My Appalachian Home

Everyone who knows Chris Haddox seems to know something different about him.  That’s not surprising because this stellar musician is also a community leader who has directed Habitat for Humanity and worked to preserve old neighborhoods, a WVU professor of sustainable design, and an amateur musicologist who researches musicians from the southern coalfields of West Virginia. That’s a lot of breadth for someone the music community kno...

🎶 Rita Jett Forrester is a passionate steward of Appalachian music and heritage, deeply rooted in the legacy of the legendary Carter Family. As the granddaughter of A.P. and Sara Carter, she carries forward the musical and cultural traditions that helped shape country music as we know it.

Here’s a snapshot of her contributions:

• 🪕 Executive Director of the Carter Family Fold: Located in Hiltons, Virginia, the Fold is a nonprofit...

Dale Farmer: Musician, Filmmaker, and Appalachian Storyteller

Dale Farmer is a musician, filmmaker, and writer whose creative work is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of his Appalachian heritage. Born in Ohio, Dale was raised with a strong connection to Eastern Kentucky, where his grandparents—originally from the region—would often return with him. Through these visits, he absorbed the music, stories, and traditions of th...

Growing up in a musical family, Brad was exposed to Folk and Roots music from birth. His father Ken Kolodner is a renowned hammered dulcimer player and fiddler who toured for many years in the folk trio Helicon. When Brad picked up the banjo at age 17, everything started to click into place. Since then, he’s charted a path centered on performing, recording, broadcasting and community organizing. He’s an acclaimed clawhammer banjo p...

This Episode finds Rick at The Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts in Marion Virginia.Catherine Schrenker is the executive director of The Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts (“The Henderson”) in Marion, Virginia. Since her appointment as the founding director, The Henderson has become a flagship for embracing traditional arts and culture in Virginia. In 2018 The Henderson received the 50/50 Award from The Virgi...

 Long ago, surnames came to be in order to provide a family’s place of origin or the patriarch’s trade, and in the case of Randy Wood, the surname has served as creator of destiny: Wood’s father was a carpenter and a woodworker. His dad, along with some of his uncles, also loved music; the family played and sang together, adding another element to Randy’s future course. Fast forward: by the early 1970s, Randy had built a mandolin f...

Laci Mack is a passionate songwriter and photographer who grew up surrounded by bluegrass and old-time music in East Tennessee. She collaborates with artists, capturing performances at iconic venues like the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Station Inn. Her work includes live music coverage, band photos, album art, and creating engaging social media content. In 2024, Laci was honored to be nominated for the Internation...