Visit to the Carter Fold - hallowed grounds indeed!!

 

To say I've long been a big fan of the Carter Family is an understatement.   Their impact on traditional,country, and pop music is as big as any artist or group in the 20th century.   Perhaps a bit beyond just a fan - as my daughter Kelly and I do a duet and one of our shows is a musical history of the Carter Family.


I've read the definitive bio of the trio - "Will you Miss me When I'm Gone" by Mark Zwonitzer several times, bought the boxed set of all their music, and also have collected articles and the PBS DVD.    It's led me to a very deep appreciation of AP, Sarah, and Maybelle and the unique contributions each has made individually and collectively to the world of music.   

How can you not  admire AP for being one of the architects of modern country and traditional music by developing the song forms that are still in use today, and for preserving hundreds of years of songs in the over 300 songs that he copyrighted during his career.  As he put it - he "fixed" many songs to fit the needs of the 3 minute 78.   He didn't really care where the songs came from and he drew on gospel, folk, ballads, coal mining songs, and the country and blues from the black community.  

Sarah was the first recorded female country singer, and her bold stylings and powerful delivery paved the way for the generations to come.   It was her voice on "Bury Me Beneath the Willow" that hooked Ralph Peer and got the group the recording contracts to follow.

Without Maybelle and her guitar style would we ever have had a Chet Atkins or Merle Travis to follow?   She pioneered her unique style of combining melody and rhythm, and allowed one guitar to sound like a full band.

I've been aware of the Carter Fold, but it was not on my music bucket list.   I figured someday I'd pass by and give it a look.   Never in a million years did I think that I would get a private showing of the Fold by AP's Granddaughter, Rita Forrester!!!

One of my business associates, Keith Sims, from Kingsport TN, grew up in Hiltons, VA, just down the road from the fold.   His family was close to the Carters and when he was growing up Janette Carter (AP's Daughter) was his babysitter.   He stayed close to the family and spent many days and nights helping out at the fold when it started.

When I was in Kingsport to visit Keith, he mentioned that we might have time to visit the Fold, but it was not looking good - the only chance we would get would be around 9PM on a Wednesday night when things were closed up.   Keith said he would call Rita and if she could, she would probably open the Fold up for us.    I was not expecting this to happen, but Keith spoke with her, and she said she would meet us there when we got done with the meeting.

We drove over around 8:30 that evening as the sun was setting.   I had read about the Valley and the tracks, and had some familiarity with the area, but it was nothing like being there and driving down the AP Carter Highway.    You could imagine his trips to Kingsport on the winding dirt roads to visit Leslie Riddle and collect songs.   The countryside was rugged, but very pretty.   Here was where it all started.

We pulled up to the fold, and Rita had not yet arrived, but it was still light enough so get a good look at the grounds - the site of the AP Carter Grocery store, and see the store (now museum) and the relocated cabin that AP was born in.    Felt like I was in a time machine when we got out and walked around.

Rita showed up a few minutes later, and welcomed me and I could tell she and Keith were old friends.   She open the museum and let me wander around looking the the exhibits.  It was neat to imagine the early days when this was just getting underway.   It was AP's wish that Janette would use the property to preserve his and the Carter family music.    She started it in this building, which was her fathers store.  What really caught my eye were the clothes and the guitar from the early days.    The Rita told me that was the stage early on, and she and Keith reminisced about all the folks who had played on that stage.   I could imagine Johnny and June up there in front of 100 people (you couldn't fit too many more in this building).   Rita told me how Johnny want to plug in his electric guitar ( the Fold is dedicated to preserving the acoustic old time country and bluegrass) and how it caused a stir, till June told Janette "he was plugged in when he met me, and he ain't changing now"

She and Keith pulled out a couple of old rocking chairs while I continued to browse, and look at all the items, asking a question now and then, but also enjoying listening to their conversation about all the musicians who visited the Fold.    AP's typewriter caught me eye as well - here was the well from which 100's of songs were shaped.




I could go on and on, but we spent about an hour in the building, and Rita and Keith were great hosts.   I learned a whole lot more, and also gained a greater appreciation for the accomplishments of the Carter Family.    To spend time in that building was like walking a little ways in their shoes.

Rita opened the performance center next, and let me wander the stage and look around the Green Room.   It was too cool to stand center stage where so many great musicians have played, and to look up and imagine the crowds of people who come every weekend to hear great Old Time and Bluegrass Music.    It would be a dream come true to play that stage (hmmmm - let's add that one to the bucket list).   Again, it was also an added bonus to hear Rita and Keith talking about the musicians who had played here.

Last stop was the Cabin - Rita told the story of how it was moved here - you can find more about that on the website - www.carterfamilyfold.org and a whole lot more.    It was like walking back in time they way it was preserved.    You can feel how growing up in this place and this building shaped AP, and how this had become part of so many of his songs.

Well I could not thank Rita and Keith enough for talking so much time out of their busy days to show me the Fold and to give me so much personal history - I felt like Cousin Bill who had dropped in for a visit by the end of the night.   We exchanged hugs when it came time to leave, and I left knowing that I'll be back.    If you ever get down that way, you won't want to miss this........