The major work of the ten-week summer project involved restoration and digitization of much of 25 years' worth of field recordings made by park ranger and legendary amateur folklorist Bobby Fulcher. I was the leader of a team with four other folklorists and ethnomusicologists (team member Bradley Hanson is now Director of Folklife, Tennessee Arts Commission). The digitized CDs were deposited in the Tennessee State Library and Archives, who guided the project.
The team also helped the Campbell Cultural Coalition in hosting the first Louie Bluie Festival (dedicated to African American string-band musician Howard Armstrong) and made fresh interview recordings of local musicians.
The team also helped the Campbell Cultural Coalition in hosting the first Louie Bluie Festival (dedicated to African American string-band musician Howard Armstrong) and made fresh interview recordings of local musicians.
Photo: Interviewing fiddler Tom McCaroll at the Louie Bluie Festival, Cove Lake State Park, TN, 2007. The recorder is a NAGRA.
Photo credit: Brooke, Member, History and Archives Team
Photo credit: Brooke, Member, History and Archives Team