Bluegrass Mapping Project: Shenandoah Valley

Scope: 

This document is part of a broader “bluegrass mapping project,” which began as an independent study under Dr. David Haney in spring 2012. It is meant to function as a supplement to Rebecca Jones’ more general “bluegrass” pathfinder, and it focuses specifically on the central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia--an area defined by drawing a circle with a 40-mile radius around the city of Harrisonburg. My goal has been to render the bluegrass music landscape of the central valley into something ’map-able’; to ask the question, “What makes this area an identifiable place on a bluegrass map?”

The works and texts can be found in the WNCLN (Western North Carolina Library Network) system. (University of North Carolina at Asheville, UNCA; Western Carolina University, WCU; Appalachian State University, ASU).

***See Rebecca Jones’ pathfinder on bluegrass music for more generalinformation about the genre.

Introductory Text: 

For a thorough introduction to string music traditions in the central Shenandoah Valley, see www.shenandoahmusictrail.com

General information about pertinent music in the Shenandoah Valley can be found in these texts:

Harter, Kevin L. Shenandoah Valley String Music: A Prologue. 2000. Archival material. APP COLL F232.S5 S52 2000 no.1

Heatwole, John L. Shenandoah Voices: Folklore, Legends, and Traditions of the Valley. Berryville, Va: Rockbridge Pub. Co, 1995. Print. APP COLL GR108 .H43 1995

Suter, Scott H. Shenandoah Valley Folklife. Jackson, Ms: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. Print. APP COLL GR108.2 .S87 1999

Library of Congress Subject Headings: 

Highly Relevant:

Bluegrass musicians -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Bluegrass music -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Country musicians -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Fiddlers -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Folk music -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Folk music -- Southern States -- History and criticism

Stringed instrument music

Also Relevant:

Folklore -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Geographic: Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History -- 20th century.

Material culture -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Music -- Social aspects -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Oral tradition -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Popular music -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)

Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Social life and customs

Other Sources: 

General Information

General information about pertinent music in the Shenandoah Valley can be found in these texts:

Harter, Kevin L. Shenandoah Valley String Music: A Prologue. 2000. Archival material. APP COLL F232.S5 S52 2000 no.1

Heatwole, John L. Shenandoah Voices: Folklore, Legends, and Traditions of the Valley. Berryville, Va: Rockbridge Pub. Co, 1995. Print. APP COLL GR108 .H43 1995

Suter, Scott H. Shenandoah Valley Folklife. Jackson, Ms: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. Print. APP COLL GR108.2 .S87 1999

Information on Prominent Musicians from the Central Shenandoah Valley

Buck Ryan:

“Arnold W. (Buck) Ryan: 1925-1982.” Bluegrass Unlimited Feb. 1982: 4. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Stegall, Jim. “Buck Ryan.” Bluegrass Unlimited Jan. 1974: 21-23. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Danny Knicely:

Higgs, Dave. “James Leva & Purgatory Mountain, Lexington, Virginia.” Bluegrass Now 17.9 (2007): 12-13. ASU online.

Koretsky, Henry. “Murders, Drownings and Lost Loves: the Roots of Country.” Bluegrass Unlimited 41.8 (2007): 62. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Mac Wiseman:

Clark, J. Wesley, and J. Michael Hosford. “Mac Wiseman: Once More with Feeling.” Bluegrass Unlimited 22.2 (1987): 15-18. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Goldsmith, Thomas, and Dan Loftin. “A Conversation With Mac Wiseman.” Bluegrass Unlimited 40.8 (2006): 24-27. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Rhodes, Don. “Mac Wiseman.” Bluegrass Unlimited 16.2 (1981): 16-22. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Wiseman, Mac, and Paul F. Wells. “From Grass Roots To Bluegrass: Some Personal Reminiscences.” The Bluegrass Reader. 61-66. Chicago, IL: U of Illinois P, 2004. APP COLL ML 3520 .B54

Nothin’ Fancy:

Moore, Jimmy. “Virginia’s Pride: Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Band.” Bluegrass Unlimited 36.5 (2001): 32-35. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Netherland, Tom. “Nothin’ Fancy.” Bluegrass Unlimited 42.5 (2007): 32-34. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Reno and Smiley:

Artis, Bob. “Don Reno and Red Smiley.” The Bluegrass Reader. 127-131. Chicago, IL: U of Illinois P, 2004. APP COLL ML 3520 .B54

Stanley, Linda. “Don Reno: A Bluegrass Family Tradition.” Bluegrass Unlimited 15.2 (1980). 17-23. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Strickland, Rhonda. “Don Reno: Reflections.” Bluegrass Unlimited 19.6 (1984). 10-11. APP COLL ML1 .B68

Compiled by: 

Jesse Buckwalter

April 30, 2012

Subject: