Tennessee photographer Stacy Kranitz is attracting attention for her visceral photos of life in Appalachia and the South. Sometimes her photos are hard to look at, but they’re always compelling. That’s the case with a project published earlier this year. ProPublica’s story, “The Year After a Denied Abortion,” follows a young family in Tennessee.
Listen: John Ellison Has Our Mountain Stage Song of the Week
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Our Summer season of encore episodes continues this weekend as host Kathy Mattea welcomes Paul Thorn, Amythyst Kia, Jess Jocoy, Anna Lynch and John Ellison featuring the Carpenter Ants. Tune in starting June 10 on these NPR stations to listen.
Our Song of the Week features native West Virginian John Ellison. A veteran performer whose credits include writing the hit-song “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” originally recorded by his group the Soul Brothers Six. Ellison brings his distinct vocals to the stage accompanied by Charleston, W.Va based R&B/soul group The Carpenter Ants.
Together, Ellison and the Ants perform our Song of the Week, a love song to the state where Ellison was born- “West Virginia State Of Mind.”
John Ellison- West Virginia State Of Mind, live on Mountain Stage
Recorded June 13, 2021 in Charleston, WV for broadcast starting September 17, 2021.
The Carpenter Ants vocalist Charlie T., a beloved member of the West Virginia music community and a member of the Ants for 35 years, sadly passed away in December of 2021. The Carpenter Ants also include Michael Lipton on guitar, Ted Harrison on bass, Jupie Little on vocals, joined by Mountain Stage drummer Ammed Solomon.
1 of 5 — Paul Thorn live on Mountain Stage, 2021
Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
2 of 5 — Amythyst Kiah live on Mountain Stage, 2021
Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
3 of 5 — Jess Jocoy live on Mountain Stage, 2021
Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
4 of 5 — Anna Lynch -2.jpg
Anna Lynch performing on Mountain Stage in 2021.
Tina Fisher/Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
5 of 5 — John Ellison and The Carpenter Ants on Mountain Stage, 2021
Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
You can hear this and a lot of other great songs on this week’s encore episode of Mountain Stage. Check out the playlist here and find a station in your area where you can listen.
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Tennessee photographer Stacy Kranitz is attracting attention for her visceral photos of life in Appalachia and the South. Sometimes her photos are hard to look at, but they’re always compelling. That’s the case with a project published earlier this year. ProPublica’s story, “The Year After a Denied Abortion,” follows a young family in Tennessee.
The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival happens every Memorial Day weekend on the grounds of a scenic state park. It’s a four-day celebration that culminates with an exquisite tradition: the Grand March, a dance that has been taught to Kentucky college students in Pineville since the first festival in 1931.
The National Pro Road Bike Championships came to the streets of Charleston last week, ending over the weekend. Events included a time trial along the Kanawha River, a one mile loop through the downtown streets and a longer course through the hills and flats around the city.
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia’s mechanism for funding emergency shelters shifted earlier this year to an application-based system. As Chris Schulz reports, that change has proved a boon for some – and a problem for others.