Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Thursday, July 28 at 6pm as for this live Zoom webinar exploring the musical legacy of Bascom Lamar Lunsford. This even will also be recorded.
Lunsford was born in 1882 in Madison County, North Carolina, home to Cecil Sharp’s “nest of singing birds.” He was both a traditional musician and a collector of “folk” music. He established the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville in 1928; was recorded performing hundreds of tunes, songs, and dance calls; and collected thousands of song transcriptions – many of which are now housed in the Southern Appalachian Archives at Mars Hill University (also home to the annual Lunsford Festival). Lunsford’s work helped shape the public’s perception of Appalachian regional identity – in all of its nuance and complexity.
About the Presenter:
Leila Weinstein is the program coordinator of the Appalachian Studies Program and the Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies at Mars Hill University, where she also directs the Lunsford Festival. She holds a master’s degree in Appalachian Studies with a concentration in culture and music.