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This week, having a very specific talent can lead to a dream job. It’s how cartoonist John Rose got his foot in the door to draw the comic strip Snuffy Smith. Also, there are dos and don’ts for treating poison ivy. And, a young, old-time musician wants to save her family’s lost ballads.
LISTEN: John R. Miller Has Our Mountain Stage Song Of The Week
John R. Miller performs on Mountain Stage in Charleston, WV.Chris Morris/Mountain Stage
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On this week’s premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage, host Kathy Mattea welcomes John R. Miller, Cris Jacobs, Lindsay Lou, Jeffrey Martin, and Margo Cilker to perform at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV.
Our Song of the Week comes from Appalachian songwriter, singer, and picker John R. Miller. Hailing from the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Miller has been performing across the U.S. and around the world, headlining and performing alongside some of Americana music’s heavy hitters since 2014. Tyler Childers is one of those musicians who says John is “a well-traveled wordsmith mapping out the world he’s seen, three chords at a time.”
On this episode, Miller and his band performed “Basements” from his 2023 album Heat Comes Down. This standout track features John’s distinct fingerpicking and gravely toned voice, telling us about his journey as a musician. In this full-circle story, he takes us from the excitement of early band practices to the hardships of the music industry and back down to the basement again.
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Margo CilkerCris JacobsLindsay LouGroup PhotoJeffrey MartinJohn R. Miller
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