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Across the Blue Ridge #51 - A bright new singer songwriter, and three generations of Galax, Virginia music

by Paul Brown

Dori Freeman (l), Scott Freeman (c) and Willard Gayheart (r), three generations of traditional musicians in a family with Virginia and Kentucky roots. Paul Brown

Dori Freeman grew up around Galax, Virginia, a location world-renowned for its intense and varied musical culture. Her familiarity with old time mountain, bluegrass, country and gospel music filters into her new songs in a way that would be hard to match for someone not raised in the mountain south. But she is also an experimenter, with an open ear and big curiosity about many styles. Her new album, produced by Teddy Thompson, has received rave reviews far and wide, and now she's busier performing than she ever expected to be. On this week's Across the Blue Ridge, we hear selections from Dori's March, 2016 show at Muddy Creek Music Hall in Winston-Salem, NC with her father, Scott Freeman and her grandfather, Willard Gayheart. These three generations of free-spirited musicians from one family tell great stories and perform a selection of classic and new roots music you won't want to miss. We also hear from Mainer's Mountaineers and fiddler Benny Jarrell, who was a big influence on Scott Freeman.

 

Episode 51 Playlist

  1. Winkin' Eye
    Paul Brown & Terri McMurray
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  2. Remember Me
    Willard Gayheart, Scott Freeman, Dori Freeman
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  3. Maple On The Hill
    Mainer's Mountaineers
    78 RPM Single
     
  4. Your Long Journey
    Dori Freeman & Scott Freeman
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  5. Lady Of The Lake
    Paul Brown & Terri McMurray
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  6. Break 1 - Hitch Hiking
    The Highlanders
    Get On Board
     
  7. Blackberry Rag
    Scott Freeman & Willard Gayheart
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  8. Don't You Dare Love Anyone But Me
    Willard Gayheart, Scott Freeman, Dori Freeman
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  9. Fine Fine Fine
    Dori Freeman
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  10. Break 2 - Rocking The Stillhouse
    Scott Freeman
    Fiddle Favorites
     
  11. The Workin'
    Willard Gayheart, Scott Freeman, Dori Freeman
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  12. You Say
    Dori Freeman
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  13. Earn And Zorey's Sneakin' Bitin' Dog
    Dori Freeman
    ATBR Live Recording
     
  14. Gold Watch & Chain
    Willard Gayheart, Scott Freeman, Dori Freeman
    ATBR Live Recording

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