Wright Brothers

Censorship in the broadcasting medium normally takes the vague form of a ban on certain words or expressions, sometimes extending to an idea or philosophy. There are few instances of censorship that are as specific as what happened with the song "Island Creek Mine Fire," recorded for the regional Ohio Golden Leaf label by the brother-duo bluegrass band the Wright Brothers in the late '50s. The record was based on an account of a horrible local tragedy, certainly a respected tradition in songwriting in the Appalachian tradition as well as the British, Irish, and Afro-American m...