Deep In Tradition 2026-03-24
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This episode of Deep in Tradition, hosted by Rich Kirby, is a richly layered celebration of old-time Appalachian music and regional history. The show opens with traditional tunes from the 78 RPM era, including performances by the Carroll County Revelers, Southern Moonlight Entertainers, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, and Uncle Dave Macon, setting a nostalgic tone. Kirby then shifts focus to lesser-known Kentucky and West Virginia musicians like the Couch family, Rufus Crisp, Joe Ratliff, and Banjo Bill Cornett, highlighting their contributions and the preservation of their work through archives like Berea College. A pivotal segment features a deep dive into the historical pages of The Mountain Eagle newspaper, with excerpts from 1926 to 2016 that reflect the social, economic, and cultural life of Letcher County, Kentucky—ranging from debates over high school consolidation and coal company housing to community health initiatives and comet sightings. The program transitions into a thematic tribute to spring, spotlighting songs about flowers by artists such as the Carter Family, Curly Seckler, Hazel Dickens, and Deborah Payne and Sam Glees, blending musical beauty with seasonal renewal. Throughout, Kirby emphasizes the enduring power of tradition, memory, and community.
Old-time music is a living tradition preserved through family lineages, folklorists, and archival efforts like those at Berea College.
The Mountain Eagle newspaper offers a powerful historical lens into Appalachian life, revealing social struggles, community resilience, and cultural continuity.
Music and memory are deeply intertwined—songs like 'Sweet Long Ago' and 'Pretty Polly' serve as emotional anchors to a vanishing past.
Local radio stations like WMMT play a vital role in sustaining regional identity and cultural preservation.
Celebrating seasonal change through music—especially spring and flowers—offers both joy and a sense of renewal in hard times.
Opening Salute to Old-Time Music
Rich Kirby welcomes listeners to Deep in Tradition, setting the tone with a celebration of old-time music and the spirit of spring, featuring early 78 RPM recordings.
Classic 78 RPM Era Performances
A curated selection of early recordings from the 78 RPM era, including the Carroll County Revelers, Southern Moonlight Entertainers, Charlie Poole, and Uncle Dave Macon.
Kentucky Banjo Traditions and Hidden Musicians
“I'm not going to be able to remember too many of the songs, too many words to them, but I'll try to pick them out on the bandage enough that you can tell what they are... nobody will know the difference because they're so old, they ain't anybody living anymore that ever heard them or ever knows anything about them anyway, so it won't make no difference.”
String Band Music and Regional Legacy
The Cedar Point String Band and other regional string bands are featured, with a focus on their rare recordings and the importance of preserving Appalachian musical heritage.
The Way We Were: Historical Reflections from The Mountain Eagle
“The Appalachian Way Association will hold its convention in Lexington April 5th. To be determined at the meeting, which will be attended by Kentucky Governor W.J. Fields, is the final routing of the Great Appalachian Way Highway...”
“The plaster on the office wall can't crush out your life. For it is a dirty minor, an humble sort of mold. That takes so dangerous chances for that little lump of coal.”
“We are told that blindness, deafness, brain paralysis and death too hideous to describe lurk in this clear, nauseating fluid.”
“The Appalachian Way Association will hold its convention in Lexington April 5th. To be determined at the meeting, which will be attended by Kentucky Governor W.J. Fields, is the final routing of the Great Appalachian Way Highway...”
Host
Rich Kirby
person
WMMT
organization
The Mountain Eagle
organization
Berea College Archive
organization
Couch Family
other
Uncle Dave Macon
person
Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers
other
Rufus Crisp
person
Bascom Lamar Lunsford
person
Carroll County Revelers
other
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