Tennessee
odd: label: Introduction
content: The 1986 Tennessee Program sought to introduce Festival visitors to the diversity of traditions found within the State. Tennessee consists of three distinct folk regions, arranged symmetrically almost as if by conscious design: East, Middle, and West Tennessee, and Festival organizers were concerned to show both regional differences and common themes. Tennessee is culturally situated between the dominant pillars of Southern folklife - to the east, the upland traditions of the Appalachian Mountains; and to the west, the folkways of the Deep South. Tennessee's regions form a continuum between these extremes, shaped by geography, settlement patterns, and cultural adaptation during the State's formative years.

The Festival thus featured musical styles of the State including string bands, gospel music, rhythm and blues, rockabilly, ballads, and blues presented on three stages. Crafts traditions were also presented including sawmilling, furniture making, baskets, stoneworkers, quilts, broom makers, musical instrument making, and woodcarving. Occupations explored included distilling, moonshining, fishing, and hunting and trapping. There were also foodways demonstrations.

Nicholar R. Spitzer was Tennessee Program Curator, J. Mark Kenoyer was Program Coordinator, Francesca McLean was Assistant Program Coordinator, and Phyllis M. May was Foodways Coordinator. The program was developed in close cooperation with the Tennessee Arts Commission, where Robert Cogswell was Director of Folk Arts.

The Tennessee Program was made possible by Tennessee Homecoming '86, a year-long statewide celebration.
label: Fieldworkers
content: Richard Blaustein, Greg Bowman, Roby Cogswell, David Evans, Robert Fulcher, Robert Gates, Bill Kornrich, Tommie Lewis, Phyllis M. May, Nancy Michael, Lisa Moody, Jay Orr, Judy Peiser, Richard Raichelson, Doug Seroff, Merikay Waldvogel, Charles Wolfe
label: Presenters
content: Drew Beisswenger, Betty Belanus, Roby Cogswell, Robert Fulcher, Joyce M. Jackson, Peter Lowry, Phyllis M. May, Jay Orr, Barry Lee Pearson, Elizabeth Peterson, Tom Rankin, Nicholas Spitzer, Joseph T. Wilson
label: Participants
content: Crafts and Occupations

Jewel Allen, 1917-1988, chair maker, Whiteville

A.J. Anderson, saw-miller, Pikeville

Minnie Bell, 1923-, basket maker, Ripley

C. Kyle Bowlin, 1925-, wagon, sled maker, Thorn Hill

Dale Calhoun, 1935-2007, boat maker, Tiptonville

Gene Cowort, stoneworker, Crossville

Ida Pearl Davis, 1922-, basket maker, Woodbury

D. Wayne Doss, chair maker, Jamestown

Parris Doss, chair maker, Jamestown

Larry L. Edmons, 1959-, saw-miller, Pikeville

Edith Garrett, 1918-, quilter, Celina

Robert Garrett, 1916-1987, marble maker, Celina

Mary Frank Dougherty Helms, 1914-2004, weaver, Russelville

Thelma Hibdon, basket maker, Woodbury

Homer C. Hooks, 1915-, hunter, trapper, Wartburg

Charles J. Horner, 1933-, instrument maker, Rockwood

Ransom Howard, 1903-1988, broom maker, Walling

Fred L. Hudson, 1914-, chair maker, Whiteville

Bennett Johnson, 1917-1999, turtle trapper, Union City

Nora Crabtree Ladd, 1900-1995, quilter, Kingston

Hamper McBee, 1931-, distiller, Monteagle

Charles R. Myers, 1942-, saw-miller, Pikeville

Ted Norris, 1925-, stoneworker, Crossville

John H. Pettigrew, 1912-1988, fisherman, Parsons

Robert Rains, saw-miller, Pikeville

Maggie Sayre, 1920-2000, fisherman, Parsons

Rick Stewart, 1960-, cooper, Sneedville

Vacie M. Thomas, 1911-1990, quilter, Chattanooga

Parks M. Townsend, 1909-1991, woodcarver, Johnson City

Tim Waggoner, 1940-, herbalist, Knoxville

R.O. Wilson, distiller, Cullowhee, North Carolina

Foodways

Betty Edmons, 1933-2007, Anglo-American foods, Pikeville

Bill Howard, 1912-2006, Afro-American barbecue, Henderson

Helen Howard, 1924-, Afro-American barbecue, Henderson

Mildred Johnson, fish and turtle cook, Union City

Patsy Thompson, 1956-1997, Choctaw cook, Ripley

Games

Rolley Hole Marbles  -- Rolley Hole MarblesRussell Collins, MossDoyle Rhoton, 1949-, MossWayne Rhoton, 1944-, MossRalph Roberts, 1938-, Moss

Performance

Black String Band  -- Black String BandHoward Armstrong, 1909-2003, mandolin player, fiddle player, Detroit, MichiganTommie Armstrong, bass fiddle player, Chicago, IllinoisTed Bogan, 1910-1990, guitar player, Chicago, Illinois

Duck Creek Quartet, --  old-time gospel -- Duck Creek Quartet, old-time gospelCalvin C. Hurley, 1926-2001, vocalist, SneedvilleRalph T. Hurley, 1929-, guitar player, vocalist, SneedvilleHubert J. Wilder, vocalist, SneedvilleTim R. Wilder, guitar player, vocalist, Sneedville

Fieldstones,  -- Memphis rhythm and blues -- Fieldstones, Memphis rhythm and bluesLois Brown, 1942-, bass, MemphisOtto "Bobby" Carnes, 1930-, organ, guitar player, MemphisJoe Hicks, 1937-, drummer, MemphisWordie Perkins, 1937-, guitar, piano, keyboard player, MemphisWillie R. Sanders, 1933-, guitar player, Memphis

The Hemphill Singers,  -- sanctified gospel -- The Hemphill Singers, sanctified gospelLarrice Byrd, bass guitar, NashvilleEarl Gaines, III, drummer, NashvilleGertie Hemphill, 1934-1999, vocalist, NashvilleJames Hemphill, vocalist, NashvilleEdward Jenkins, piano player, NashvilleWilliam Mills, guitar player, NashvilleMargaret Spence, 1936-, vocalist, NashvilleRobert Tolliver, organ player, Nashville

Brown and Douglas, --  old-time fiddle and guitar duo -- Brown and Douglas, old-time fiddle and guitar duoRay Brown, 1914-, guitar, ChattanoogaRobert M. Douglas, 1900-2001, fiddle, guitar player, Chattanooga

The Forsters, --  old-time banjo and guitar duo -- The Forsters, old-time banjo and guitar duoLee Armstrong Forster, 1923-, guitar player, McEwenWilliam Omer Forster, 1901-1990, banjo player, McEwen

The Frazier Moss Stringband,  -- old-time country string band -- The Frazier Moss Stringband, old-time country string bandJ. Frazier Moss, fiddle player, CookervilleRed Rector, mandolin player, KnoxvilleJack D. Sallee, 1941-, banjo, CookevilleReece Shipley, 1921-1998, guitar player, Church Hill

Old-Time String Band  -- Old-Time String BandH. Ralph Blizard, 1918-2004, fiddle player, BlountvillePhil Jamison, guitar player, BlountvilleWill A. Keys, banjo player, Limestone

The Original Sun Rhythm Band, --  rockabilly -- The Original Sun Rhythm Band, rockabillySonny Burgess, guitar, harp player, Newport, ArkansasPaul Burlison, guitar player, North Walls, MississippiStanley Kesler, 1928-, bass player, MemphisJerry Lee "Smoochy" Smith, piano player, MemphisJ.M. Van Eaton, 1937-, drummer, ColliervilleMarcus Van Storey, 1920-1992, vocalist, guitar, harmonica player, Memphis

Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, --  old-time country string band -- Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, old-time country string bandBill Birchfield, 1945-, guitar player, HamptonCreed Birchfield, 1905-1998, banjo player, Roan MountainJanice Birchfield, 1949-, washtub bass, HamptonJoe Birchfield, 1912-2001, fiddle player, Roan Mountain

Straightway Gospel Singers, --  Black country singers -- Straightway Gospel Singers, Black country singersCallis Robb, 1911-1990, guitar player, vocalist, GallatinWillie Mae Robb, 1914-2000, vocalist, Gallatin

Ethel Mae Birchfield, 1913-1987, storyteller, Roan Mountain

Roy Harper, country songster, Manchester

Jessie Mae Hemphill, Beale Street blues guitar player, vocalist, Memphis

Ray Hicks, 1922-2003, ballad singer, Clarkrange

Waynell Jones, 1926-1992, country blues guitar player, vocalist, Henderson

Booker T. Laury, 1914-1995, Memphis blues piano player, vocalist, Memphis
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1986 Festival of American Folklife
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.1986, Series 6
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials