Ozark Highlands Radio

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, Dynamic traditional Ozark music duo Betse Ellis & Clarke Wyatt perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Betse & Clarke, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of original Ozark songster Bob Blair. Betse Ellis & Clarke Wyatt are a fiddle and banjo duo, who specialize in traditional old time music of the Ozarks. For years Betse was the fiery fiddler in the touring group, The Wilders. A student and friend of Arkansas fiddle legend, Violet Hensley, Betse has made it her mission to carry

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, International Blues Challenge award winning Dulcimer maven Bing Futch performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Bing, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of authentic Ozark fiddler Sam Younger. Bing Futch is a new breed of talent in the world of the mountain dulcimer. While he performs traditional dulcimer tunes, his influences from all areas of music have been adapted to his dulcimer playing, including the use of effects pedals and other whiz-bang electronic stuff. He is a regula

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, award winning guitar prodigy Ben Hall performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Ben, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of original Ozark character Albert Sands. Ben Hall is a Mississippi native who now makes his home, where so many musicians do, in Nashville, TN. Ben is a former thumbpicking contest winner, and like Danny Dozier and Thom Bresh, is heavily influenced by Merle Travis. Not one to seek out the life of a traveling or full time musician, Ben might be low key but he’s

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, Arkansas Delta Bluegrass pioneer Dave Brancecum performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Dave, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of Judi Klemenson. Dave Brancecum was born and raised in the cotton fields of the Arkansas Delta. A working man most of his life, Dave had always dreamed of moving to the Ozarks to enjoy a simple life, where he could play music and enjoy all the region has to offer. Good thing all that happened because Dave is now a regular performer at the Ozark Folk

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments carry listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. On this week’s show, original Ozark guitar wizard Danny Dozier performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Danny, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of Aunt Ollie Gilbert. Danny Dozier is an Arkansas native and proud of it. He is one of the area’s premier guitar players, well versed in the Merle Travis, “thumbpicking” style. Danny has worked with a wide variety of performers over the years including; Grandpa and Ramona Jones, Omar and the Howlers and regional favorite, Leatherwoods. Author,

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments carry listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. On this week’s show, thumb picking guitar legacy Thom Bresh performs live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of Ozark original Greg Moody. Thom Bresh has led an incredible, multi-faceted life in the entertainment business. To start, his birth father is guitar royalty, Merle Travis. Thom was raised in California during the golden age of television and worked as a stuntman/actor during his youth. He went on to become one of the premier practitioners of his fathers “thumbpicking” sty

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. In this episode, Award winning modern acoustic minstrels Kelly & Donna Mulhollan perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Kelly and Donna, author Brooks Blevins answers the question “Who are the Ozarkers,” and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of Ozark folk musicians The Copeland Kids. Still on the Hill is comprised of Kelly and Donna Mulhollan who make their home in Northwest Arkansas. The duo has been performing together since the early 90’s and have created their own sound blending traditional Ozark music with modern flair and style. Take a musical sojourn into the lives of the rea

Traditional old time stringband The Ozark Highballers perform live at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with the Highballers, a performance from the acoustic trio Backwoods Arkansas, Brooks Blevins: “Where are the Ozarks?,” and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment features Percy Copeland. Ozark Highballers are one of the most authentic “old school” bands today. And by “old school” we mean turn of the 20th century times. Captained by fiddler Roy Pilgrim, the 4 piece band (fiddle, banjo, harmonica, and guitar) has a sound straight out of a Ken Burns documentary sound track. Close your eyes and you’ll be transported to a time when music seemed simpler, yet the skill and precision to play it, much more complex. Backwoods Arkansas is comprised of Mountain View, AR musicians Don “Pappy” Melon, Billy Wayne Martin and Gresham McMillon, all of whom are regular performers at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Their performance features traditional tunes of the region and of course, traditional

National mountain and hammered dulcimer champions past & present perform live at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, Brooks Blevins: “Where did the word ‘Ozark’ come from?,” and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment features Buddy Lancaster. Dulcimer Jamboree Weekend is an immensely popular annual workshop at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. It features three days of performance and instruction from some of the finest dulcimer players (mountain and hammered) in the United States. This program features highlights of the weekend performances including; Jeff Hames, Duane Porterfield, Jess Dickinson, Larry Conger, Russell Cook, and local duo Jack and Mary Geiger. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents an exploration of the roots of the term “Ozark.” Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features an archival recording of Stone County native fiddler Buddy Lancaster playing “Bear Creek Hop,” from th

Louisiana singer-songwriter Wendy Colonna performs live at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Wendy, a performance from Robert Louis Cole, Brooks Blevins profiles folk song collector Oscar Gilbert, and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment features Fate Morrison. Wendy Colonna hails from Louisiana and now makes her home in Austin, Texas. Wendy has a style that combines many influences, most notably; blues and soul but most decidedly, real. Robert Louis Cole lets it all go on stage. He’s a no holds barred singer and musically on edge, which is good. A Denver native, one can’t help but hear the strong influence musicians like Tom Waits and bluesman Robert Johnson have had on him. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents a profile of Oscar Gilbert, husband of famed folk singer Ollie Gilbert, and an original Ozark folk musicologist. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a

Mountain dulcimer guru and folk balladeer Bryan Bowers performs live at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, hear the band "Harmony." Brooks Blevins profiles the legendary Ozark bard Almeda Riddle, and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment features Lucy & Waco Johnson. Bryan Bowers takes the auto harp to places not known to exist. Sounds strange, but it’s true. He possesses a powerful and soulful voice, and is a regular contributor to the Annual Auto Harp Weekend at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. His version of “Little Liza Jane” is a sound to behold, indeed. Bryan is joined by the group Harmony (noted below) for a number of tunes. Harmony has been a mainstay on the Ozark Folk Center Stage for many years. Featured on A Prairie Home Companion's "Talent from Towns Under 2000" contest, their vocals, as one might suspect, center around stellar three part harmony. The group features the talents of Ozark Highlands Radio host Dave Smith on vocals, guitar, fiddle, and "banjolele," among other in

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments carry listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, traditional American folk music and dance power couple Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Aubrey & Elwood, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical peregrination into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of Ozark folk originals Dave Newburn and Charley Sandage. Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly are regular contributors at a number of Ozark Folk Center State Park workshops as well as numerous traditional and old time music gatherings across the United States. The husband and wife team were heavily infl

Springfield, Missouri based modern folk minstrels and Ozark originals Cindy Woolf and Mark Bilyeu perform as the Creek Rocks recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Cindy and Mark. Cindy Woolf & Mark Bilyeu are now collectively known as The Creek Rocks.  Cindy and Mark bring traditional Ozark music into the modern acoustic world.  This husband and wife duo formed a few years back after both enjoyed successful careers as musicians based out of Springfield, MO.  Cindy a solo performer and Mark, former member of Big Smith, found a kinship on multiple levels.  Their performance at the Ozark Folk Center State Park features a number of traditional and regional songs from the recorded archives of folklorists Max Hunter and John Quincy Wolf. “‘Wolf Hunter’ is the debut CD by The Creek Rocks from Springfield, Missouri. The title is an amalgam of the names of the two folklorists whose collections provided the raw materials for the songs on the album -- John Quincy Wolf of Batesville, Ar

Old Crow Medicine Show founder Willie Watson performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Willie Watson, a performance from up and coming folk artist Grace Stormont, Brooks Blevins: Ghost of the Ozarks Tale (part 3,) and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment featuring Almeda Riddle. Willie Watson is a folk singer. It’s even the title of his latest solo release. Willie was once part of the popular band Old Crow Medicine Show but has recently embarked on a solo career that finds him singing, playing guitar, banjo and harmonica. Interpreting tunes from a wide variety of influences including Ledbelly and Charley Jordan among others, Willie proves he’s right where he belongs. Grace Stormont moved to Mountain View, Arkansas to be part of the local music scene. She has embraced the music community beyond anyone’s expectations (except maybe her own.) With a powerful voice, a veteran sense of timing and feel, Grace performs with a skill beyond her age of just 15. Sh

"Hello Stranger" featuring Carter Family legacy Dale Jett perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in scenic Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Dale Jett, Brooks Blevins: Ghost of the Ozarks Tale (Part 2,) and Mark Jones' "Vault" segment featuring The Simmons Family. Dale Jett is a proud bearer of the Carter Family musical legacy. Son of Jeanette Carter and grandson of A.P. and Sara Carter, Dale performs songs from the Carter Family song book with his group “Hello Stranger.” With his wife Teresa on bass, and Oscar Harris on auto harp, Dale keeps the music of his family tradition alive and relevant. Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. The author and historian presents the second of his three part series "Ghost of the Ozarks" about the infamous Connie Franklin murder trial. Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a recording of The Simmons Family singing the traditional song “Bright Morning Stars are Risin

This week, New York based folk duo Jay Ungar & Molly Mason perform live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Jay & Molly. A performance from Ozark Originals The Lazy Goat String Band. “He was a Bronx kid. She grew up in Washington State. He was raised on pop music of the 1940s and ’50s. She had a fondness for traditional fiddle music and ’30s and ’40s popular tunes. He hung out in Greenwich Village coffeehouses and roamed North Carolina and Tennessee in search of traditional players. She played clubs and colleges on the West Coast and took a liking to the jazzy sound of the Swing Era. Since joining forces—both artistically and romantically (the two would marry in 1991)—Jay Ungar and Molly Mason have become one of the most celebrated duos on the American acoustic music scene. It started with a chance meeting in the late 1970s. Jay and Molly were each performing at the Towne Crier, a rural New York club. They hit it off musically and played together from time to