Books on cultural history, the university press of. Stamper describes the role of the valley in the commercial history of country music. The renfro valley barn dance was established by rockcastle county native john lair based on his experience working with the national barn dance in chicago, the first of many radio barn dance shows that appeared in both rural and urban areas during the 1930s and 1940s. The cbs world news roundup, which debuted in 1938, predates the gatherin but has not continually aired. Staging tradition john lair and sarah gertrude knott. Estil was from rockcastle county, kentucky and the group appeared on the renfro valley barn dance occasionally, the first time in 1939 i believe. It provides the history of the renfro valley area and places of interest for.
The renfro valley barn dance started on wlw from the cincinnati music hall on october 9, 1937. Pete describes the beginnings, the changes in ownership, the background of performers, and many fascinating stories about the valley. Renfro valley koa 184 koa campground road mount vernon, kentucky 40456 18005622475 history of the renfro valley barn dance a peek at this famous scene in tratitional country history. John lair, the ambitious and deeply committed founder of renfro valley, was fascinated with the past. Provided to youtube by tunecore renfro valley barn dance marty falle renfro valley barn dance. Efforts to save the building from collapse are ongoing, and its still possible that it could one day serve as a museum andor be reborn as a recording studio. Twain directly addresses it in shorter pieces such as othe private history of a campaign that failedo.
The show, the renfro valley barn dance, first opened in cincinnati on october 9, 1937. Renfro valley entertainment center, mount vernon, kentucky. Due to covid19, online access to this book has temporarily been made. Renfro valley celebrates 75 years of kentucky music. He created the renfro valley barn dance to give radio listeners the experience of an oldfashioned rural hoedown. The john lair renfro valley barn dance oral history collection includes a series of thirty audio recorded interviews with performers and others. It all happened in renfro valley by pete stamper uknowledge. Renfro valley barn dance 75th anniversary show sept.
Postcard, chrome unused published by glenn durham condition. Explore releases from the renfro valley records label. John lair, amateur music historian and the creator of the renfro valley barn dance and other radio programs, encouraged listeners to send him items for his collections. National barn dance also set the stage for other similar programs, in part because the clearchannel signal of wls could be received throughout most of the midwest and even beyond in the late evening and nighttime hours, making much of the united states a potential audience. Ronnie reno took his rfdtv bluegrass show on the road and broadcasts from renfro valley new barn dance theater. The kentucky briarhoppers were the first group to take the traditional clog step a little faster than usual, and to have taps with cletes loose plates on their shoes, which made the taps ring more. Kentucky renfro valley, home of renfo valley dance, rpc. National barn dance, broadcast by wlsam in chicago, illinois starting in 1924, was one of the first american country music radio programs and a direct precursor of the grand ole opry. For two years, on wlw radio, in the city of cincinnati and dayton ohio, the saturday night show continued while the big show barn and the log lodge and tourist court was being built down home in renfro valley kentucky. Renfro valley entertainment center 2380 richmond st mount.
Having been to renfro valley several times, i was looking for a good summary of its long history. When the civil war halted steamboat travel on the mississippi river in 1861, an unemployed riverboat pilot named samuel clemens enlisted in the missouri militia. Some of the biggest and best bluegrass entertainers in bluegrass music today took to the stage to perform for the audience and cameras. We proudly accept the title of kentuckys country music capital. The musical legacy of the coon creek girls is being enjoyed by a growing number of musicians and listeners every year, as their impact continues. It all happened in renfro valley by peter stamper 1999. The renfro valley gatherin always opened with two stanzas of an old hymn, sung by members of the audience who came up on stage. Soundtrack album to the documentary john lairs renfro valley barn dance released in 1966 by seven arts pictures. The renfro valley barn dance started on wlw from the cincinnati music hall on. It all happened in renfro valley was written by pete stampfer, and on the air with john lair by ann henderson. The original renfro valley barn dance started in 1937 at the.
This tradition continues today with outstanding stage shows put on by. He created the renfro valley barn dance to give radio listeners the experience. About 120 miles away, in the foothills of the eastern kentucky mountains, a radioprogram host was collecting artifacts of the states rural past for a new folk museum. Renfro valley barn dance kentucky had some great bluegrass entertainers in 20. Ray sosbyee, linda lou martin, claude sweet and glenn pennington. Renfro valley radio show cast at the old barn stage in the early 1950s. John lair papers, 19301999 berea college special collections. History of the renfro valley barn dance a peek at this famous scene in tratitional country history. It debuted on october 9, 1937 from the cincinnati music hall and moved to the memorial auditorium in dayton, ohio. Historic performances found for renfro valley 75th.
Our complex is situated across 90 acres and includes two unique show theaters, two rv parks, and the renfro valley shopping village. November 14th december 20th christmas in the valley please join us in celebrating the 75th year of the world famous renfro valley barn dance. Renfro valley entertainment center 2020 all you need to. For sixty years, renfro valley has highlighted some of the biggest and most influential names in country and folk music. Discover whats missing in your discography and shop for renfro valley records releases.
The barn dance and other programming originating in renfro valley was broadcast over the cbs radio network until the late 1950s. Based on extensive archival research and oral history, staging tradition traces the parallel careers of the creators of the renfro valley barn dance and the national folk festival. For sixty years, renfro valley has highlighted some of th. After a successful year there, the show was moved to dayton where it was staged at the memorial auditorium. See more ideas about my old kentucky home, kentucky and kentucky vacation. Project muse if you cant go home, take some of it with. Sunday morning gatherin renfro valley barn dance, inc nationally known country music center renfro valley, kentucky state. About the artist sorry to say we dont have anything here for you to read about granny harper.
Sawyer brown did an awesome job in their performance. Pete stamper, a fortyseven year veteran of renfro valley, traces the shows history from its early radio days in cincinnati and chicago, through the glory years in the 1940s, the lean times in the 1960s when rock and roll seemed to take over the music scene, to its renewed popularity in the 1990s. Pete stamper, a longtime performer there who i have enjoyed for years, has provided such a book. In 1999, he released a book, it all happened in renfro valley. Renfro valley barn dance renfro valley, kentucky ky. One of the legends, hank cochran, really played a history in the operation of renfro valley. Renos oldtime music show will devote an entire episode to celebrate and honor the important music history of the renfro valley barn dance over the past 75 years. The coon creek girls by john lilly native ground books.
Come be a part of history as you enjoy one of the last barn dance shows in existence. Welcome to renfro valley entertainment center, located in beautiful renfro valley just off interstate 75. What a blessing that on the day of our visit, the nephew of the founder. Dozens of musicperforming stars are represented here. Where time stands still, which is a film about the history of the renfro valley barn dance. If you have any information you can share with us such as news or magazine articles, books, song folios, photos, etc. The trading post, the old water mill and the music library. Renfro valley barn dance was an american country music stage and radio show originally carried by wlwam in cincinnati, ohio on saturday nights. T hat forlorn, graffiticovered brick building in evanston visible from i71 was once home to king records, which launched the career of james brown and put cincinnati on the map as a key birthplace of rock and roll. Kentucky music hall of fame renfro valley 2020 all you. John lairs renfro valley barn dance 1966, vinyl discogs. Please view the product photos we provide photos of the front and back of most items so you.
He resisted the encroachment of popular cowboy songs and kept the stage and the airwaves filled with authentic kentucky. Renfro valley barn dance was an american country music stage and radio show originally. The show began in the 1930s as a combination radio broadcast and stage performance, and today it has grown into an array of shows and headliner concerts featuring oldtime country music, country gospel, modern country, bluegrass, and comedy acts. Barcode and other identifiers matrix runout label side 1. John lair collections collections used by berea sound archives. John lair also wrote four books on rural kentucky life and its history. For two years, on wlw radio, in the city of cincinnati and dayton ohio.
Renfro valley gathering variety old time radio downloads. He also wrote four books on kentucky life and history and the wellreceived volume songs lincoln loved. But john lair had a dream about what he thought a barn dance show should be like. The john lair renfro valley barn dance oral history collection includes a series of thirty audio recorded interviews with performers and others who were associated with the renfro valley barn dance and other radio programs produced by john lair, first in cincinnati, ohio and later in renfro valley, kentucky, 1937 through much of the 1950s. Today, renfro valley is known throughout kentucky and the rest of the country for its rich history of real country music by real country folks. The colorful biography of the pioneering producers of folk music festivals.
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