Daniel Johnston recorded songs in his parents' basement in rural West Virginia that would eventually inspire artists such as Kurt Cobain, Beck, Wilco, and Sonic Youth. In this award-winning episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay explores the life, art, and enduring legacy of the late singer-songwriter and visual artist whose creative genius and struggles with bipolar disorder made him one of America's most influential outsider artists.
Sariah Nichols (far left) and her vocal group perform “To Be Young Gifted and Black.”
Photo Credit: Traci Phillips/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Affrilachian poet and playwright Norman Jordan is one of the most published poets in the region. Born in 1938, his works have been anthologized in over 40 books of poetry. He was also a prominent voice in the Black Arts Movement in the 1960s and 70s. He died in 2015, put part of his legacy is the Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy in West Virginia.
Folkways Reporter Traci Phillips has the story.
The Music Of Osage
Aristotle Jones (right) and choir member Shelley Riley (left) singing “Oh, Happy Day” at the monthly choir meeting.
Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Just across the Monongahela River from Morgantown, West Virginia, is a small unincorporated community called Osage. Years ago, it was a bustling, industrial town with a thriving nightlife. Today, Osage isn’t quite so bustling, but the love of music endures among its residents. Residents like musician Aristotle Jones.
Last year, Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett brought us this story.
Holler, A Pipeline Story
Author Denali Sai Nalamalapu.
Courtesy Photo
The 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline from West Virginia to Virginia took 10 years to complete. Author Denali Sai Nalamalapu was part of the protests to stop the pipeline. They have a new book, called HOLLER: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance. It’s written and drawn in comics form and profiles six activists who fought the pipeline.
Mason Adams spoke with Nalamalapu.
Holler follows the stories of a group of pipeline protesters.
Courtesy Photo
Preparing For Wildfires
Prof. Smithwick is an expert on wildfires and a member of Science Moms.
Courtesy Photo
Wildfires seem to be getting worse — not just out West, but here in Appalachia, too. Erica Smithwick is a professor and fire expert at Pennsylvania State University.
Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Smithwick about what causes wildfires and how people can prepare.
——
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., The Carpenter Ants, Aristotle Jones, Morgan Wade, The Dirty River Boys and John Blissard.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our Executive Producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our Audio Mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways editors Clara Haizlett and Nicole Musgrave.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Daniel Johnston recorded songs in his parents' basement in rural West Virginia that would eventually inspire artists such as Kurt Cobain, Beck, Wilco, and Sonic Youth. In this award-winning episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay explores the life, art, and enduring legacy of the late singer-songwriter and visual artist whose creative genius and struggles with bipolar disorder made him one of America's most influential outsider artists.
The late singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston grew up in West Virginia and came onto the indie music scene in the 1980s. Last year, Johnston was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and he’s featured in the next episode of Us & Them. In this award-winning show, host Trey Kay learns about Johnston’s legacy which was partly shaped by his challenges with mental illness.
The Public Service Commission of West Virginia is currently conducting public comment hearings concerning developer NextEra Energy’s application to construct a new 107.5-mile-long transmission line from Pennsylvania through West Virginia to Virginia. WVPB spoke with NextEra about the project.
