A Whisper in the Mountains. A Look at the Music and People of Appalachia

Creator: McKenzie, Lori

: McKenzie, Mamie

: McKenzie, John P.

: Barr, Tommy

In this project, Lori McKenzie interviewed Mamie McKenzie, her father John P. McKenzie, and Tommy Barr, the owner of Barr’s Fiddle Shop about Appalachian music. The interviews focused on topics concerning how the music helps identify the Appalachian region, exposing new listeners to the music, and what the music means to Appalachians. These interviews are interesting because they provide a different perspective from many depression stories we have heard. This interview is among projects created by students enrolled in English 446 (initially English 452), “Appalachian Folklore,” 1981-2019, and in graduate level counterparts English 548 and 648 “Appalachian Folk Culture(s)” offered 17 fall semesters between 1987 and 2009. Minimally contain collector’s introduction and analysis, transcribed informant interviews, and excerpted and labeled examples of oral, customary, and/or material folklore/folklife collected primarily within the Appalachian region. Most include also tables of contents, informant information, indexes (outlines) of interviews, photographs, miscellaneous paper items, and indexes of informants, genres, and geographic locations. Accompanying audio recordings (several minutes to 2+ hours). Transferred to McConnell Library Archives & Special Collections from Appalachian Regional and Rural Studies Center, Fall 2013.