—The Crooked Road — Virginia's Heritage Music Trail —

Caroll County. Carroll County has been richly productive of traditional musicians for generations. Legendary musical families have lived in Carroll since the late colonial period, including the Stonemans, Meyers, Meltons, and Edmonds families. The small Coal Creek area has provided an amazing array of talented musicians, and continues to this day. Ernest V. 'Pop' Stoneman was the first musician from Carroll County to make commercial recordings in New York in 1924. His song, 'The Sinking of the Titanic' became very popular and is still recorded by contemporary bands. Tony Alderman of Carroll County was a founding member of 'The Hill Billies,' the fabled 1920s radio and vaudeville band that gave 'hillbilly' music its name. The band was the subject of the first country music film in 1928 and was marketed with Al Jolson's film, 'The Singing Fool.' Dorothy Quesenberry Rorick of Dugspur, fiddler, banjoist, and singer, was a delightful fixture at area fiddlers conventions for a generation.

There are many weekly jam sessions and other performances of live music in Carroll County. It is the home of the Blue Ridge Music Center, a museum and performance venue located at milepost 213 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The only
good that came from a murderous March 1912 shootout at the Carroll County Courthouse are two lovely ballads concerned
with the fate of Floyd and Claude Allen. Details of this event—which resulted in five deaths—can be seen at the Carroll County Historical Museum at the historic courthouse in Hillsville. One of the region's largest gatherings is the Hillsville Flea Market held annually on Labor Day weekend.

The Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Coalfields region, southwest Virginia is blessed with historic and contemporary music venues, musicians, and fretted instrument makers. Historically isolated, the region retained its strong musical legacy by passing traditions down through musical families to an appreciative community.

Old time mountain music, bluegrass, and gospel can be enjoyed all year long and several museums are devoted to showcasing the area's rich musical heritage.

The Crooked Road winds through the ruggedly beautiful Appalachian Mountains and leads you to the major hotspots of old time mountain music, country music, and bluegrass. Alive and kickin' for today's fans, these venues preserve and celebrate musical traditions passed down through generations. Annual festivals, weekly concerts, radio shows, and jam sessions ring out to large audiences and intimate gatherings. Please visit the Crooked Road website to plan your trip to coincide with the current entertainment events.

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Show me all markers in:  Hillsville, VA  |  Carroll County  |  24343  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

Hillsville
John Carroll
Woodlawn School
Woodlawn
The Stonemans
Wythe County/ Carroll County Historical
Carroll County / Wythe County
Austin's Birthplace
Caroll County / Floyd County
Jackson's Ferry and Shot Tower

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