a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents the first of his three part series "Ghost of the Ozarks," on the infamous Connie Franklin murder trial. In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1973 archival recording of Ozark original Jimmy Driftwood singing is famous song “The Battle of New Orleans,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.