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What is the Carter Family Fold?
About three miles down a narrow country road from tiny Hiltons,
Va,
you'll find what appears at first glance to be a large wooden shed built on the
side of a steep hill. But make no mistake about it - this is no shed. This is
the Carter Family Fold!
The Carter Family Fold - Hiltons, Va
What is the Carter Fold you ask? Before I can properly answer that question we
need to look at a bit of history - an amazing musical family and an
historic event that quite literally changed the world of music forever in 1927.
The Carter Family
Early in the 20th century, Alvin Pleasant (A.P.) Carter, his wife Sara and her
cousin Maybelle lived in the area known as Poor Valley at the foot of fabled
Clinch Mountain. This trio was the original Carter Family.
The A.P. Carter Homeplace Cabin after being moved
to the Carter Fold grounds
A.P., Sara and Maybelle performed in a unique style that became known as
"Carter Picking". Their pure, simple harmony set a musical standard
that is still aspired to even today. "Mother Maybelle's" guitar work
on the beautiful "Wildwood Flower" is emulated by guitar pickers the
world over.
In 1927, Ralph Peer came to nearby Bristol, Tennessee representing the Victor
Talking Machine Company in a quest to find and record some of the area's
best local musical groups. Along with The Stonemans and Jimmie Rodgers, The
Carter Family allowed Peer to record their songs in what has come to be known as
"The Bristol Sessions".
The Bristol Sessions formed the foundation of what we know and love today as Country
Music, and eventually inspired the The U.S. Congress to designate Bristol as
the Birthplace
Of Country Music. The Carter Family has long since been recognized as
the "First Family of Country Music".
The Carter Fold Is Born
 A.P. and Sara's daughter
Janette and her brother
Joe had a
vision to honor the legacy of the original Carter Family and at the same time
preserve and promote "Old-time and Mountain music".
In 1979 this
vision became a reality when they formally established the Carter Family Fold,
one of the seven great venues featured along southwestern Virginia's
"The
Crooked Road"!
The Carter Fold is a living musical history museum and performance venue that
features local and national Old-time, Bluegrass,
and Country music performers and groups.
Every Saturday night the hills around the Hiltons area of Scott County come alive with the
sweet, yet simple harmonies that the original Carter Family originated almost a
century ago.
You can hear live performances of the authentic Appalachian Mountain music that changed the
world forever and experience a piece of living history at the wonderful Carter Family
Fold.
What a shed indeed!
For more information about the Carter Fold including their performance schedules,
pricing, directions and more, visit the official Carter
Fold website.
Related Items:
The Prettiest Smile In Music: Janette Carter
Joe Carter: 1926-2005
The Carter Family Museum
The A.P. Carter Birthplace Cabin
Carlene Carter At The Carter Family Fold
The Boohers Pickin' At The Carter Fold
The McLain Family Performing At The Carter Fold
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