WVPB asked photojournalist and West Virginia native Roger May to go back home and take a hard look at how residents are still struggling to find normalcy nine months after flooding hit southern West Virginia. May specializes in turning his camera on the places that shaped him — revealing the humanity behind statistics. He worked primarily in Mingo, Logan, McDowell and Wyoming counties.
The seeds of our Song of the Week were sown from a tune that Los Angeles area musician Joachim Cooder would sing to his houseplant, called a Fuchsia Machu Picchu. Cooder plays an electric mbira and sings accompanied by Gabe Noel on bass and Sam Gendel on saxophone.
“Fuchsia Machu Picchu” can be found on the album of the same name, and Cooder is also featured on The Prodigal Son, his father Ry Cooder’s 2018 studio album.
Starting this Friday, May 3 hear Joachim Cooder’s full set, plus performances by M. Ward, Laura Veirs, The Sea The Sea and Dead Horses on this week’s broadcast of Mountain Stage.
WVPB asked photojournalist and West Virginia native Roger May to go back home and take a hard look at how residents are still struggling to find normalcy nine months after flooding hit southern West Virginia. May specializes in turning his camera on the places that shaped him — revealing the humanity behind statistics. He worked primarily in Mingo, Logan, McDowell and Wyoming counties.
More than nine months after the February flood that hit southern West Virginia, residents are still rebuilding their lives. WVPB asked West Virginia photojournalist Roger May to create a photo essay on the people in that region. May sat down with News Director Eric Douglas to discuss the project.
Our Song of the Week comes from singer-songwriter and guitarist Joy Clark. “Tell It To The Wind” was written in a moment of gratitude while Clark was on tour in Waterford, Mississippi at Foxfire Ranch.
Regular listeners to our afternoon programming will immediately recognize the voice of Terry Gross. She has been the host of Fresh Air for 50 years – well before it became a national staple. We talk with her about the unique medium of public radio.